Windows XP - No password prompt on Login screen

I just started getting this issue this morning. When powering on the machine the login screen displays, but the password prompt never appears when I click on a user profile. I've tried booting in :

1) Regular mode
2) Safe mode (all 3 versions)
3) "Last known good config "

Still have the same issue - can't login because I can't provide a password. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks very much in advance!

 

You misunderstood me. I know all my passwords - the "prompt box" just doesn't appear anymore for me to type them in. And my passwords are set to never expire so they didn't expire.

 

Thanks for your assistance Pete! I haven't tried a repair install before.

1) I found these steps that seem to apply to a repair install - is this what you are referring to?
a) Set your BIOS to BOOT from CD-ROM.
b) Insert The Windows XP Cd into your ROM.
c) The screen will prompt a msg saying "Press any key to boot from DVD/CD ".
d) Press ENTER to continue.
e) You will get a BLUE screen(loading).
f) There will 3 OPTIONS, press Enter = Continue, R = Repair or F3 = Quit.
g) Press ENTER.
h) Press F8 to agree with agreement.
i) It will detect a previous version of Windows available on the PC.
j) press R to repair.

2) I assume that I'll need to apply service packs and other updates to get the OS up to date once the repair is done - is that correct?

3) Would you expect that I might have issues with my firewall (ZoneAlarm Pro) and anti-virus (NAV 2009) during this process since they load at startup and might be dependent on these OS updates?

 

Hope you don't mind me cutting in

Yep, that's what Pete was reffering to, in fact the instructions are so concise and accurate I'll copy them for future responses if it's OK?

Most people are confused with

R= Repair here means "Recovery Console" or manual repair.

Yep.

Shouldn't be a problem as XP doesn't fully start untill after the repair is complete.

EDIT: Sorry, to clarify, if security apps depends on updates they'll probably fail to start but using safe mode you should be able to temorarily disable them whilst you download the updates. Another (better) option would be to slipstream SP3 with your original install disk and do the repair from that.

 

I just got home and had the opportunity to try out the 2 Ctrl-Alt-Delete's - IT WORKED !!

So, what is this indicative of??

Many thanks for all of the responses!!

 

I treat all mysterious problems like this with a good dose of Dial-A-Fix. It's free and can solve lots of problems that would defy solutions otherwise. If it doesn't help, it's chicken soup and no harm is done. Basically it works its magic by re-registering several dll's and applying some other remedies that have been effective for other people. It's worth a shot in your situation. I've used it several times and sometimes it fixes a system and other times, no change.

 

Any guesses on what it might take to fix the login screen?

 

All items are set just as you've indicated - not quite sure what happened. I'd like to use the Login screen as opposed to doing 2 Ctrl-Alt-Del's and only be able to access my admin account.

 

hi InSeattle, if you were not playing around with your registry for some tweaks..then it might be some software or malware in your system that causes such problem.. try to scan your system.. or check out this sites...
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/remove-user-accounts-from-the-login-screen-in-windows-xp/
http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/1/

 

Pete, This was the only reported instance of this problem in this Forum.
I too had a similar problem with Startup right after 3 MS Updates were installed on Tuesday.
The difference was that I got the Login Screen come up (which I don't use) and my Shutdown Menu changed as well.
I located the instructions you mentioned about Username2 etc. and followed that and restored my usual Start/Welcome.
I found that the Start > Contol Panel > User Accounts > Change the way Users log on or off > Use Welcome Screen box >had to be checked to restore my usual Shutdown Menu.
I followed this Post to see if it was similar to my Problem. I would venture to say that there are probably more than just the two of us who have been affected by the MS updates.
I must admit I "Googled around" before finding the info needed to restore things, so I was relieved to see that `InSeattle` had come to BBS to get help.
I thought I would include this here in case others had the same nuisance occur after the Updates from MS.
Cheers Neil.