Hi all, bit of a problem.

This started yesterday when I installed some printer software (HP) on my PC for the network we have at home. After installation, and uninstalling all the unnecessary stuff it also decided to install, I noticed some things were a bit off.

Firstly, I had to choose my user name after my screen saver kicked in; I've never had to do this, seeing as there's only one account on that computer anyway. So I just shrugged it off and changed the settings back.

When shutting down, usually the big window in the center of the screen appears with 3 large coloured icons for Shut Down, Restart, Log Off; you know the one. When I shut it down last night however it was a drop down list, something I thought was odd but put down to a Windows update or something.

So, anyway, this morning it's asking for a password. I have had this PC for nearly 3 years and have never had the settings asking for a password, and have no clue what it could be. Went into System setup on start up and changed those passwords, but no joy when inputting these later.

Anybody have a clue what's gone on, and can I either get round this password rubbish or if I take it into a computer shop will they be able to sort it for me?

Any help appreciated.

EDIT: OK, so don't worry about dodgy ways for "bypassing" the password, that's not allowed on this forum. But this is important, I can't just reinstall XP (advice I've seen elsewhere) and lose my files. That's not an option. Is there a genuine way to fix this other than that?

Also, went into safe mode to check some settings and asked for the password again, but I left the box blank and pressed enter and it worked. Strange. Have now set up a password for my user account (yes, there wasn't even one set) and am running an Adaware scan in safe mode. Will then restart and see what happens with the passwords.

One more thing: the user account it asks a password for doesn't actually exist; there is one user account, my first name, yet the default name in the box when asking for a password is my family name. I dunno what's going on!

OK, probably fixed now.

Went into safe mode and set a password for my user account, restarted and entered it and seems to have worked. Will probably keep the computer password protected now. That printer installation really borked my settings.

I'm still really puzzled about the change in visual style for XP start up/shutdown windows. Anyway, happy ending I think.

If a password is asked for and one was never set pressing Enter on the blank box will work in all modes.

Your login settings were changed. This is an option on all XP computers. Via Control Panel > User Accounts > Change the way users log on or off

Use the Welcome Screen is what you were used to.

When this option is turned off then you get the Classic login box you describe which prompts for password whether one is set or not.

The Classic box also lists the built-in Administrator account which is otherwise invisible.

This also affects the shutdown skin.


Also someday you might for some other reason need to reinstall XP. As such you should have all your valuables backed up.


...

OK, that explains all. I guess I just panicked because the settings were changed to something I've never seen before. I managed to work out the blank password thing too...eventually.

I'm annoyed at the HP software for making all this happen, and also at myself for blowing what seems to be a minor thing out of proportion. Anyway, back to normal now. Thanks.

No problem.

Glad all is well and let us know if we can help further in the future.