Missing User Accts

[Danny Lusk]

A Dell with XP Pro, operating fine one day, next day
machine takes about 4 minutes to come to user logon
screen, then about 2 minutes until desktop appears. Tried
to boot from CD to use Repair option but the known
correct admin password will not be accepted by the
system. When I tried to go into Con Panel and reset the
admin password, all user accts are missing in the User
Accts function. When I use F8 to pick a startup option
and choose a restore point, the system tells me there are
none. Using the Last Known Good option gives the same
results.
Any ideas?

Danny Lusk

 

[Malke]

A Dell with XP Pro, operating fine one day, next day
machine takes about 4 minutes to come to user logon
screen, then about 2 minutes until desktop appears. Tried
to boot from CD to use Repair option but the known
correct admin password will not be accepted by the
system. When I tried to go into Con Panel and reset the
admin password, all user accts are missing in the User
Accts function. When I use F8 to pick a startup option
and choose a restore point, the system tells me there are
none. Using the Last Known Good option gives the same
results.
Any ideas?

Danny Lusk

If you know the computer is 100% spyware and virus-free (do you know
this?), then you might be having hardware problems. Here are some
general hardware troubleshooting steps:

1) open the computer and run it open, cleaning out all dust bunnies and
observing all fans (overheating will cause system freezing); 2) test
the RAM - I like Memtest86 from www.memtest86.com - let the test run
for an extended (like overnight) period of time - unless errors are
seen immediately; 3) test the hard drive with a diagnostic utility from
the mftr.; 4) the power supply may be going bad or be inadequate for
the devices you have in the system; 5) test the motherboard with
something like TuffTest from www.tufftest.com. Testing hardware
failures often involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good
parts. If you can't do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable
opening your computer, take the machine to a good local computer repair
shop (not a CompUSA or Best Buy type of store). Or if the Dell is still
under warranty, grit your teeth and call their tech support. Do this
*after* you've done the hardware troubleshooting so they don't just
tell you to reinstall Windows.

Malke