XP Home error message on boot-up: System can't logon. Check user name & domain

[Poppa Bear]

On booting into XP Home, the folowing warning message comes up: "System can't logon. Check user name and domain are correct."

If the "OK" button is clicked on the warning box, it then allows the password to be typed in, and logs on.

This error message occurs no matter what log on settings are chosen in User Accounts - with or without password required. And no matter whether the primary log on is set to administrator, user or visitor.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[gbhall]

maybe try create another user. If that behaves as it should, delete the original user.

or check this for clues http://www.askdavetaylor.com/resetting_domain_on_windows_xp.html

 

[Poppa Bear]

maybe try create another user. If that behaves as it should, delete the original user.

or check this for clues http://www.askdavetaylor.com/resetting_domain_on_windows_xp.html

Thanks for the input. Tried creating another user but this made no difference. I suspect the OS may be corrupt, so will try running XP installation disc and choose the "Repair existing installation" option at boot up from the disc.

 

[LookinAround]

Hi PB

just a guess... but if you're getting that error message on reboot it sounds as though you have your computer set to "Autologon" on boot and the autologon info is incorrect. (so autologon fails but manual logons work)

Try resetting Autologon user/password info or even first try just turning Autologn off. (Are you familiar with the TweakUI tool to change autologon?)

 

[Poppa Bear]

Hi PB

just a guess... but if you're getting that error message on reboot it sounds as though you have your computer set to "Autologon" on boot and the autologon info is incorrect. (so autologon fails but manual logons work)

Try resetting Autologon user/password info or even first try just turning Autologn off. (Are you familiar with the TweakUI tool to change autologon?)

Hi LooknAround, nice to be in contact again. Every tip you've given me so far has been a winner. Thanks to your suggestion I've used Revo Uninstaller umpteen times in my own installations and in helping other people solve their computer problems. Then there was the info on how to use Acronis to mount an image and the list goes on. I'm retired and live in a seniors retirement village and seem to have been appointed the computer helper for other retirees. Probably an age thing, but most people in the complex still use XP.

Getting back to the thread topic, thanks for your input. And no I'm not familiar wtih TweakUI, though I've now downloaded it, however I won't be able to use it until I have access to my friend's PC again. Is it hard to use, or is it easier to switch off autologon manually, and if so, how would I do this?

Cheers PB

 

[LookinAround]

Hi PB

Glad to hear you've found the other tips handy

Normal Autologon change isn't too hard but it takes a registry edit - so one has to remember the registry key, be careful of registry errors, etc. TweakUI makes many UI changes quite easy (without any registry edits)

> Download TweakUI. It installs itself in C:\Windows\system32
> Navigate to the C:\Windows\system32 folder, double click to run TweakUI
> in tweaki menu, click Logon->Autologon

you'll find some other handy UI changes in it as well, if you ever need 'em

/* edit */
btw.. TweakUI will only work with XP

 

[Poppa Bear]

Thanks LookinAround.

Have tried TweakUI on my own XP and found the tweak to turn off autologon. It really is a great utility. Thanks heaps. Wish I'd known about it when I was using XP as my main OS.

Will report back after I get a chance to use it on the problem in my friend's PC.

Cheers PB

 

[Poppa Bear]

Hi LookinAround,

Sorry to take so long to get back on this issue. My friend had been away for a few weeks.

Anyhow, I'm happy to report that once again you've done the magic, and your suggestion to use TweekUI has fixed the problem instantly.

My friend has asked me to express his thanks to this forum, and to tell you in particular, that he is over the moon as this problem has bugged him for a long time. He is most grateful.

Cheers PB ps if you were a politician you'd get my vote! LOL!

 

[WinXPert]

Problem had been solved, anyway I like to add another solution

Start | Run | control userpasswords2

uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer

Ok

 

[LookinAround]

Hi PB

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear it helped

 

[Poppa Bear]

Problem had been solved, anyway I like to add another solution

Start | Run | control userpasswords2

uncheck Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer

Ok

Thanks WinXPert, reticked the logon using TweakUI and then disabled it using the run command and it achieved the same result as TweakUI.

Cheers PB

 

[WinXPert]

Same solution, different approach.