Users Changed after restart

[Odelay]

Hi,

This is a bit of a strange problem. I restarted my computer, and it reverted to a previous state long before I had windows 7 installed. The problem is, I don't remember the password for the old admin. I have standard access, but I can't do a system restore or anything else really, other than basic usage. Does anyone know how or why this happend, and a possible solution short of a reinstall.

Thanks for reading.

 

[richc46]

Hi,

This is a bit of a strange problem. I restarted my computer, and it reverted to a previous state long before I had windows 7 installed. The problem is, I don't remember the password for the old admin. I have standard access, but I can't do a system restore or anything else really, other than basic usage. Does anyone know how or why this happend, and a possible solution short of a reinstall.

Thanks for reading.

It sounds like you did a upgrade (if you did not have to reinstall all of your programs, you did an upgrade). If this is the case, the only long term solution is to reinstall. This time do a clean install. If my assumption is wrong, just repost and let us know. I know that you said that you do not want to reinstall, but if you did do an upgrade, initially, problems will just continue to occur.

The only other solution, is to boot from your windows DVD and do a repair install.

 

[Odelay]

Originally I did do an upgrade, and had some serious issues, so I formatted and did a fresh install. That is what is really confusing to me. How could that info still be on there some where? I do have multiple hard drivers. I think I am just going to have to bite the bullet and reformat. There is no way to bypass the password or get admin rights as a user? I just find it very strange that it would pull up users that have been deleted for months, and never active on windows 7.

Thanks for your reply!

 

[IggyAZ]

Hi,

This is a bit of a strange problem. I restarted my computer, and it reverted to a previous state long before I had windows 7 installed. The problem is, I don't remember the password for the old admin. I have standard access, but I can't do a system restore or anything else really, other than basic usage. Does anyone know how or why this happend, and a possible solution short of a reinstall.

Thanks for reading.

May be a default screen asking for a password.
Leave the password space blank and hit enter.
Let us know what happens.

 

[Odelay]

Its worth a shot, I will give it a go when I get home in a few hours.

Thanks for your reply!

 

[richc46]

If Iggy's assumption is correct, then your problem is resolved. If, as I assumed from your initial posting, that the problems are a lot more serious, then we do have other remedies. If you did indeed revert to an earlier OS, we will have to make the needed repairs. We have tutorials, outlining,remedies for lost password, repairs, and other problems. When you get back to us we will be glad to offer further assistance to help you restore your computer.

 

[Odelay]

I am sorry, I should of been a bit more clear in my description. The OS is still Windows 7, how ever the users are two users that were from a previous OS, now on windows 7. I haven't had those users on my old OS for several months... they are back from the dead on the new OS replacing my current admin log in.

Sorry, writing is not my greatest asset

Thanks again, I will report back when I get a chance to try no password.

 

[richc46]

Don't apologize, you write very well. It is difficult, sometimes, to understand specific problems without actually seeing the computer. In any event, I know that we can help. Talk soon.

 

[Odelay]

Ok, I tried no password and it doesn't take it. I tried creating a new account but it keeps saying the name is invalid. I tried changing the account I can log into to admin, it acts like it takes it, but after logging out and back in, it doesn't change.

Any other ideas?

Thanks!

Edited to add:

If I goto C:\Users my original admin account folder is there, so its not deleted or anything. But in the log on screen, its not there.

 

[richc46]

Lets try a repair install. Use your windows 7 DVD to boot. Choose repair install and then just follow the screens. This should correct corruption. You can not get into ADmin account, so you cannot do a SFC repair. Lets try the DVD repair.

 

[Odelay]

Excellent. I will give it a try now.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[richc46]

My fingers are crossed, too. Good luck

If errors show up, but the OS is still not repaired, you may have to run it through several more times.

 

[IggyAZ]

I wish it to work

I wish it to work....

 

[IggyAZ]

It has been over 16 hours since he logged off.
I'm starting to worry.

 

[Odelay]

Well, it seemed to do a repair installation, but when I restarted it was the same thing. Only this time, when I logged in under the basic user, my ethernet adapter didn't work. I tried re installing my chipset drivers to get it to work, and I didn't have administrator access, which I didn't think you needed for drivers *shrug*. In a nut shell I lost my patience and trasfered what files I needed to a different partition, formatted and did a fresh install.

This time around I set up users, so everyone in the house doesn't have rights to mess around a whole lot. I seriously doubt Windows decided to do this on its own. How this happened, I will never know. I wish I wouldn't of lost my patience and figured it out.

Once again Thanks Rich and Iggy! Willing people like yourselves make this community a great place!

-Ode

 

[richc46]

You made the right choice, both with the Install and keeping unwanted hands out of administrator account. I hope that you get many years enjoyment out of your new OS.