If you never set a password, just hit enter.

If this just happened, try doing a System Restore using the latest date available when you know it worked. Personal files will be ok, but all XP updates and software originally installed after the restore will have to be reinstalled.

click start>help&support
click "undo changes..."
Follow the prompts and pick latest date when it was ok.

Ron

How many important files you have on the Windows partition? If I were you, I would try to save these files and to reinstall Windows with FORMATTING the partition.

A restore point might be a real problem. Just imagine the following scenario: you've got a virus and a restore point is created when you have the virus in the system. Of course, the virus is saved in this restore point as well as all other programs. After you kill the virus, you get this kind of problem and you do a restore. I am sure you can imagine what happens if you use the restore point... This is why I DISABLE restoring service as the FIRST STEP when Windows is running after a fresh install, even BEFORE any updates or installing any additional drivers which are not recognized automatically by Windows. And I have Windows running on my computers for more than 4 years without ANY problems.

Message Edited by anonim on 03-02-2007 01:13 PM

anonim,
I wouldn't be recommending the format/reinstall route so fast. We have no idea if the OP's system has a virus or not. But if System Restore fixes the problem, then it's over and done in a matter of minutes. If there's malware on the system, the problem would reoccur and then it can be dealt with at that point. The OP can always run Ad-aware and Spybot before doing anything else to be sure the system is clean.

Besides, assuming the OP's system has it, PC Restore will reset the hard drive to exactly the way Dell shipped it without all the time and hassles of reformatting and reinstalling all drivers, software, etc.

It's easy to suggest format/reinstall when it's someone else's system. But we have no way of knowing if the OP even has the skills and time to perform a reinstall [with no offense to this OP ;) ]

Ron

Rohe >> Depends how important is the computer for Mark. Sometimes it is faster to reinstall everything (takes 2-3 days depending on the program you have, or less than an hour if you have a saved image.

If Mark spends days talking with us from another computer (his network does not work, right? so he has to use another computer to ask for our opinions), he might end up with reinstalling the system and he will not be able to use his computer to connect to the internet all this time. If he does business from his computer and he needs network connection for that, what do you think is cheaper? If I saw his computer I would be able to say what is the problem (and you as well), but in this case we can only guess what might be the problem.

It is up to him what he is going to do. I personally DO NOT TRUST system restore and I WILL NEVER TRUST it.

"This statement is irrevelant since it is unsupported"

Not supported by whom? By Dell or Microsoft? Just my 2 cents about their opinion regarding this unsupported thing you mention. I can live without it.

It seems that you guys don't agree with what Microsoft or Dell support say should be the right way. I don't care if you agree or not, but sooner or later people who can think beyond what Microsoft says will have my opinion as well. At least let others to think that there are OTHER WAYS much BETTER than what Microsoft and Dell say about computers. I am sure you don't know anything about tricks, right? You do only what is written in the user manual.

Microsoft has its own reasons saying this. But when somebody sustains only what Microsoft say (even if they have a reason to keep people uninformed), let me doubt regarding his expertize in computers, OK?

PS. This is my final answer in this thread. And regarding my opinion: take it or leave it, but do it ONLY for yourself. Don't influence the others, let them think. Thank you.