Locked Out of my Computer!

Several weeks ago I succumbed to Microsoft's nagging to update my computer. There was a critical update - yet another critical update!

Usually I do a custom install, but this time, in a hurry, I choose the express install. As often happens MS decides what is best - and downloaded a .NET Framework component which I had avoided in the past.

When the machine rebooted it asked for a password. I had never used one, but could not get into the computer. Tried several times with no luck.

I tried to boot into Safe Mode, but on the newer and faster machines it is sometimes difficult to get to the right place in time! After repeated tries I finally got into Safe Mode. Noted that now there were two administrator accounts? I had no knowledge of the additional account. I could get nowhere. After several hours I decided to do a System Restore on my XP machine ... the only way I could get in. I realized that MS had created a new admin account with the .NET Framework download.

Aggravations!

In seaching round I found: "One annoying thing that happens when you install the .NET runtime from Microsoft is if you are used to have Windows boot up straight into your "desktop" this gets changed to use the login screen. This is annoying because the user is never told anywhere how to fix this. Also it is annoying if the user is a single user that has access to this machine and does not connect to any network, the login screen acts as a 10 second time stealing mechanism every morning.

If this occurs in your realm, see http://fragments.turtlemeat.com/dotnetinstall.php. It says: "If you are the only person using the computer, what to have it automatically log you on:
Start / Run / "control userpasswords2" - no quotes
Uncheck User must enter a user name and password to use this computer"
Did not work for me [Ed...]! In fact when I checked this again, there appeared the new admin account!

System Restore

Say yea for system restore and check it out! Go to Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, System Restore. Check under System Restore Settings. I only monitor the C drive that has system files on it. No need to do CD / DVD / partition drives. It does take up lots of space!

On the right hand of the screen is Restore to an Earlier Setting and Create a Restore Point. Look at the former to see if there are restore point there. If there is a restore point hopefully is was done at a good time - on a clean machine. If one has a virus or spam type entries, the restore will restore these.

Clean up your computer! Delete all unused and unwanted software. Do a virus check and use a spam detector for a complete run on your machine. Do a defrag to re-align the disk, then create a restore point. Oft times new software will create restore points, but you need to know that you have a clean machine. When disaster strikes you will be ready.

I have used System Restore on several occasions. One was a hi-jacked machine that insisted on going to porn sites. System Restore resolved that problem! Again you need to clean up the computer!

I have several bits of software running on my machine, AVG Anti-Virus, Spy Sweeper by Webroot, Spybot SD, WinPatrol, and a tiny bit of software called Startup Control Panel by Mike Lin. There is probably overkill, and they do slow my machine down, but I have not had a problem since the first hi-jack - until the latest MS .NET Framework problem. Read and Heed!

MS has announced that all security emails will be discontinued and future critical issues will be delivered by Really Simple Syndication (RSS). I looked into RSS software and discovered that the one I choose needed .NET Framework. Needless to say I did not install the software. I do not know if the addition of .NET Framework will affect other computers as it did mine, and I am not willing to try again. Ann Harney