Can't Log On to 2000Pro after changing from Domain to Workgroup 1

[miken2av]

I have the feeling I am going to have to reinstall 2000. When I first set up my machine I was on a nailed up ISDN connection to my office. During setting up my machine I joined the Domain. Today I switched from ISDN to my office to a DSL connection from a local provider. So, I figured I better change from Domain to Workgroup. When I rebooted my user name and password don't work. Neither do the administrator user name or password.

Time for a fresh install? Hope not but that is what some friendly folks on IRC said was my only option.

 

[quackers]

Do a search on this site for win nt password and you will replyies on linux boot disks with shell scripts that allow you too change the password on win2k and nt boxes. It is really simple when you have tried

 

[vidon]

The problem would most likely be caused by the fact that your user account associated you with "domain" -- not with "workgroup". W2k wants your password to apply to a specific domain or workgroup or machine -- so your old user account will no longer apply.

However, you should still have an old Administrator account lingering around in the background from the days before you joined a domain -- an account that would just log you onto the *machine*.

If you can remember the name and password for that account, then at the logon screen, select "detail". This will show you what you're trying to log into. See if you can find a listing for your machine name in the pulldown menu (where you will also see workgroup or domain).

If you find a listing for your machine alone, select that option, and log in using your machine's admin user name and password. Once logged in, create a new user account for yourself in workgroup.

That should take care of the problem.

 

[Canadianweasel]

Generally, I find that most Windows2000 installations and NT, when stand alone, will have no administrator password for the local machine.

You are logging on to a local machine, and NT based systems have local machine security, almost as if they're their very own domain.

Try various administrator passwords you might think it could be, including a null password.

I've not tried the above Linux shell solution, so I cannot speak to that, although I wouldn't be surprised to see it work.

If you can manage to log back on to the domain, then you can simply add the user to the local computer, and/or change the administrator password for the local computer.

Failing any of that, you could put the drive in as a slave on any NT/2000 machine and use a utility such as L0pht's nt password cracker (I can't guarentee it's workability on 2k, but I believe it uses the same password hashing techniques...anyone know?)

 

[lisg]

Has this problem ever got solved? I changed my w2k pro from domain to workgroup today and could not log on to it any more.

Please advice if had a working solution.

 

[jabel5]

Me too. It's an easy, stupid thing to do. I am still hopeful that our IT guys have the administrator passwd. Otherwise, it's Linux time.

 

[uicmars]

Lucky me! Had the same problem too but I just clicked OK without typing any password for the Administrator account
and I was able to enter Win2k.
But I am interested how the other guys worked their way out.