PASSWORD / Login Problems.

[Sanjay]

I am hoping someone can help me solve my problem. Everything about my unattend Windows installation goes smoothly, except there is one thing that either I don't understand or needs fixing.

The problem is that after Windows was done with the instalation I went to user controls and changed my password from "pass" to something else and then I created another user with no password. I then logged off and logged into the other newly created user and did some tweaking etc. I then restarted my computer, this is where the problem started, instead of completely rebooting, the reboot got stalled midway. I tried restartign the computer several times but the boot process kept getting stalled at the same point. I then booted windows in safe mode, this time, at the stage where windows boot was getting stuck, I got a message that the password was incorrect. Apparently this is where the boot process was getting stalled each time, except that the message wasnto getting displayed. I then entered the original password "pass" and windows succesfully booted up.

Can someone please help me understand what is going on here and why am I not able to use a new password. Also before I had made another user, why was I able to boot up numerous times without being prompted to enter the password? What is the purpose of the 'AUTOLOGON.REG' file and if i have '"AutoAdminLogon"="1"' then why am I able to automatically logon more than 'once?

My WINNT.SIF

;SetupMgrTag
[Data]
    AutoPartition = 0
    MsDosInitiated = "0"
    UnattendedInstall = "Yes"
    AutomaticUpdates = Yes

[Unattended]
    UnattendMode = FullUnattended
    UnattendSwitch = Yes
    OemSkipEula = Yes
    OemPreinstall = Yes
    Hibernation = Yes
    TargetPath = \WINDOWS
    DriverSigningPolicy = Ignore

OemPnPDriversPath = "Drivers\SATA;Drivers\nForce5.1\GART;
Drivers\nForce5.1\IDE\Winxp;Drivers\nForce5.1\MemCtl;
Drivers\nForce5.1\SMBus;Drivers\nForce5.1\AudioDrv;
Drivers\nForce5.1\AudioUtl;Drivers\nForce5.\Ethernet\Winxp;
Drivers\Graphics\ForceWare;Drivers\Monitor\Samsung;
Drivers\LAN\3Com;Drivers\Camera\Intel 4.100.0.82"

[GuiUnattended]
    AdminPassword = *
    EncryptedAdminPassword = NO
    OEMSkipRegional = 1
    OEMSkipWelcome = 1
    TimeZone = 190

[UserData]
    ProductKey = XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
    FullName = "Sanjay"
    OrgName = "XYZ Ltd."
    ComputerName = XYZ

[Display]
    BitsPerPel = 32
    Vrefresh = 60
    Xresolution = 1280
    YResolution = 1024

[TapiLocation]
    CountryCode = 91
    Dialing = Tone
    AreaCode = 11

[RegionalSettings]
    LanguageGroup = 15,10,1
    SystemLocale = 00000409
    UserLocale = 00000439
    InputLocale = 0409:00000409

[Branding]
    BrandIEUsingUnattended = Yes

[URL]
    Home_Page = http://www.msn.co.in

[Components]
    msmsgs = Off
    Msnexplr = Off
    Fax = On 

[IEPopupBlocker]
    AllowedSites = microsoft.com
    AllowedSites = search.msn.com
    AllowedSites = *.windowsupdate.microsoft.com
    AllowedSites = office.microsoft.com

[Proxy]
    Proxy_Enable = 0
    Use_Same_Proxy = 1

[Identification]
    JoinWorkgroup = WORKGROUP

[Networking]
    InstallDefaultComponents = Yes

[GuiRunOnce]
    Command0 = %systemdrive%\drivers\setup.cmd
    Command1 = %systemdrive%\install\start.cmd

My USERACCOUNTS.CMD

net user Sanjay pass /add
net localgroup Administrators Sanjay /add
net accounts /maxpwage:unlimited
REGEDIT /S autologon.reg
EXIT

My AUTOLOGON.REG

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon]
"DefaultUserName"="Sanjay"
"DefaultPassword"="pass"
"AutoAdminLogon"="1"

[prathapml]

I find that the command-line method of making user accounts has been problematic to many people.

A simpler method, is to use the oobeinfo.ini method (if you're on WinXP), and then upon first-login, apply the password you want, or to change user groups. Or if you only have one user being created it is even easier - just use the oobeinfo.ini to create the one user you want, that's all. (no need to add to administrators, no need to create it, no need to use auto-logon, etc.). You can then just set the password (net user sanjay password) upon first login, and apply the maxpwage thing (both through batch-files) and be done with it!

Link to topic - oobeinfo.ini usage.

Hoping it helps....

EDIT:

@sanjay - please edit out the winnt.sif from your first post, its not really needed in this case, moreover its breaking the page alignment to screen!

[MHz]

@Sanjay

What is the purpose of the 'AUTOLOGON.REG' file and if i have '"AutoAdminLogon"="1"' then why am I able to automatically logon more than 'once?

"AutoAdminLogon"="1" means without needing to enter password to logon (not related to main administrator account logon).

The fix is booting into safe mode and typing control userpasswords2 in start menu -> run. In user accounts window, you can change the autologon setup, which may still be using your old password.

My guess is whether "DefaultPassword"="pass" is required in autologon.reg? This may be the fault? It will take alittle testing to checkup on this.

B)