[Justus Caplinger]

Upon booting, right before I reach the welcome screen, I receive the following message:

lsass.exe System Error: When trying to update a password, the return status indicates that the value provided as the current password is not correct.

After receiving this message, the computer reboots. I've tried every option under the Windows Advanced Options Menu, and not one of them have worked. I've booted from the Windows XP CD and gone to the Recovery Console, but it asks for the Administrator Password, which I don't know. As a last resort I ran a repair installation, but it won't finish. Can you please help?

I'm running Windows XP Pro on a Dell Dimension C521. I have the Windows XP CD and a PuppyLinux CD.

Edited by Justus Caplinger, 26 April 2014 - 11:42 PM.

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   Justus Caplinger

 

 I've booted from the Windows XP CD and gone to the Recovery Console, but it asks for the Administrator Password, which I don't know.

 

Bypassing passwords is not something that we will assist with but I can ask have you tried leaving the password field empty.

 

Can I ask how much free space is available on the HDD and if the HDD has been making any odd noises or functioning slowly, this because the OS becoming corrupt can cause such behaviour as you describe.

 

Have you backed up all important data off the HDD.

[phillpower2]

   Justus Caplinger

 

 I've booted from the Windows XP CD and gone to the Recovery Console, but it asks for the Administrator Password, which I don't know.

 

Bypassing passwords is not something that we will assist with but I can ask have you tried leaving the password field empty.

 

Can I ask how much free space is available on the HDD and if the HDD has been making any odd noises or functioning slowly, this because the OS becoming corrupt can cause such behaviour as you describe.

 

Have you backed up all important data off the HDD.

[Justus Caplinger]

have you tried leaving the password field empty.

Yes I have.
 

Can I ask how much free space is available on the HDD and if the HDD has been making any odd noises or functioning slowly, this because the OS becoming corrupt can cause such behaviour as you describe.

I have at least 1 GB in my HDD. Fortunately, it hasn't made any odd noises, but it has functioned slowly every now and then.
 

Have you backed up all important data off the HDD.

Sadly, I hadn't.

I have suspicions that lsass.exe is affected by the Sasser worm. According to Microsoft Security Essentials' malware encyclopedia, it has an alert level of Severe.

[phillpower2]

I have at least 1 GB in my HDD.

 

 

Please note that in order to avoid data corruption and/or mechanical HDD failure for data only HDDs you must always have a minimum of 10% of the HDDs overall storage capacity available as free space and between and 15 and 20% of a HDDs overall storage capacity available as free space if the OS is on it, the free space allows for information to be copied to and from the drive efficiently.

Not having the above can render a computer inoperable if the HDD concerned has the OS on it due to the MBR (Master Boot Record) becoming damaged/corrupt, please see information @ http://pcsupport.abo...sterbootrec.htm

 

Do you have access to a computer that can burn disks and has internet connection.

[Justus Caplinger]

This whole situation started on April 1 when I got a pop-up message mentioning Microsoft would end support for Windows XP on April 8. The next day, I decided to use a Cruzer USB flash drive to transfer data to another computer while I upgraded to Windows 8.1. But it wouldn't recognize the flash drive. I looked at a Microsoft page that said to click Run in the Start Menu, type something in (I don't remember what exactly it was), and uninstall the flash drive, as well as anything else under the USB label. I realized too late that my mouse was a USB mouse.

I looked at a couple different forums. One of them said to run a repair installation. I did so, but received an error message and automatically restarted the repair installation. It somehow forgot about the repair installation, but then a message saying C:\Windows\System32\config\System was missing or corrupt. After looking at several different forums, I was able to repair it using the Recovery Console (it did not ask for the password at the time). And when rebooting, instead of the old, familiar Welcome screen, the lsass.exe message appeared.

I had found an easy way to remove the error message, but it requires the Recovery Console, which is locked by an Administrator Password. I tried every password I knew. Even leaving it blank wouldn't work. And the error message appears after the "Windows is restarting setup" screen. The situation seems hopeless!

[Justus Caplinger]

Do you have access to a computer that can burn disks and has internet connection.

Yes I do.

[Justus Caplinger]

I looked at the link you sent me, but I can't access the Recovery Console to type the "fixmbr" command.

[phillpower2]

As a priority you should try and back up any data that you need from the HDD before you do anything else, do you know how to use Puppy Linux to do this.

 

Tip

If you have something to add while waiting for a reply use the edit tab – bottom right of the dialogue input box and this will ensure that no information that you provide is overlooked (this can happen if your topic has more than one page)  thank you for understanding.

 

[Justus Caplinger]

I do not know how to use PuppyLinux to back up data yet.

[phillpower2]

Any questions please ask 

 

=================== 

***Required Hardware*** 

CD Burner (CDRW) Drive, 

Blank CD, 

Extra Storage Device (USB Flash Drive, External Hard Drive)  

=================== 

 

1. Save these files to your Desktop/Burn Your Live CD:

• Download Latest Puppy Linux ISO (i.e.: lupu-528.iso) 

  Download BurnCDCC ISO Burning Software 

   

  There are instructions on how to boot from flash drive with puppy here; http://www.pendrivel...e-from-windows/ 

   

   

• Open BurnCDCC with Windows Explorer 

• Extract All files to a location you can remember 

• Double Click BurnCDCC 

• Click Browse and navigate to the Puppy Linux ISO file you just downloaded 

• Open/Double Click that file 

  IMPORTANT: Adjust the speed bar to CD: 4x DVD: 1x 

• Click Start  

• Your CD Burner Tray will open automatically 

• Insert a blank CD and close the tray 

• Click OK 

Puppy Linux Live CD will now be created 

 

2. Set your boot priority in the BIOS to CD-ROM first, Hard Drive Second 

•  

• Start the computer/press the power button 

• Immediately start tapping the appropriate key to enter the BIOS, aka "Setup" 

  (Usually shown during the "Dell" screen, or "Gateway" Screen) 

• Once in the BIOS, under Advanced BIOS Options change boot priority to: 

  CD-ROM 1st, Hard Drive 2nd 

• Open your ROM drive and insert the disk 

• Press F10 to save and exit 

• Agree with "Y" to continue 

• Your computer will restart and boot from the Puppy Linux Live CD 

   

   

 

 

 

3.  Recover Your Data 

• Once Puppy Linux has loaded, it is actually running in your computer's Memory (RAM).  You will see a fully functioning Graphical User Interface similar to what you normally call "your computer".  Internet access may or may not be available depending on your machine, so it is recommended you print these instructions before beginning.  Also, double clicking is not needed in Puppy.  To expand, or open folders/icons, just click once.  Puppy is very light on resources, so you will quickly notice it is much speedier than you are used to.  This is normal.  Ready?  Let's get started. 

   

  3a. Mount Drives 

• Click the Mount Icon located at the top left of your desktop.  

• A Window will open.  By default, the "drive" tab will be forward/highlighted.  Click on Mount for your hard drive. 

• Assuming you only have one hard drive and/or partition, there may be only one selection to mount. 

• USB Flash Drives usually automatically mount upon boot, but click the "usbdrv" tab and make sure it is mounted. 

• If using an external hard drive for the data recovery, do this under the "drive" tab.  Mount it now. 

 

3b. Transfer Files.

•  

• At the bottom left of your desktop a list of all hard drives/partitions, USB Drives, and Optical Drives are listed with a familiar looking hard drive icon. 

• Open your old hard drive i.e. sda1 

• Next, open your USB Flash Drive or External Drive. i.e. sdc or sdb1 

• If you open the wrong drive, simply X out at the top right corner of the window that opens. (Just like in Windows) 

• From your old hard drive, drag and drop whatever files/folders you wish to transfer to your USB Drive's Window. 

 

For The Novice:  The common path to your pictures, music, video, and documents folders is: Documents and Settings >> All Users (or each idividual name of each user. CHECK All Names!) >> Documents >> You will now see My Music, My Pictures, and My Videos. 

 

Remember to only click once!  No double clicking!  Once you drag and drop your first folder, you will notice a small menu will appear giving you the option to move or copy.  Choose COPY each time you drag and drop. 

 

YOU ARE DONE!!!  Simply click Menu >> Mouse Over Shutdown >> Reboot/Turn Off Computer.  Be sure to plug your USB Drive into another working windows machine to verify all data is there and transferred without corruption. Congratulations!