Hi, I'm trying to set up a password on this PC (XP Pro) which has never been password protected - it's used by the kids for browsing & playing music so never found the need for a password. Now, however I've decided to set up a password so I can get scheduling to run backups. However when I try & create a password (there's only the one 'User' account (with nothing saying 'password protected), & 'guest' account is off) I just get a message saying 'Windows cannot change the password' - there's no option to 'change', only 'create', which confirms there is no password. Once I've been through this bit the account now says password protected but if I then try to change or remove it, the system says 'Windows cannot change/move' & the 'password protected' disappears. I don't really want to shut down & restart yet, just in case but has anyone got a reason/solution to this bizarre problem. "I know that I'm mad, I've always been mad"

I had a similar problem a few months back, after trying the various suggetions put forward (all of which were to no avail) I reinstalled Xp using the Unattend command to resolve the matter. Lessons learnt the hard way are not easily forgotten.

Hmm, I was really hoping that wasn't going to be the response - if that's the case I'd prefer to invest in a different scheduler. "I know that I'm mad, I've always been mad"

It sounds like your current account is corrupt, you can boot to safe mode and sign in using the hidden admin account and create another user account and assign a password to this account. boot back to the normal desktop and sign in with the new account, transfer all your documents to the new account and delete the old account.

Thanks for replies - I was thinking along the same lines. Do I have to use safe mode admin or can I just create a new profile in normal mode (the account is an administrator)? Also I note, in Control Panel/System/Advanced/User Profiles, that there's an option to copy the profile. Would it be worth doing this and then can I 'paste' it into the new profile or would I be carrying over the corruption? "I know that I'm mad, I've always been mad"

Hmmm, gets wierder - tried creating new accounts, in both normal & safe modes & in both cases I was unable to create a password. The admin. account in safe mode is password protected, luckily with my 'standard' one, but it still will not let me apply a password to other accounts. Any suggestions gratefully received. "I know that I'm mad, I've always been mad"

#3 was one of the many suggestions I tried too. If you need to reinstall WindowsXP and want to keep all your current installed applications and settings: 1. Start WindowsXP 2. Go to the location of your source files 3. Run WINNT32 /unattend For example, D:\I386\winnt32 /unattend (copy & paste this command into the RUN box, then press ENTER) Your computer will do the rest. Or: Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. Copy & paste > D:\I386\winnt32 /unattend, Press Enter. If you have i386 (about 500mb) on your hard drive, you can replace D: (if D: is your cd drive) with the location of it. Lessons learnt the hard way are not easily forgotten.