Can't get to the "users" control panel app.

[AtlantaBob]

I've got a computer (Shuttle SK41G, AMD 1700+, 1 GB RAM, Windows Home SP2) that can't load the Users applet in the Control Panel. When I click on it, a window comes up for about a quarter of a second, then dissapears again.

No other control pannel applet does this. The same thing happens when I try to run it from the command line "control userpasswords" (I think that's what it is, it's been a few days, but I made sure the command was right then.) No problem occures when I try "control userpasswords2" The same thing happens in safe mode. I thought it might have been a services issue, all except for "Themes" and ... crud, whatever Microsoft disabled in SP2 that was used in the last worm attack, are now turned set to automatic or manual. There are no issues that come up in any of the event, security or application logs after trying unsucessfully to launch "users."

And yes, the account is a computer administrator; although I noticed in userpasswords2 that it's also a member of another group which I believe was created by Access (had something to do with database access; again , sorry, it's been a few days since I played with this problem).

So, what do I do from here?

 

[talyn00]

I would try it again with another user account, just to rule out the possibility that this could be some issue with your profile

 

[AtlantaBob]

Amusing thing is, there is no other user account on the computer... and the Guest account is turned off. As I recall, on XP home, though, I can boot with the otherwise hidden "Administrator" account only in safe mode, right?

 

[Doh!]

Have you tried Administrative Tools->computer management?

 

[AtlantaBob]

I haven't...

Would you mind refreshing my memory on how I get there?

Thanks!

 

[AtlantaBob]

Bump?

 

[imported_Stew]

There is a way you can get there with the Run dialog as well.. The actual user management dialog is a file called users.cpl, but I forget where it is

 

[talyn00]

If you want to get into safe mode its F8 on when booting into windows to bring up the menu. and then just select safe mode

 

[AtlantaBob]

Ah, yes, I've tried the safe mode approach. Just wasn't sure how to get to Administrative Tools--> computer management.

Now I realize that I'm a moron... that's the same as right-clicking on my computer and choosing manage. Woopsie.

 

[Nocturnal]

What happens if you attempt to search your computer, does that work at all?

If not, try this, start, run, regsvr32 jscript.dll and see if that works.

 

[AtlantaBob]

Originally posted by: Nocturnal
What happens if you attempt to search your computer, does that work at all?

If not, try this, start, run, regsvr32 jscript.dll and see if that works.

Sorry--what do you mean if I try to search? Using the built in command on the Start Menu? Haven't tried...

No other strange behavior other than this... the installation is probably going on a year+ now...

I'm guessing that command would load a javascript.dll? Any reason why that might be an issue?

 

[mechBgon]

Do you have up-to-date, current-generation antivirus software, out of curiosity? Ran a scan recently with all the goodies turned on (heuristics and compressed-file scanning, no exemptions)?

What are you trying to do in Users & Passwords, add a user, change a password or ??? In the event this might help you, here are some command-line commands:


net user lists all the current user accounts

net user mechBgon cheetah /add adds a new user account named mechBgon with password cheetah. The new account will be a Limited-class account.

net localgroup Administrators mechBgon /add adds the mechBgon account to the Administrators group

net user mechBgon pizza! changes the password to pizza! for user account mechBgon

 

[AtlantaBob]

MechBGon:

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I've got Network Associates' VirusScan, kept up to date, and with all the goodies. My browsing is all pretty low-risk, and I don't open stupid email attachments... nonetheless, I thought that something might have gotten through. But so far, I haven't found anything.

I was actually just trying to go in to change the password. I appreciate the command-line tools, though! Those are a big, big help!