I'm completely new to this forum an hope to find some help here. I have recently purchased a used PC with pre installed wondows XP. The PC actually comes from a professional company with network accesibility.

The log on procedure allows only the system administrator to log on. I want to change the user log on options so multiple persons can have their own log as per normal windows XP home use.

I think I need to do this through the configuration screen, user accounts, change the way users log on and than select the two options - the welcome log on window and switch to another user quickly (apologies for the poor translation of these options but I work from a Dutch menu). However the two options are greyed out and I get a pop up message stating that Client Services for Netware has deactivated both options. If I want to use the two options I need to remove Client Services for NEtware.

- How do I do this

Many Thanks, MArcel

Ok, first off lets get rid of the Netware stuff.
OPen control panel
Find Network connections (very easy if you switch to classic view)
Right click on Local area network connections
Properties
General tab towards the middle lists all of the installed protocols
Remove everything to do with Netware (highlight and uninstall)
You may have to reboot

Next bit.
Control panel
Find user accounts
Open
Advanced tab
Secure logon at the bottom, uncheck the box.


As this is an excompany machine it maybe set up to work on a domain, so while you are in user accounts make sure that there is a local administrator account
Should read; user: Administrator domain: computer name
You can reset the password here to something you know (this is where you can add new users as well )

Now you need to remove the compueter from the domain.
Right click my computer
Properties
Computer name tab
Change button at the bottom under network id
Fill in the correct information here (workgroup name) apply and reboot.


Hope this helps

Ok, thank you for your prompt reply, very encouraging.

a)
I have removed all Netware related software, at least I think from "LAN connection"
- NOvell Client for Windows
- Client for Microsoft Networks

It visually diappears asks me to restart the PC to activate the changes however when I restart the PC it re-appears and doesn't seem to have been deleted. Also not sure this is related to the problem but e.g. any setting, favorites I had saved in Explorer aren't saved either, even the history is not there.

b)
Next bit --> Control panel -->Find user accounts -->open advanced tab
Secure logon at the bottom, uncheck the box

I have no ädvanced tab and can't find anything like "secure logon at the bottom etc.

c) "while you are in user accounts make sure that there is a local administrator account" --> I have two administrator accounts but they are not password protected.

d) "should read; user: Administrator domain: computer name
You can reset the password here to something you know (this is where you can add new users as well )" --> can't find this on the same window. I can only
- change account
- make new account
- change how users log on


e) Now you need to remove the compueter from the domain.
Right click my computer
Properties
Computer name tab
Change button at the bottom under network id
Fill in the correct information here (workgroup name) apply and reboot

--> this appears all to have been completed

OK so its partly done.

You need to remove the Novell stuff as well

Have a look at the attached file as it shows you the bits you need, everything else can be uninstalled.

As the computer is not in a domain the user accounts is slightly different and much similar, so you can ignore all of those bits.

Once the network connections are cleaned out it should work fine, you will then be able to activate the welcome screen and fast user switching from within user accounts.

Attached Images

 

Not sure I was clear but it basically will not allow me to remove the software. Initially it looks OK ut after restarting the PC it is all back!!

Have you completely removed the Novell netware client, should be in add/remove programs.

Make sure this is done and then the rest should be OK.

Also have you tried doing this in safe mode ?

I have now also tried removing it through add/remove. When doping it it looks OK, after restart it is still there. BAsically I can't change anything, not even the clock

Did they give you the Windows XP disk and license key with the PC? If so - it could just be worth wiping the PC and starting from scratch (depending on if you have a lot of documents on the PC etc.). Sounds a little weird that a company wouldn't have wiped the PC clean for you - who knows what kind of sensitive stuff could be on that PC.

Unfortunantly if you can't even adjust the clock then the account you are trying to use isn't a FULL admin one. This maybe due to Netware permissions overriding the local XP ones.
As LTheobald, a full rebuild sounds like it is in order.

There is no sensitive data on the PC, as far as that is concerned the wipe was well done. Is it possible that the PC as a stand alone machine has only profiles without full admin rights. I can do the usual stuff like creating accounts etc, however I can't change the log on procedure so the accounts are actually visible and usuable.

So a new rebuild, OK I have XP CD rom.

It does sound like you have a full admin account in the eyes of windows but the Netware stuff (which I'm assuming acts as a layer on top) doesn't seem to believe you to be a full admin in it's eyes. You don't need this Netware stuff and there could be other programs you encounter later on that cause you troubles.

If you want to do a full rebuild, do a few things first:

• Backup everything you think you'll need - documents, passwords, favourites, emails and so forth.
• Ensure you know what your graphics card, sound card, network card etc. are (Right click on My Computer >> Properties >> Hardware Tab >> Device Manager >> Find them under the appropriate category in here). You'll need this info to update/install the correct drivers later on.
• It might be an idea to download the drivers for your network card if you can do that. Just to make sure you can connect to the internet once the clean install is done.
• Make sure you have your Windows key!

Here's a guide for doing a clean install:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

This Thread will help you when you come to reinstall XP.

Back again, still struggling,

I have made an attempt to start with a complete new installation with the use of a start up disk. When I want to clean out the hard drive and run a format C or D, the Window system files are still on there and error message states "can't format a networkstation"

I start hating this bloody thing!!

I finally got the thing going, thanks.