Windows XP The system cannot log you on now because the

[stephen]

Logon Message
The system cannot log you on now because the domain XXXX is not available

The PC has been running in a peer to peer network for more than a year, today when I restarted the PC I received this error when I tried to logon, The domain mentioned is just the Workgroup of the Windows XP Pro PC. The PC has never been used in a Windows Server Domain.

Microsoft have a hot fix
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/824302
CAUSE
This problem may occur if your user credentials have either expired or have been removed.

I found this site with a hint on how to create a new user during repair install.

http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-741-log-into-machine-as-domain-admin-when-not-on
There is a way, if you have a windows XP disc lying around. Do a REPAIR INSTALLATION. While it is installing (it should display "installing devices" or some such) hit SHIFT+F10. This will bring up a console. In the console, type USRMGR.CPL. You can now create a new local admin user. If you get errors regarding services not started, open services.msc and manually start the services it requires.

http://groups.google.com.au/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin/browse_thread/thread/9d161865702c906b

See Part A below for how to get into your computer. See Part B after that
regarding the autochk.exe error.

Part A - Getting into your computer:

If you have forgotten your password, if you have another user account with
administrative privileges you can log into that account and change your
original user account's password from the User Accounts applet in Control
Panel. If you don't have another account like this set up or don't have the
password to it, you'll need to log into the built-in Administrator account.
In XP Home, boot the computer into Safe Mode. Do this by repeatedly tapping
the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to the right
menu. Navigate using your Up arrow key; the mouse will not work here. Once
in Safe Mode, you will see the normally hidden Administrator account. The
default password is a blank.

In XP Pro, you do not need to go into Safe Mode. At the Welcome Screen, do
Ctrl-Alt-Del twice to get the classic Windows logon box. Type in
"Administrator" and whatever password you assigned when you set up Windows.

If you reset the built-in Administrator account's password in Home or have
Pro and don't remember the password, use NTpasswd to change the built-in
Administrator account's password to a blank.

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Then go to the User Accounts applet in Control Panel and set passwords that
you will remember and make other desired changes. WRITE THE PASSWORDS DOWN
AND PUT THEM SOMEWHERE YOU WON'T LOSE THEM.

Part B - The autocheck error
When you start Windows XP, you receive 'Autocheck program not found'

Quoted from http://www.jsifaq.com/SF/Tips/Tip.aspx?id=10242

This behavior will occur if %SystemRoot%\System32\Autochk.exe is missing or
corrupt.

To workaround this problem:

1. Insert the Windows XP installation CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive. If the
Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP window appears, close it.

2. Open a CMD.EXE window.

3. Type the following command and press Enter:

echo Y|copy <CD-ROM:>\i386\autochk.exe %WINDIR%\system32

4. Remove the Windows XP installation CD-ROM.

5. Shutdown and restart Windows XP.

HTH,

Malke