Password login screen changed and password not accepted

[jackie]

Windows XP Home, don't know the SP number
P4 2.8GHz

I'm trying to sort out a computer for a friend. He is the only user of the computer.

Up until a few days ago he was presented with the 'normal' XP login screen with an icon to click on and put in his password.

This has changed to a box with 'Log on to Windows' in the title bar and 'User name' and 'Password' boxes. His password is not accepted. This happens in Safe Mode as well. 'Cancel' is greyed out.

Typing 'Administrator' with no password appears as if it is going to log on, but after a couple of quick screen changes, it goes back to the log on box with his name back in the 'User name' box.

I suspect it has been hijacked, but how do I gain access to find out?

Any ideas please?

Thanks

Jackie

[insertcg]

Have you tried using ctrl+alt+del when the logon screen pops up? that may change it back to the normal screen. it works the other way around, from the normal to the classic view but im not sure vice versa.