Can't log on to Windows XP

[Guest Reason4]

I have exactly (I mean exactly!) the same problem as was recently posted by

JCook. The system will boot up but won't allow logon -- it just goes into a

start up/shut down loop. The same thing happens in Safe Mode except that both

the Administrator and normal user logon icons are presented.

 

I am running XP Professional on a Dell Dimension 4600 that is about almost 5

years old.

 

Malke, I just tried your recommendation about trying to boot to the last

known good configuration -- no dice. I just get the same logon loop.

 

I am working from my laptop now because, of course, I can't access the

desktop right now. Any and all help will be appreciated!!

[Guest Malke]

Re: Can't log on to Windows XP

 

Reason4 wrote:

> I have exactly (I mean exactly!) the same problem as was recently posted

> by JCook. The system will boot up but won't allow logon -- it just goes

> into a start up/shut down loop. The same thing happens in Safe Mode except

> that both the Administrator and normal user logon icons are presented.

>

> I am running XP Professional on a Dell Dimension 4600 that is about almost

> 5 years old.

>

> Malke, I just tried your recommendation about trying to boot to the last

> known good configuration -- no dice. I just get the same logon loop.

>

> I am working from my laptop now because, of course, I can't access the

> desktop right now. Any and all help will be appreciated!!

 

What is the recent history of this machine? Do you know if it is

virus/malware-free?

 

If as far as you know the machine is clean and there have been no changes, I

think I'd do some hardware troubleshooting. If you haven't backed up your

data yet, I would. Unless the hard drive has physical damage you can still

back up your data even if you can't boot into Windows. Let me know if you

need details about that.

 

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

 

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are

just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;

suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my

suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. Testing hardware failures often

involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good parts. If you can't

do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable opening your computer,

take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local

equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). If possible, have all your data

backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest Reason4]

Re: Can't log on to Windows XP

 

First of all, thanks for your willingness to help.

 

Now to your question; we run AVG and Avast antivirus programs, use Spybot

and Ad-Aware along with Windows Defender and SpywareBlaster and SpywareGuard.

 

In the last couple of weeks we have gotten hits from Spybot for what seems

to be Stration C and Trojan Norio malware. Hubby has made efforts to remove

these but the results have been questionable.

 

I would appreciate knowing more about being able to back up data. The only

thing we would lose is one day's files but if we can avoid losing that it

would be great.

 

"Malke" wrote:

>

> What is the recent history of this machine? Do you know if it is

> virus/malware-free?

>

> If as far as you know the machine is clean and there have been no changes, I

> think I'd do some hardware troubleshooting. If you haven't backed up your

> data yet, I would. Unless the hard drive has physical damage you can still

> back up your data even if you can't boot into Windows. Let me know if you

> need details about that.

>

> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

>

> Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are

> just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;

> suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my

> suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. Testing hardware failures often

> involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good parts. If you can't

> do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable opening your computer,

> take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local

> equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). If possible, have all your data

> backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

> Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

> FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

>

>

[Guest Malke]

Re: Can't log on to Windows XP

 

Reason4 wrote:

> First of all, thanks for your willingness to help.

>

> Now to your question; we run AVG and Avast antivirus programs, use Spybot

> and Ad-Aware along with Windows Defender and SpywareBlaster and

> SpywareGuard.

 

I hope you are not running AVG Antivirus and Avast Antivirus at the same

time. If you are, this could most certainly cause problems. I also would

not run Windows Defender and SpywareGuard at the same time. You only want

*one* antivirus program running resident and you only want *one*

antispyware program running resident.

> In the last couple of weeks we have gotten hits from Spybot for what seems

> to be Stration C and Trojan Norio malware. Hubby has made efforts to

> remove these but the results have been questionable.

 

As far as I'm concerned, your computer is in an unknown state. I have no

idea what your husband has done, what you have installed, or whether in

spite of all the stuff you have running the machine is really clean. There

is always the possibility of hardware failure, too. There is simply no way

for me to guess what's going on here since I can't see the machine.

 

If you can't log into Windows in any fashion, the only thing you can do is

boot with a Bart's PE or some other rescue media such as ERD Commander (an

old, expensive program that has been discontinued), load the registry hive

from the target drive and see if winlogon is damaged and if it has, repair

it. The correct registry entry for winlogon is:

 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

 

Userinit string value should be:

 

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

 

Note the trailing comma, which should be there.

 

You might also be able to salvage the system by pulling the drive and

slaving it in a working XP machine - or put it in an external enclosure -

and scanning it from the working XP install. Or at least see what's going

on and/or pull the data off by copying it from the working install.

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

[Guest carcari@gmail.com]

Re: Can't log on to Windows XP

 

I have the same problem that just started tonight on a Toshiba Laptop

with Windows XP Home. After entering the password it says "Loading

User Settings" then goes to "Saving User Settings" and goes back to

the Logon screen.

 

On Jun 26, 4:10 pm, Reason4 <Reas...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I have exactly (I mean exactly!) the same problem as was recently posted by

> JCook. The system will boot up butwon'tallowlogon-- it just goes into a

> start up/shut down loop. The same thing happens in Safe Mode except that both

> the Administrator and normal userlogonicons are presented.

>

> I am runningXPProfessional on a Dell Dimension 4600 that is about almost 5

> years old.

>

> Malke, I just tried your recommendation about trying to boot to the last

> known good configuration -- no dice. I just get the samelogonloop.

>

> I am working from my laptop now because, of course, I can't access the

> desktop right now. Any and all help will be appreciated!!