Can't log in!

[smirnoff]

OK Basicaly I have two operating systems: XP and VISTA but i dont use vista.

 

When i switch my computer on, i have to select either one - i ALWAYS select xp , it loads then it comes to the log in screen where i have to click on my name and i log in. easy.

 

Now a few days ago I had some trojans so i installed NORTON 2005 everthing went ok, the viruses went and the computer was ok.

 

Now yesterday i switch the computer on, selct XP , it loads, but instead of a log in screen i get a black screen with only my cursor (which i can move). and thats it!

 

help! i have tried waiting, restarting but thats all that happens!

 

I have a Pentium dual core 3ghz with 4g ram and 400g hard drive space - a decent spec i think. Last time i checked there was 10 g left on my C drive which should be enough right? can some one help?

[Seth]

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help Smirnoff.

 

As your computer starts, start tapping F8 and a boot menu will appear. Use the arrow keys and choose Last Known Good Configuration" and hit enter.

 

If that doesn't work, go back to menu and try Safe Mode With A Command Prompt. If you get the prompt, type in %systemroot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe and press enter to start Window's System Restore.

 

Also, if Norton found infections, I guarantee better scanners will find more. I'll be back in about an hour to talk to you about that some more.

 

Good Luck.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Hello Smirnoff

 

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help

 

Well for a start I would not have installed Norton in any flavour.

 

Regarding the space factor let me get this right, you have used 380GB with XP, Vista, Programs and your personal stuff installed yes?

[smirnoff]

thank-you I'mnot sure how much there is in total but i've had this computer for about a year now and i put most of my stuff on an external drive.

 

I have another problem - you say to press F8 but nothing works till i get to WINDOWS BOOT SCREEN where i normaly choose either XP or VISTA. when vista is HIGHLIGHTED i can press F8 if XP is highlighted there is no option and F8 doesn't work :-( i only have restore and all those other options under VISTA

[smirnoff]

I should also say that VISTA loads fine but theres not much i can do fro there as the programe needs a key and im buying vista premium next week.

[smirnoff]

Hold that - i selected ENTER to load XP anyway and THEN tried pressing F8 - that worked - and now i could choose the menus - so i tried LAST KNOWN CONFIGURATION and that didnt work - same problem - so i'm trying to restore - last time i remembered though i switched restore off? i'll let you know how i get on!

[smirnoff]

I also have another problem that i havnt seen as that bad but had it from day 1. Sometimes when i start my computer the mouse and keyboard wont work till i get to the login screen (obviously this makes getting into backup menus difficut lol) the keyboard is a microsoft one designed for VISTA and the mouse is a belkin one... strange

[maynardvdm]

Hi

The other members will log in later and will have more help on your issue.

Does the mouse and keyboard only sometime not work or is this consistant?

[smirnoff]

only sometime not work.

 

UPDATE: LAST KNOWN CONFIGURATION didnt work and SAFE MODE with COMMAND PROMPT didnt let me type anything in? it asked if i should skip something but i didnt know what to do so i didnt skip and nothing worked? this article seems to be what my problem is but i cant get to WINDOWS RECOVERY CONSOLE how can i get to that?

 

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=367636&lang=en&docname=c00254484

[maynardvdm]

does normal safe mode work?

[maynardvdm]

Select Microsoft Windows Recovery Console .

NOTE: If "Microsoft Windows XP Recovery Console" is not listed, restart the PC with a Windows XP CD, Recovery Console CD, or Recovery Tools CD in the top CD or DVD drive and open Microsoft Windows Recovery Console. If a Windows XP Setup screen appears when using Recovery Console CDs, press the R key to open the Recovery Console.

 

NOTE: If "Microsoft Windows XP Recovery Console" does not list and you do not have a CD with recovery console, try the following:

 

Turn on the PC, and press the F10 key repeatedly at the first screen.

At the Recovery screen, click Advanced Options .

Press the Alt + D keys at the same time to open a command prompt window and skip to step 5.

Do you have a windows xp disk?

[smirnoff]

nope - safe does not work and i have no disk BUT i saw this link and have made a disk and it works but i follow the instuctions down the page and my computer says NO DISKS i cant find C and it says i need to do a full recovery? :-(

[AdvancedSetup]

Are either the keyboard or mouse WIRELESS USB devices or are they both connected via a cable to the system?

 

Can you enter the BIOS screen and use the Keyboard?

[Seth]

If the system board doesn't have a driver for a USB keyboard, then the keyboard won't work until XP loads a driver for it.

 

If Vista is functioning, boot to it, and double click on My Computer. Find the drive that has XP on it, right click it and choose Properties>Tools>Error Checking. Put a check on the first option but not on the second and hit start. You may get a message that error checking can't run because the volume is in use. Choose enter Y at the prompt and restart back into Vista to allow the error checking to run.

 

Now try XP.

[AdvancedSetup]

Based on the SPECS given for the PC I would doubt that the MB can not natively run USB (unless someone has disabled it in BIOS)

 

I would think more of a wireless issue or faulty hardware.

 

But, give it a try and let us know

[smirnoff]

vista is functioning but i need to enter a key to work it and as i said i cant get that till next week.....both the keyboard and mouse are not wireless.

 

Ok im restarting into VISTA and will see what happens... will keep you informed

[smirnoff]

OK the XP DRIVE (D) NTFS has been checked it said:

 

623 large fle records proccessed

0 bad ones proccessed

0 EA records processes

2 Reparse records proccessed

 

and

 

740577 index entries processed

5 unindexed files processed

202384 security descriptors processed

 

13831 security data files processd

something about journal proccessed

 

and everything ok....

 

im going to try run XP now....wish me luck

 

 

just noticed - if it scanned XP and found it on drive D how come WINDOWS XP RECOVERY disk cant find any drives?

 

p.s sorry about my bad spelling im rushing lol

[smirnoff]

OK this time - XP loaded and then BRIEFLY the login screen appeared! But then it dissapeared and im facing a black screen now with NO cursor...i have to reboot

[smirnoff]

what shall i do now?

[smirnoff]

is that it then :-( no more ideas?

[maynardvdm]

Hi

Just be patient we are thinking of more solutions but it does take time http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sad/begging.gif

[smirnoff]

I have tried again and this time this comes up :

 

THE FILE OR DIRECTORY C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM.LOG IS CORRUPT AND UNREADABLE. PLEASE RUN THE CHKDSK UTILITY

 

what now?

[smirnoff]

ah ok sorry! I didnt mean to be rude! I really am appreciating your help and if you do fix this i'll go nuts and buy you all a pint! or something lol

[smirnoff]

I managed to get into WINDOWS RECOVERY CONSOLE and typed CHKDSK and it says:

 

THE VOLUME APPEARS TO CONTAIN ONE OR MORE UNRECOVERABLE PROBLEMS....

 

gulp... what now?

 

*patiently awaits :-)*

[maynardvdm]

Did you try to press f10 at startup as stated in that article? Did you recieve any hp recovery disks with the pc?