A problem came up a couple weeks ago, the first time I rebooted after an
optional Windows Update. I logged in as a non-Admin user, the system
said it was checking user preferences (or something like that) and
showed an hourglass and didn't go much beyond that.

Now when I boot I get the pretty XP greeting screen, but soon the system
shows a blank blue screen with a little hourglass. The hourglass moves
with the mouse, but the computer stays in this state until I unplug it.
It does not respond to Ctrl-Alt-Del or to pings or to the power button.

Using the Dell XP installation CD, I am able to run Windows Setup. I
press R to run the Recovery Console and choose to log onto the
C:\WINDOWS installation (the only choice). Then I type the
Administrator password as prompted and it says the password is not valid.

How do I get past this password problem or otherwise repair my system?

Other possibly-useful information:
============================
Dell Dimension 4500.
Able to run Linux from the other hard drive, so the hardware seems okay.
Had left my system on for a week or more before this happened.
Have a router/firewall between this box and my DSL modem.
Have had the XP firewall turned on.
Have had ZoneAlarm installed and turned on.
Have been using AdAware and S&D regularly.

Hmmm...no antivirus software?

You should only use one software firewall at a time. Running Windows
Firewall and Zone Alarm together actually weakens your protection.

This can often get you back in the saddle:

"How to start your computer by using the Last Known Good Configuration
feature in Windows XP"
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;307852

Modem Ani

"Matt" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:dLrLd.2927$(E-Mail Removed)...
> A problem came up a couple weeks ago, the first time I rebooted after an
> optional Windows Update. I logged in as a non-Admin user, the system
> said it was checking user preferences (or something like that) and
> showed an hourglass and didn't go much beyond that.
>
> Now when I boot I get the pretty XP greeting screen, but soon the system
> shows a blank blue screen with a little hourglass. The hourglass moves
> with the mouse, but the computer stays in this state until I unplug it.
> It does not respond to Ctrl-Alt-Del or to pings or to the power button.
>
> Using the Dell XP installation CD, I am able to run Windows Setup. I
> press R to run the Recovery Console and choose to log onto the
> C:\WINDOWS installation (the only choice). Then I type the
> Administrator password as prompted and it says the password is not valid.
>
> How do I get past this password problem or otherwise repair my system?
>
> Other possibly-useful information:
> ============================
> Dell Dimension 4500.
> Able to run Linux from the other hard drive, so the hardware seems okay.
> Had left my system on for a week or more before this happened.
> Have a router/firewall between this box and my DSL modem.
> Have had the XP firewall turned on.
> Have had ZoneAlarm installed and turned on.
> Have been using AdAware and S&D regularly.