Can't login in to XP

[Daave]

YW, Tim.

Actually, a Repair Install in *this* case might not do the trick.
There's a good chance OP has some nasty malware. Once he secures all his
data, a Repair Install certainly won't hurt, though.

If it were me, I'd boot off an emergency rescue disk, copy the data to
an external hard drive. And then scan for viruses, etc. If all seems
clean, *then* I'd try a Repair Install. Then if still no go, the nuclear
option: clean install.

One thing I've noticed lately is the number of reports of botched repair
installs. (Assuming SP3) ideally, one should have installed later
versions of IE and WMP *after* SP3 was installed (this is usually not
what users do). Otherwise, new problems arise after the Repair Install.

(Daave, thanks for pointing that out)

That's NOT the "Press R" I was talking about - That is why I actually
bothered to write down :

At this point choose 'To Repair an existing
XP Installation press R' (...or something to that effect).

...I just can't remember the 'exact' words (so I guess that it IS my
fault).
So you [he] could try again, but this time, *don't* select the option
that says :

"To repair using Recovery Console - press R now" (or something
similar).

...SKIP that screen, but do go on to select the option to do a
'Repair Install' :

(sorry)

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

Sounds like OP chose the "first R" and went into Recovery Console
and got the command prompt.

 

[Tim Meddick]

Very true - it should be greater publicized that installing later versions
of Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player BEFORE the latest Service Pack
will result in many and unforeseen PROBLEMS including not being able to
uninstall them without uninstalling the whole Service Pack first! (if
installed IE/WMP and SP3 the wrong way round).


==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

YW, Tim.

Actually, a Repair Install in *this* case might not do the trick. There's
a good chance OP has some nasty malware. Once he secures all his data, a
Repair Install certainly won't hurt, though.

If it were me, I'd boot off an emergency rescue disk, copy the data to an
external hard drive. And then scan for viruses, etc. If all seems clean,
*then* I'd try a Repair Install. Then if still no go, the nuclear option:
clean install.

One thing I've noticed lately is the number of reports of botched repair
installs. (Assuming SP3) ideally, one should have installed later versions
of IE and WMP *after* SP3 was installed (this is usually not what users
do). Otherwise, new problems arise after the Repair Install.

(Daave, thanks for pointing that out)

That's NOT the "Press R" I was talking about - That is why I actually
bothered to write down :

At this point choose 'To Repair an existing
XP Installation press R' (...or something to that effect).

...I just can't remember the 'exact' words (so I guess that it IS my
fault).
So you [he] could try again, but this time, *don't* select the option
that says :

"To repair using Recovery Console - press R now" (or something
similar).

...SKIP that screen, but do go on to select the option to do a
'Repair Install' :

(sorry)

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

Sounds like OP chose the "first R" and went into Recovery Console
and got the command prompt.

Tim Meddick wrote:
Please don't take offence at this but;

What on earth does : "Got to C:\windows> then did non know what to
do" mean? (in relation to my suggestion that you try a repair
install by booting from an XP installation disk and choosing the
'Repair Install' option)???
==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.




Got to C:\windows> then did non know what to do

:

Last-ditch attempt at resurrecting your current XP
installation.... If you have the original XP setup disk that you
either installed
XP with or
that came with your PC you could try a 'Repair Install'.

A 'Repair Install' will *not* overwrite your personal data
(pictures, music,
videos, etc) but will just overwrite operating system files and
reset some
system settings to their defaults.

You will still have all your old accounts, files and passwords.

You will lose nothing by trying this as I repeat, your data will
be safe. After inserting the cd-rom and booting from it, you will
come to a
screen asking you what you want to do. At this point choose 'To
Repair an existing
XP Installation press R' (...or something to that effect).

Do *not* do a full install at that point, before you have explored
ways of
rescuing any precious data you may want from off the drive (as
previously discussed).

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.




didn'twork

:

Have you tried 'Safe Mode'?

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com



I think I may have a virus, but I cannot get onto the system to
find out.

When my XP system boots, it asks me for a user password. During
set-up
two
years ago, these passwords were left blank. If I try to load my
user account,
or the Admin account, it says the user is logging in, but logs
it straight
out again.
I have tried using a couple of tools which gave me access to
these accounts
during the boot phase, and they tell me that the passwords are
blank,
but
I
still cannot log onto the system.
I tried using the command prompt to get in but that doesn't
work. i don't want to reiinstall and lose all my files,
Any clues?

 

[Daave]

Agreed. What is ironic is that most people who know this hardly ever
need to perform a Repair Install! This is because they:

1. practice safe hex and don't get malware to begin with

2. regularly image or clone the hard drives (a *much* better "repair"
method)

That is, people who are "techier than average" keep abreast of the
little-publicized best practices for things like SP3/IE/WMP.

Very true - it should be greater publicized that installing later
versions of Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player BEFORE the
latest Service Pack will result in many and unforeseen PROBLEMS
including not being able to uninstall them without uninstalling the
whole Service Pack first! (if installed IE/WMP and SP3 the wrong way
round).

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

YW, Tim.

Actually, a Repair Install in *this* case might not do the trick.
There's a good chance OP has some nasty malware. Once he secures all
his data, a Repair Install certainly won't hurt, though.

If it were me, I'd boot off an emergency rescue disk, copy the data
to an external hard drive. And then scan for viruses, etc. If all
seems clean, *then* I'd try a Repair Install. Then if still no go,
the nuclear option: clean install.

One thing I've noticed lately is the number of reports of botched
repair installs. (Assuming SP3) ideally, one should have installed
later versions of IE and WMP *after* SP3 was installed (this is
usually not what users do). Otherwise, new problems arise after the

(Daave, thanks for pointing that out)

That's NOT the "Press R" I was talking about - That is why I
actually bothered to write down :

At this point choose 'To Repair an existing
XP Installation press R' (...or something to that effect).

...I just can't remember the 'exact' words (so I guess that it IS my
fault).
So you [he] could try again, but this time, *don't* select the
option that says :

"To repair using Recovery Console - press R now" (or something
similar).

...SKIP that screen, but do go on to select the option to do a
'Repair Install' :

(sorry)

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.




Sounds like OP chose the "first R" and went into Recovery Console
and got the command prompt.

Tim Meddick wrote:
Please don't take offence at this but;

What on earth does : "Got to C:\windows> then did non know what
to do" mean? (in relation to my suggestion that you try a repair
install by booting from an XP installation disk and choosing the
'Repair Install' option)???
==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.




Got to C:\windows> then did non know what to do

:

Last-ditch attempt at resurrecting your current XP
installation.... If you have the original XP setup disk that you
either installed
XP with or
that came with your PC you could try a 'Repair Install'.

A 'Repair Install' will *not* overwrite your personal data
(pictures, music,
videos, etc) but will just overwrite operating system files and
reset some
system settings to their defaults.

You will still have all your old accounts, files and passwords.

You will lose nothing by trying this as I repeat, your data will
be safe. After inserting the cd-rom and booting from it, you
will come to a
screen asking you what you want to do. At this point choose 'To
Repair an existing
XP Installation press R' (...or something to that effect).

Do *not* do a full install at that point, before you have
explored ways of
rescuing any precious data you may want from off the drive (as
previously discussed).

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.




didn'twork

:

Have you tried 'Safe Mode'?

--
JS
http://www.pagestart.com



message
I think I may have a virus, but I cannot get onto the system
to find out.

When my XP system boots, it asks me for a user password.
During set-up
two
years ago, these passwords were left blank. If I try to load
my user account,
or the Admin account, it says the user is logging in, but
logs it straight
out again.
I have tried using a couple of tools which gave me access to
these accounts
during the boot phase, and they tell me that the passwords
are blank,
but
I
still cannot log onto the system.
I tried using the command prompt to get in but that doesn't
work. i don't want to reiinstall and lose all my files,
Any clues?

 

[Barry Schwarz]

Download my userinit fix from here http://www.ms-mvp.org/ this file works
for SP2 and SP3 only. READ the enclosed instructions. If you have SP1 do not
use this file. If you need any other version then email me using the link at
the bottom of my webpage. Your issue is caused by a malware infestation.
Once fixed you will need to use my Remove-it software, it will remove that
malware from your system. Choose yes for all options when prompted. Download
it here http://www.ms-mvp.org/

This not the MVP site despite its fake logos.

The correct MVP site is http://www.mvps.org/