cannot login

[kwawrz]

I've got a winXp box that worked fine yesterday, but today
I cannot login. Even in Safe Mode, Even as Administrator.
When I login I see the desktop for a second, the I see the
computer is logging off and it's back to Press
CRTL+ALT+DEL. Help!

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

This is often the result of running AdAware:

Boot with the XP CD (assuming you have a retail version, and not an OEM "Recovery" CD). Begin Setup. You'll be given the option to Repair an existing installation. Select this option. This takes you into Recovery Console. You'll be prompted for the Administrator password. If there is a password on this account, you will need to remember it. This is not the password for any "administrator" level account, it is the password for THE Administrator account.

Once in the Recovery Console, enter the following commands:

CD System32
COPY USERINIT.EXE WSAUPDATER.EXE

Reboot the computer. You should now be able to log on. Once you have, click Start, run and enter REGEDIT Go to:

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

Look in the right pane for the Userinit value. Double click the Userinit value and change it to C:\Windows\System32\userinit.exe, The comma on the end is intentional, and it must be there. Now, if desired, you can delete the WSAUPDATER.EXE copy that you created.

http://www.lavahelp.com/articles/v6/04/06/0901.html
Unable to Log On To Windows XP After Removing wsaupdater.exe

 

[James Allard]

Hi,

Well, this was a timely response. The word serendipity comes to mind.
I have a friend who has a WinXPpro box and he decided he didn't want
to enter his password anymore (his two kids are finally away at
College <g>) and so he says he just went in and deleted his password -
now he has exactly the same problem as described above. Could this
just be coincidental and still be an adaware problem (I'm not sure if
he even has that) and if not adaware, is there some other solution to
this. He does not have the retail version but the OEM upgrade disks
available.

Any help appreciated,

JimA