Can't get past the "Welcome" screen

[Guest]

I can't get past the "Welcome" screen. None of the options (safe mode, safe
mode with networking, etc) allow me to click on one of the users at the
Welcome screen and proceed. When I do select one of the users (including
Administrator) it immediately begins to "load preferences" and then moves to
"saving preferences" and essentially remains at the "Welcome" screen.
I tried booting with the reinstall disk that Dell sent with the system, but
nothing happens as I suppose that the bios has the C-drive as a higher
priority than either one of the other drives. Can't even change the priority
until I get a DOS prompt...
I've seen the posting about having recently run "ad-blocker" software & the
corruption that this can cause. Problem is that I can't restore if I can't
get past the "Welcome" screen.
I'm open for any suggestions...
Thanks! Tom

 

[Larry Samuels]

Sounds like you recently removed BlazeFind.
Thanks go to Rick Rogers, MVP for the following instructions:

Did you run a spyware removal program lately? The userinit value may have
been corrupted by the removal of blazefind. It adds wsaupdater.exe to the
logon value in the system registry, sometimes appending it, sometimes
replacing it. Running Adaware or other cleaners detects and removes
wsaupdater.exe, but doesn't correct the registry damage. If this is the
case, then you may need to load the registry hive from another installation
and change it. This is the key:

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

Userinit string value should be:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

On the damaged installations it's one of these:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,
C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,

Another "quickie" method of resolution is to load the Recovery Console (see
below), copy userinit.exe as wsaupdater.exe from the command prompt, then
restart normally. Once in, go and change the registry value back to what
it's supposed to be and delete the copied file.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

This can also be done by using the 6 disk boot floppy set mentioned in the
above article, as it loads enough of the Recovery Console so that you can
copy the file. This is particularly useful if you have an OEM installation
that includes only a Restore CD, or no disk at all.



--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

 

[Guest]

Larry,
I agree, Rick's advice seems thorough...but I can't get past the "Welcome"
screen to make the changes.
I need to understand how to by-pass the "Welcome" screen so that I can get
to a DOS prompt. Nothing in the user-setup (F8) mode helps.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Tom

Sounds like you recently removed BlazeFind.
Thanks go to Rick Rogers, MVP for the following instructions:

Did you run a spyware removal program lately? The userinit value may have
been corrupted by the removal of blazefind. It adds wsaupdater.exe to the
logon value in the system registry, sometimes appending it, sometimes
replacing it. Running Adaware or other cleaners detects and removes
wsaupdater.exe, but doesn't correct the registry damage. If this is the
case, then you may need to load the registry hive from another installation
and change it. This is the key:

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

Userinit string value should be:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

On the damaged installations it's one of these:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,
C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,

Another "quickie" method of resolution is to load the Recovery Console (see
below), copy userinit.exe as wsaupdater.exe from the command prompt, then
restart normally. Once in, go and change the registry value back to what
it's supposed to be and delete the copied file.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

This can also be done by using the 6 disk boot floppy set mentioned in the
above article, as it loads enough of the Recovery Console so that you can
copy the file. This is particularly useful if you have an OEM installation
that includes only a Restore CD, or no disk at all.



--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

I can't get past the "Welcome" screen. None of the options (safe mode,
safe
mode with networking, etc) allow me to click on one of the users at the
Welcome screen and proceed. When I do select one of the users (including
Administrator) it immediately begins to "load preferences" and then moves
to
"saving preferences" and essentially remains at the "Welcome" screen.
I tried booting with the reinstall disk that Dell sent with the system,
but
nothing happens as I suppose that the bios has the C-drive as a higher
priority than either one of the other drives. Can't even change the
priority
until I get a DOS prompt...
I've seen the posting about having recently run "ad-blocker" software &
the
corruption that this can cause. Problem is that I can't restore if I
can't
get past the "Welcome" screen.
I'm open for any suggestions...
Thanks! Tom

 

[Larry Samuels]

Hi TDickey,

Boot from the XP CD and enter the recovery console by pressing R when
prompted.
type:
Copy c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe c:\windows\system32\wsaupdater.exe
Reboot the system and you should be able to log on normally to complete
repairs.


--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

Larry,
I agree, Rick's advice seems thorough...but I can't get past the "Welcome"
screen to make the changes.
I need to understand how to by-pass the "Welcome" screen so that I can get
to a DOS prompt. Nothing in the user-setup (F8) mode helps.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Tom

Sounds like you recently removed BlazeFind.
Thanks go to Rick Rogers, MVP for the following instructions:

Did you run a spyware removal program lately? The userinit value may
have
been corrupted by the removal of blazefind. It adds wsaupdater.exe to the
logon value in the system registry, sometimes appending it, sometimes
replacing it. Running Adaware or other cleaners detects and removes
wsaupdater.exe, but doesn't correct the registry damage. If this is the
case, then you may need to load the registry hive from another
installation
and change it. This is the key:

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

Userinit string value should be:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

On the damaged installations it's one of these:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,
C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,

Another "quickie" method of resolution is to load the Recovery Console
(see
below), copy userinit.exe as wsaupdater.exe from the command prompt, then
restart normally. Once in, go and change the registry value back to what
it's supposed to be and delete the copied file.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

This can also be done by using the 6 disk boot floppy set mentioned in
the
above article, as it loads enough of the Recovery Console so that you can
copy the file. This is particularly useful if you have an OEM
installation
that includes only a Restore CD, or no disk at all.



--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

I can't get past the "Welcome" screen. None of the options (safe mode,
safe
mode with networking, etc) allow me to click on one of the users at the
Welcome screen and proceed. When I do select one of the users
(including
Administrator) it immediately begins to "load preferences" and then
moves
to
"saving preferences" and essentially remains at the "Welcome" screen.
I tried booting with the reinstall disk that Dell sent with the system,
but
nothing happens as I suppose that the bios has the C-drive as a higher
priority than either one of the other drives. Can't even change the
priority
until I get a DOS prompt...
I've seen the posting about having recently run "ad-blocker" software &
the
corruption that this can cause. Problem is that I can't restore if I
can't
get past the "Welcome" screen.
I'm open for any suggestions...
Thanks! Tom

 

[Larry Samuels]

oops that command doesn't wrap well

type
"Copy c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe c:\windows\system32\wsaupdater.exe"
without the quotes.

--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

Hi TDickey,

Boot from the XP CD and enter the recovery console by pressing R when
prompted.
type:
Copy c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe c:\windows\system32\wsaupdater.exe
Reboot the system and you should be able to log on normally to complete
repairs.


--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

Larry,
I agree, Rick's advice seems thorough...but I can't get past the
"Welcome"
screen to make the changes.
I need to understand how to by-pass the "Welcome" screen so that I can
get
to a DOS prompt. Nothing in the user-setup (F8) mode helps.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Tom

Sounds like you recently removed BlazeFind.
Thanks go to Rick Rogers, MVP for the following instructions:

Did you run a spyware removal program lately? The userinit value may
have
been corrupted by the removal of blazefind. It adds wsaupdater.exe to
the
logon value in the system registry, sometimes appending it, sometimes
replacing it. Running Adaware or other cleaners detects and removes
wsaupdater.exe, but doesn't correct the registry damage. If this is the
case, then you may need to load the registry hive from another
installation
and change it. This is the key:

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

Userinit string value should be:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

On the damaged installations it's one of these:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,
C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,

Another "quickie" method of resolution is to load the Recovery Console
(see
below), copy userinit.exe as wsaupdater.exe from the command prompt,
then
restart normally. Once in, go and change the registry value back to what
it's supposed to be and delete the copied file.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

This can also be done by using the 6 disk boot floppy set mentioned in
the
above article, as it loads enough of the Recovery Console so that you
can
copy the file. This is particularly useful if you have an OEM
installation
that includes only a Restore CD, or no disk at all.



--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm



I can't get past the "Welcome" screen. None of the options (safe mode,
safe
mode with networking, etc) allow me to click on one of the users at
the
Welcome screen and proceed. When I do select one of the users
(including
Administrator) it immediately begins to "load preferences" and then
moves
to
"saving preferences" and essentially remains at the "Welcome" screen.
I tried booting with the reinstall disk that Dell sent with the
system,
but
nothing happens as I suppose that the bios has the C-drive as a higher
priority than either one of the other drives. Can't even change the
priority
until I get a DOS prompt...
I've seen the posting about having recently run "ad-blocker" software
&
the
corruption that this can cause. Problem is that I can't restore if I
can't
get past the "Welcome" screen.
I'm open for any suggestions...
Thanks! Tom

 

[Guest]

Larry,
I have an OEM Operating System CD from Dell. It is titled "Reinstallation
CD Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition." When I put this in the D-drive, the
system continues to boot (I believe from the hard disk) and I am taken to the
"Welcome" screen.
This may be a simple work around for someone in the know...but for me, it
continues to be the show-stopper.
I really appreciate all of the time that you (and all of the others) have
taken to try and help me resolve this problem.
Thanks, Tom

oops that command doesn't wrap well

type
"Copy c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe c:\windows\system32\wsaupdater.exe"
without the quotes.

--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

Hi TDickey,

Boot from the XP CD and enter the recovery console by pressing R when
prompted.
type:
Copy c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe c:\windows\system32\wsaupdater.exe
Reboot the system and you should be able to log on normally to complete
repairs.


--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

Larry,
I agree, Rick's advice seems thorough...but I can't get past the
"Welcome"
screen to make the changes.
I need to understand how to by-pass the "Welcome" screen so that I can
get
to a DOS prompt. Nothing in the user-setup (F8) mode helps.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Tom

:

Sounds like you recently removed BlazeFind.
Thanks go to Rick Rogers, MVP for the following instructions:

Did you run a spyware removal program lately? The userinit value may
have
been corrupted by the removal of blazefind. It adds wsaupdater.exe to
the
logon value in the system registry, sometimes appending it, sometimes
replacing it. Running Adaware or other cleaners detects and removes
wsaupdater.exe, but doesn't correct the registry damage. If this is the
case, then you may need to load the registry hive from another
installation
and change it. This is the key:

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

Userinit string value should be:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

On the damaged installations it's one of these:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,
C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,

Another "quickie" method of resolution is to load the Recovery Console
(see
below), copy userinit.exe as wsaupdater.exe from the command prompt,
then
restart normally. Once in, go and change the registry value back to what
it's supposed to be and delete the copied file.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

This can also be done by using the 6 disk boot floppy set mentioned in
the
above article, as it loads enough of the Recovery Console so that you
can
copy the file. This is particularly useful if you have an OEM
installation
that includes only a Restore CD, or no disk at all.



--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm



I can't get past the "Welcome" screen. None of the options (safe mode,
safe
mode with networking, etc) allow me to click on one of the users at
the
Welcome screen and proceed. When I do select one of the users
(including
Administrator) it immediately begins to "load preferences" and then
moves
to
"saving preferences" and essentially remains at the "Welcome" screen.
I tried booting with the reinstall disk that Dell sent with the
system,
but
nothing happens as I suppose that the bios has the C-drive as a higher
priority than either one of the other drives. Can't even change the
priority
until I get a DOS prompt...
I've seen the posting about having recently run "ad-blocker" software
&
the
corruption that this can cause. Problem is that I can't restore if I
can't
get past the "Welcome" screen.
I'm open for any suggestions...
Thanks! Tom

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Read the second half, you need to enter the Recovery Console. This is done
by booting the WinXP CD or by booting from the disk set made from the files
here:

Home edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=33290

Professional edition:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/release.asp?ReleaseID=33291

Then copying userinit.exe to wsaupdater.exe from the prompt:

C:\Windows>copy C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe
C:\Windows\system32\wsaupdater.exe

Then restart normally and try logging on.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Larry,
I agree, Rick's advice seems thorough...but I can't get past the "Welcome"
screen to make the changes.
I need to understand how to by-pass the "Welcome" screen so that I can get
to a DOS prompt. Nothing in the user-setup (F8) mode helps.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Tom

Sounds like you recently removed BlazeFind.
Thanks go to Rick Rogers, MVP for the following instructions:

Did you run a spyware removal program lately? The userinit value may
have
been corrupted by the removal of blazefind. It adds wsaupdater.exe to the
logon value in the system registry, sometimes appending it, sometimes
replacing it. Running Adaware or other cleaners detects and removes
wsaupdater.exe, but doesn't correct the registry damage. If this is the
case, then you may need to load the registry hive from another
installation
and change it. This is the key:

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

Userinit string value should be:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

On the damaged installations it's one of these:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,
C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,

Another "quickie" method of resolution is to load the Recovery Console
(see
below), copy userinit.exe as wsaupdater.exe from the command prompt, then
restart normally. Once in, go and change the registry value back to what
it's supposed to be and delete the copied file.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

This can also be done by using the 6 disk boot floppy set mentioned in
the
above article, as it loads enough of the Recovery Console so that you can
copy the file. This is particularly useful if you have an OEM
installation
that includes only a Restore CD, or no disk at all.



--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

I can't get past the "Welcome" screen. None of the options (safe mode,
safe
mode with networking, etc) allow me to click on one of the users at the
Welcome screen and proceed. When I do select one of the users
(including
Administrator) it immediately begins to "load preferences" and then
moves
to
"saving preferences" and essentially remains at the "Welcome" screen.
I tried booting with the reinstall disk that Dell sent with the system,
but
nothing happens as I suppose that the bios has the C-drive as a higher
priority than either one of the other drives. Can't even change the
priority
until I get a DOS prompt...
I've seen the posting about having recently run "ad-blocker" software &
the
corruption that this can cause. Problem is that I can't restore if I
can't
get past the "Welcome" screen.
I'm open for any suggestions...
Thanks! Tom

 

[Larry Samuels]

Hi Tom,

See Rick's follow-up post with a link to the download of the 6 floppy disks
you will need if your XP cd doesn't boot.

--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

Larry,
I have an OEM Operating System CD from Dell. It is titled "Reinstallation
CD Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition." When I put this in the D-drive,
the
system continues to boot (I believe from the hard disk) and I am taken to
the
"Welcome" screen.
This may be a simple work around for someone in the know...but for me, it
continues to be the show-stopper.
I really appreciate all of the time that you (and all of the others) have
taken to try and help me resolve this problem.
Thanks, Tom

oops that command doesn't wrap well

type
"Copy c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe
c:\windows\system32\wsaupdater.exe"
without the quotes.

--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

Hi TDickey,

Boot from the XP CD and enter the recovery console by pressing R when
prompted.
type:
Copy c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe
c:\windows\system32\wsaupdater.exe
Reboot the system and you should be able to log on normally to complete
repairs.


--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Larry,
I agree, Rick's advice seems thorough...but I can't get past the
"Welcome"
screen to make the changes.
I need to understand how to by-pass the "Welcome" screen so that I can
get
to a DOS prompt. Nothing in the user-setup (F8) mode helps.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Tom

:

Sounds like you recently removed BlazeFind.
Thanks go to Rick Rogers, MVP for the following instructions:

Did you run a spyware removal program lately? The userinit value may
have
been corrupted by the removal of blazefind. It adds wsaupdater.exe to
the
logon value in the system registry, sometimes appending it, sometimes
replacing it. Running Adaware or other cleaners detects and removes
wsaupdater.exe, but doesn't correct the registry damage. If this is
the
case, then you may need to load the registry hive from another
installation
and change it. This is the key:

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

Userinit string value should be:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

On the damaged installations it's one of these:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,
C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,

Another "quickie" method of resolution is to load the Recovery
Console
(see
below), copy userinit.exe as wsaupdater.exe from the command prompt,
then
restart normally. Once in, go and change the registry value back to
what
it's supposed to be and delete the copied file.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

This can also be done by using the 6 disk boot floppy set mentioned
in
the
above article, as it loads enough of the Recovery Console so that you
can
copy the file. This is particularly useful if you have an OEM
installation
that includes only a Restore CD, or no disk at all.



--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm



I can't get past the "Welcome" screen. None of the options (safe
mode,
safe
mode with networking, etc) allow me to click on one of the users at
the
Welcome screen and proceed. When I do select one of the users
(including
Administrator) it immediately begins to "load preferences" and then
moves
to
"saving preferences" and essentially remains at the "Welcome"
screen.
I tried booting with the reinstall disk that Dell sent with the
system,
but
nothing happens as I suppose that the bios has the C-drive as a
higher
priority than either one of the other drives. Can't even change
the
priority
until I get a DOS prompt...
I've seen the posting about having recently run "ad-blocker"
software
&
the
corruption that this can cause. Problem is that I can't restore if
I
can't
get past the "Welcome" screen.
I'm open for any suggestions...
Thanks! Tom

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Larry,
I have an OEM Operating System CD from Dell. It is titled "Reinstallation
CD Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition." When I put this in the D-drive, the
system continues to boot (I believe from the hard disk) and I am taken to the
"Welcome" screen.

Hi

Go into your BIOS setup and check if it is set to try to boot on CD
before hard disk. If not, change it do do that.

Also, at bootup, you need to look for a message that says something
like "Press any key to boot from CD" that will be visible for some
seconds. If you don't press any key during that time, it will boot
on the hard disk.

 

[Guest]

You guys are awesome! Took me a while to find a 3.5" drive on something
other than the affected PC...but once I got the disks, everything worked just
like you scripted!
Thanks for all of the help!
Best regards, Tom

 

[Larry Samuels]

You're welcome!!
Glad everything is working for you now.

--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

 

[Rob E.]

What was the solution again?

Rob

 

[Larry Samuels]

Thanks go to Rick Rogers, MVP for the following instructions:

Did you run a spyware removal program lately? The userinit value may have
been corrupted by the removal of blazefind. It adds wsaupdater.exe to the
logon value in the system registry, sometimes appending it, sometimes
replacing it. Running Adaware or other cleaners detects and removes
wsaupdater.exe, but doesn't correct the registry damage. If this is the
case, then you may need to load the registry hive from another installation
and change it. This is the key:

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

Userinit string value should be:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

On the damaged installations it's one of these:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,
C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,

Another "quickie" method of resolution is to load the Recovery Console (see
below), copy userinit.exe as wsaupdater.exe from the command prompt, then
restart normally. Once in, go and change the registry value back to what
it's supposed to be and delete the copied file.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

This can also be done by using the 6 disk boot floppy set mentioned in the
above article, as it loads enough of the Recovery Console so that you can
copy the file. This is particularly useful if you have an OEM installation
that includes only a Restore CD, or no disk at all.



--
Larry Samuels MS-MVP (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone -
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm

 

[Rob E.]

Thanks! This is really helpful!

Rob

 

[Guest]

Larry,

I want to thank you in advance for all the suggestions you have made to
date. I have a HP Pavilion 5170 note book. It of course is running Windows
XP. I have had this problem in the past and have resorted to reinstalling
Windows XP and losing all my files. I think I have determined the root. This
occurs when one of my children leave one of their CDs in the CD/DVD drive.
Apparently the BIOS is set primarily to boot from the CD/DVD drive.

I have looked at my bios and do not believe that I can boot from my disk
drive. The only option I have is to boot from my cd/dvd drive. When try to
boot from disk one (1) of six (6) of my reinstallation/ recovery disk I am
prompted with three choices: continue at the risk of loosing all file in my
hard drive, discontinue process, and diagnostic test. I have tried to type r
at this point and was not able to accomplish anything. I depressed continue
and was able to advance to another screen with additional options. At this
point I have tried once again to type the letter R with no results. Some how
I made it to the "C:" prompt and did not see the C:\windows\system32\
directories. The only directory on the C drive was TEMP. Some where along the
lines I have missed something. Do you have any suggestions?


Thank you,

Larry