Can't log in or boot from CD

[Trevor]

I have 4 user accounts on a PC. When I try and log in, it begins to log in
then saves settings and logs out. It does the same on 2 accounts with
passwords and 2 without.

I assume I need to boot from the XP CD and repair or reinstall Windows?
However. After about 20 or 30 restarts using F8 F10 or F10, the only screen
I have managed to get to doesn't bring up the option to boot from CD (it
doesn't automatically boot from CD). The options were last know good config,
safe mode and some others. Last good config didn't work.

I once got into the BIOS but when I tried to move the arrow keys to get to
the boot sequence nothing would move.

Any help gratefully appreciated. The PC has XP Home Edition and probably SP2
but can't be sure as I was given the PC and don't use it much.

 

[Ron Badour]

You have to get into the BIOS and look for the boot order settings--the
cdrom drive needs to be the first boot device. Look at the instructions in
the BIOS for navigating--there is no set way of doing things from BIOS to
BIOS. Exit and save the settings. Boot with the CD in the drive.

--
Regards

Ron Badour
MS MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

 

[Paul]

I have 4 user accounts on a PC. When I try and log in, it begins to log in
then saves settings and logs out. It does the same on 2 accounts with
passwords and 2 without.

I assume I need to boot from the XP CD and repair or reinstall Windows?
However. After about 20 or 30 restarts using F8 F10 or F10, the only screen
I have managed to get to doesn't bring up the option to boot from CD (it
doesn't automatically boot from CD). The options were last know good config,
safe mode and some others. Last good config didn't work.

I once got into the BIOS but when I tried to move the arrow keys to get to
the boot sequence nothing would move.

Any help gratefully appreciated. The PC has XP Home Edition and probably SP2
but can't be sure as I was given the PC and don't use it much.

Does the machine have PS/2 keyboard and mouse port (the "circle" ones,
one green and one purple, on the back of the machine) ? If you were
using a USB keyboard and had problems with it, and there is a PS/2
connector available, then switching to a PS/2 keyboard might make
navigation in the BIOS easier to do. My assumption in this case,
is some kind of problem with the USB ports.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/Ps-2-ports.jpg

I keep a DOS floppy around, which is another way to test the
computer. There is a chance the floppy is in the boot order,
and the machine might pick that up. If you have the right CD
driver on the floppy (I use xcdrom, but there are others -
I needed xcdrom because oakcdrom didn't work), then you can
even execute something on the CD, like setup.exe or whatever,
from the DOS command prompt. I installed WinXP on my current
computer, while bootstrapped from a DOS floppy.

Downloadable six floppy sets, for starting via a floppy drive.
Note - no set of floppies available for SP3 owners!

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310994

Depending on what SP your installer CD is at, you can
make a set of floppies and give that a try. It was a
waste of time for me, and I made my own bootstrapping floppy
instead. Only took me a whole day of hacking, to beat it
into shape (Had a few problems with EMM386.)

Paul

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have 4 user accounts on a PC. When I try and log in, it begins to log in
then saves settings and logs out. It does the same on 2 accounts with
passwords and 2 without.

I assume I need to boot from the XP CD and repair or reinstall Windows?
However. After about 20 or 30 restarts using F8 F10 or F10, the only
screen I have managed to get to doesn't bring up the option to boot from
CD (it doesn't automatically boot from CD). The options were last know
good config, safe mode and some others. Last good config didn't work.

I once got into the BIOS but when I tried to move the arrow keys to get to
the boot sequence nothing would move.

Any help gratefully appreciated. The PC has XP Home Edition and probably
SP2 but can't be sure as I was given the PC and don't use it much.

Your problem is most likely caused by some malware taking over the logon
file "userinit.exe". To resolve it you need to restore the original file. It
may also be necessary to repair the registry value
(HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows NT/Current Version/Winlogon/Userinit) that
points to this file. Since you appear to have limited experience with
Windows, I recommend that you seek expert help.