Can't login in to XP

[Goobster]

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?

 

[JS]

Have you tried 'Safe Mode'?

 

[Tim Meddick]

You do not need to loose your files.

At the very least, you can take the hard-drive out and put it in a working
XP machine as a 'slave' drive (you may have to change the 'jumper' setting
to SL (slave) from either MS (master) or CS (cable select) The 'jumper'
itself is a tiny 'bridge' between two of six pins marked with the before
mentioned letters (SL, MS or CS)).

Once temporarily installed in another machine, you can then copy all of your
files (in an Administrator - level account) to a pen-drive from your
profile's 'My Documents' folder.
(located at "%USERPROFILE%\My Documents")

Once safely on the pen drive, you can then take back your hard-drive back to
your own PC and begin re-installing XP, knowing that all your data is safe
on the pen drive.

A pen drive of about 4GB should be well enough space for such an operation,
unless you have a particularly large collection of music or many video
files.

But do not give up on trying to repair your present installation just yet.

As, "js" asks, have you tried safe-mode?

Or, is that what you meant by "...tried using the command prompt to get
in....." ???


==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Randem]

Boot into safe mode then try "Last Known Configuration" If you can get in
there immediately create a new user with admin permissions just in case.

If that does not work remove your HD and place in a USB Enclosure (or slave
it in another computer) to run virus / malware scanning on it from there.

Ref: http://www.randem.com/virusproblems.html


--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Disk Read Error Press Ctl+Alt+Del to Restart
http://www.randem.com/discus/messages/9402/9406.html?1236319938

 

[Goobster]

didn'twork

Have you tried 'Safe Mode'?

 

[Goobster]

Thanks last known config wouldn'twork - I think i'll nheed to try the slave
approach that had been mentioned earlire

 

[Goobster]

Thnaks - i may need to try this approach

You do not need to loose your files.

At the very least, you can take the hard-drive out and put it in a working
XP machine as a 'slave' drive (you may have to change the 'jumper' setting
to SL (slave) from either MS (master) or CS (cable select) The 'jumper'
itself is a tiny 'bridge' between two of six pins marked with the before
mentioned letters (SL, MS or CS)).

Once temporarily installed in another machine, you can then copy all of your
files (in an Administrator - level account) to a pen-drive from your
profile's 'My Documents' folder.
(located at "%USERPROFILE%\My Documents")

Once safely on the pen drive, you can then take back your hard-drive back to
your own PC and begin re-installing XP, knowing that all your data is safe
on the pen drive.

A pen drive of about 4GB should be well enough space for such an operation,
unless you have a particularly large collection of music or many video
files.

But do not give up on trying to repair your present installation just yet.

As, "js" asks, have you tried safe-mode?

Or, is that what you meant by "...tried using the command prompt to get
in....." ???


==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Jose]

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, butI
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?

I suspect you will not be able to boot in safe mode either.

It is not the mode, it is probably just the logon process that is
afflicted. This is a common and usually easily fixed malware problem
if the answer to the following question is yes.

Do you have access to a bootable XP installation CD?

 

[Randem]

Also goggle for Bart PE CD, you can boot from it to copy your files from the
disk without the problem of the security measures of XP then you can copy
them back to your HD after a re-install if needed.

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Disk Read Error Press Ctl+Alt+Del to Restart
http://www.randem.com/discus/messages/9402/9406.html?1236319938

 

[JS]

After you do what Tim suggested if you
have the time and curiosity you could
put the drive back in the computer and
try a 'Repair Install'.

See: http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

 

[Randem]

Another option is to boot from a installation disk, go into the recovery
console to run sfc /scannow. This will replace all windows files with the
original ones from the CD. Possibly that will get you into your logon.

--
Randem Systems
Your Installation Specialist
The Top Inno Setup Script Generator
http://www.randem.com/innoscript.html
Disk Read Error Press Ctl+Alt+Del to Restart
http://www.randem.com/discus/messages/9402/9406.html?1236319938

 

[Tim Meddick]

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.

 

[Goobster]

I have the disk but am at a loss of what to do

I suspect you will not be able to boot in safe mode either.

It is not the mode, it is probably just the logon process that is
afflicted. This is a common and usually easily fixed malware problem
if the answer to the following question is yes.

Do you have access to a bootable XP installation CD?

 

[Goobster]

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.

 

[The Real Truth MVP]

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/

--
The Real Truth http://pcbutts1-therealtruth.blogspot.com/
*WARNING* Do NOT follow any advice given by the people listed below.
They do NOT have the expertise or knowledge to fix your issue. Do not waste
your time.
David H Lipman, Malke, PA Bear, Beauregard T. Shagnasty, Leythos.

 

[Leythos]

http://www.ms-mvp.org/

The ms-mvp.org site is NOT A MICROSOFT SITE, it's not a MVP Sponsored
site. As with any sites that pretend to be reputable, please use extreme
caution when accessing anything from that site.

 

[Tim Meddick]

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.

 

[Daave]

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

 

[Tim Meddick]

(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.

 

[Daave]

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?

Laptop or desktop?

As others have said, the *very* first thing you need to do is secure
your data. That means copying it to another medium. Post back if you
need guidance. Your choices:

1. If this is a desktop PC and you have access to another desktop PC,
you may remove the drive and place it in the other PC as a slave. Then
simply copy the data.

2. Or if you have access to an a USB enclosure, you may place the drive
in there, attach it to another PC, making sure that Autoplay is off (!),
and copy the data.

3. Or, if you have access to an external USB hard drive, boot off an
emergency rescue CD like Bart PE, UBCD4Win, or Knoppix. You should be
able to access your hard drive this way and then you can copy the data
to the external hard drive.

Are any of the above options within your comfort zone? If not, find a
competent local tech. (Don't use any chain stores!)