HELP! Windows XP Home logs off immediately - copying userinit.exedoesn't fix it!

[WTC]

It is possible, could you post a link to that KB article. I would
give
them a ring if this doesn't work out.
Could you load this hive "software" found in "windows\system32"
Then go to [HKLM\<hivename>\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon] and see if the key "Userinit" has the
value
of "c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe,"

Note: Make sure there is a comma (,) after userinit.exe.

You could also try to do a repair install.
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341

Use Method 2 and read the article very carefully.

Use the XP Home SP2 disk you created to do this with.

Anyways, I will stay up for a little bit more then I am off to bed.

Well, I was JUST about to post that I just fixed this problem, and saw
your post above [really!]!!

I think that the problem was that the "Userinit" key was COMPLETELY
missing from the registry.

When I was doing the deletes of the DosDevices stuff earlier, I had
loaded in the SOFTWARE hive, and I noticed that the Userinit key was
missing totally. I kind of ignored it, because I was trying to get
the
DosDevices\* deleted.

Then, after deleting all of the DosDevices\* didn't do anything, I was
about to give up, but then I figured I'd try to ADD the Userinit and
populate it with "C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe".

I did that, and then rebooted the system, thinking "probably won't
make
a difference", and VOILA, the system let me log in!!!!


All of the articles, etc. that I've seen talk about the Userinit key
being changed to "C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,", but NONE of
them
ever mentioned the possibility of the Userinit key being totally
missing
...


Thanks for all of your help and patience!!

You are very welcome.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Nice feedback folks, great information to share. Good job on the
troubleshooting as well.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

It is possible, could you post a link to that KB article. I would give
them a ring if this doesn't work out.
Could you load this hive "software" found in "windows\system32"
Then go to [HKLM\<hivename>\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon] and see if the key "Userinit" has the value
of "c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe,"

Note: Make sure there is a comma (,) after userinit.exe.

You could also try to do a repair install.
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315341

Use Method 2 and read the article very carefully.

Use the XP Home SP2 disk you created to do this with.

Anyways, I will stay up for a little bit more then I am off to bed.

William,

Well, I was JUST about to post that I just fixed this problem, and saw
your post above [really!]!!

I think that the problem was that the "Userinit" key was COMPLETELY
missing from the registry.

When I was doing the deletes of the DosDevices stuff earlier, I had
loaded in the SOFTWARE hive, and I noticed that the Userinit key was
missing totally. I kind of ignored it, because I was trying to get the
DosDevices\* deleted.

Then, after deleting all of the DosDevices\* didn't do anything, I was
about to give up, but then I figured I'd try to ADD the Userinit and
populate it with "C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe".

I did that, and then rebooted the system, thinking "probably won't make
a difference", and VOILA, the system let me log in!!!!


All of the articles, etc. that I've seen talk about the Userinit key
being changed to "C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,", but NONE of them
ever mentioned the possibility of the Userinit key being totally missing
...


Thanks for all of your help and patience!!

Jim

 

[ohaya]

Nice feedback folks, great information to share. Good job on the
troubleshooting as well.

Rick,

Yes, it was almost like a realtime chat, wasn't it ?

Just to round off this thread, I think that William had asked about an
MS article that I had mentioned regarding Windows silently rejecting
logon attempts. As it turns out, this wasn't my problem, but here's the
link to the article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313322&Product=winxp

Jim

 

[WTC]

Nice feedback folks, great information to share. Good job on the
troubleshooting as well.

Thanks, Rick.

 

[WTC]

Yes, it was almost like a realtime chat, wasn't it ?

Just to round off this thread, I think that William had asked about an
MS article that I had mentioned regarding Windows silently rejecting
logon attempts. As it turns out, this wasn't my problem, but here's
the
link to the article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;313322&Product=winxp

Thank for the link, Jim.

 

[ohaya]

Yes, it was almost like a realtime chat, wasn't it ?

Thank for the link, Jim.

William,

No, thank you to YOU!

Despite the pain and looong night, I guess the 'upside' (besides getting
her PC working again) was that:

1) I learned how to make a BartPE CD (something I've thought about
before), and

2) I learned how to edit the Registry after booting from the BartPE CD.

So, other than the sleep deprivation, overall, it was a positive thing,
and I thank you (again) for "hanging in there" with me last night...

Jim