Logging on troubles.

[Guest]

Hi, I had a phone call form a friend and she can't get he pc to log on fully.
When she types in her password the screen starts to log her in but then
before it fully loads it logs her straight back out again. It does the same
on her kids screen names. We have tried safe mode and last known good config
but to no avail. Does anyone know what the problem is and what the solution
is? Many thanks.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hi, I had a phone call form a friend and she can't get he pc to log on fully.
When she types in her password the screen starts to log her in but then
before it fully loads it logs her straight back out again. It does the same
on her kids screen names. We have tried safe mode and last known good config
but to no avail. Does anyone know what the problem is and what the solution
is? Many thanks.

The problem is well known - it is usually caused by an
inability of Windows to locate the file userinit.exe. This
in turn can be caused by partition manipulation software
or by malware. The cure depends on the setup: It's easy
if the machine is networked, harder if it is not but if
another WinXP is nearby and hardest if neither of these
is available. All methods require good knowledge of
Windows and are not for the average home user.

 

[Guest]

Cheers for the responce but sadly she wouldn't know where to start and I am
500 miles away from here and I wouldn't know what to do with it either. The
annoying thing is that in less then 2 weeks I am going there to set up her
new computer that is still in the box but in the mean time she need access to
her computer. Once I have the new computer up and running then I will
network them and pull all the info she needs and do a full clean install on
XP on the old machine as she is giving it to the kids.

Thanks again.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

If the owner of the machine cannot wait for two weeks then she
has to take the machine to a qualified repair shop.

When you're there then it might be a good idea to remind her
that she must back up all important files to an independent
medium once a week or so. Many people don't bother until
disaster strikes. A 2.5" disk in an external USB case is a low
cost but highly effective backup medium - as long as it is kept
well away from the main PC for most of the time!

 

[Guest]

That is one thing she is very good at doing.... backing up. She runs her
business accounts on there and backs up every day onto cd as her accountant
wants it done that way.

Cheers again