Ping any MVP - XP Home Problem

[Jim Lake]

I have a weird situation with XP Home edition; SP2 is NOT installed:

System:
XP Home on an eMachines T2742 (2.7 GHZ; 256 Mb RAM; 40 Gb HDD)

Problem:
Boots to Welcome screen and loops back to welcome screen when any of the
UserID buttons are clicked. Ctl-Alt-Del brings up the Classic login dialog
box, but still loops back to XP Style Welcome screen when attempting to log
in from the Classic dialog. Cannot circumvent the boot sequence, nor get
past the Welcome screen to get to any desktop functions in XP.

What I Tried:
F8 out of startup sequence to safe mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to command prompt mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to last known good config - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to debug mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to boot logging mode - same thing
Checked the CMOS settings for odd power or video settings - all default
settings appear correct.

Can anyone help with a solution please?

JL

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

If none of those options allow you access to Windows, you can try a 'Repair'
install of XP. Please have a look at the following article by Michael
Stevens:

"How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Alias]

Does eMachines provide an XP CD so the OP can do a repair install?

Alias

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I have a weird situation with XP Home edition; SP2 is NOT installed:

System:
XP Home on an eMachines T2742 (2.7 GHZ; 256 Mb RAM; 40 Gb HDD)

Problem:
Boots to Welcome screen and loops back to welcome screen when any of the
UserID buttons are clicked. Ctl-Alt-Del brings up the Classic login dialog
box, but still loops back to XP Style Welcome screen when attempting to log
in from the Classic dialog. Cannot circumvent the boot sequence, nor get
past the Welcome screen to get to any desktop functions in XP.

What I Tried:
F8 out of startup sequence to safe mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to command prompt mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to last known good config - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to debug mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to boot logging mode - same thing
Checked the CMOS settings for odd power or video settings - all default
settings appear correct.

Can anyone help with a solution please?

JL

This usually happens after some imaging operation, e.g. with Ghost,
or when additional disks with WinXP on them are installed. It is
caused by the system drive letter being incorrect, thus preventing
WinXP from locating userinit.exe.

The cure depends on your facilities. Is the machine networked?
Do you have access to another WinXP desktop? See also here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];249321

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Some OEM CDs do have a 'Repair' option - if that's what the OP has.

--


Will Denny
MS MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Lurker]

Thanks so much for your responses.

The system has an OEM eMachines version of XP HOME with a three disk set
and does not allow for a repair. The machine is not networked, I do have
access to another XP desktop that is the PROFESSIONAL version across the
street.

In examining the autoexec.bat file I see that it is using ghost to do the
re-imaging, and it issues a warning that all data will be lost.

It's either a re-install or boot to the A: drive. When I boot to the A:
drive I cannot see or change directories to the A: drive. I'll follow the
links provided to see if there are any other avenues, or if you bright
folks figure out anything that may be helpful it would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks so much,

JL

I have a weird situation with XP Home edition; SP2 is NOT installed:

System:
XP Home on an eMachines T2742 (2.7 GHZ; 256 Mb RAM; 40 Gb HDD)

Problem:
Boots to Welcome screen and loops back to welcome screen when any of
the UserID buttons are clicked. Ctl-Alt-Del brings up the Classic
login dialog box, but still loops back to XP Style Welcome screen
when attempting to log
in from the Classic dialog. Cannot circumvent the boot sequence, nor
get past the Welcome screen to get to any desktop functions in XP.

What I Tried:
F8 out of startup sequence to safe mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to command prompt mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to last known good config - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to debug mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to boot logging mode - same thing
Checked the CMOS settings for odd power or video settings - all
default settings appear correct.

Can anyone help with a solution please?

JL

This usually happens after some imaging operation, e.g. with Ghost,
or when additional disks with WinXP on them are installed. It is
caused by the system drive letter being incorrect, thus preventing
WinXP from locating userinit.exe.

The cure depends on your facilities. Is the machine networked?
Do you have access to another WinXP desktop? See also here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];249321

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Thanks so much for your responses.

The system has an OEM eMachines version of XP HOME with a three disk set
and does not allow for a repair. The machine is not networked, I do have
access to another XP desktop that is the PROFESSIONAL version across the
street.

In examining the autoexec.bat file I see that it is using ghost to do the
re-imaging, and it issues a warning that all data will be lost.

It's either a re-install or boot to the A: drive. When I boot to the A:
drive I cannot see or change directories to the A: drive. I'll follow the
links provided to see if there are any other avenues, or if you bright
folks figure out anything that may be helpful it would be greatly
appreciated.

Thanks so much,

JL

I have a weird situation with XP Home edition; SP2 is NOT installed:

System:
XP Home on an eMachines T2742 (2.7 GHZ; 256 Mb RAM; 40 Gb HDD)

Problem:
Boots to Welcome screen and loops back to welcome screen when any of
the UserID buttons are clicked. Ctl-Alt-Del brings up the Classic
login dialog box, but still loops back to XP Style Welcome screen
when attempting to log
in from the Classic dialog. Cannot circumvent the boot sequence, nor
get past the Welcome screen to get to any desktop functions in XP.

What I Tried:
F8 out of startup sequence to safe mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to command prompt mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to last known good config - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to debug mode - same thing
F8 out of startup sequence to boot logging mode - same thing
Checked the CMOS settings for odd power or video settings - all
default settings appear correct.

Can anyone help with a solution please?

JL

This usually happens after some imaging operation, e.g. with Ghost,
or when additional disks with WinXP on them are installed. It is
caused by the system drive letter being incorrect, thus preventing
WinXP from locating userinit.exe.

The cure depends on your facilities. Is the machine networked?
Do you have access to another WinXP desktop? See also here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];249321

I'm afraid this is going to be rough ride, as you will have to modify
the registry without having the benefit of a graphical user interface.

Boot your machine with a floppy boot disk from
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
then do this:

1. Accept the suggested NT partition.
2. Accept the full path to the registry directory.
3. Type system when prompted
4. Type 9 (for Registry Editor)
5. Type ? (to see the available commands)
6. Type ls (to see the current keys)
7. Type cd MountedDevices (it's case-sensitive!)
8. Type ls (to see the current values)
9. Type dv \DosDevices\C:
10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 until you have deleted all values
that look like this: \DosDevices\X: where X is any letter
of the alphabet.
11. Type q {Enter}, then q {Enter} again
You will be prompted to save or discard your changes.

I expect that this will fix your problem.

 

[Jim Lake]

Thanks so much for your responses.

The system has an OEM eMachines version of XP HOME with a three disk
set and does not allow for a repair. The machine is not networked, I
do have access to another XP desktop that is the PROFESSIONAL version
across the street.

In examining the autoexec.bat file I see that it is using ghost to do
the re-imaging, and it issues a warning that all data will be lost.

It's either a re-install or boot to the A: drive. When I boot to the
A: drive I cannot see or change directories to the A: drive. I'll
follow the links provided to see if there are any other avenues, or
if you bright folks figure out anything that may be helpful it would
be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,

JL

This usually happens after some imaging operation, e.g. with Ghost,
or when additional disks with WinXP on them are installed. It is
caused by the system drive letter being incorrect, thus preventing
WinXP from locating userinit.exe.

The cure depends on your facilities. Is the machine networked?
Do you have access to another WinXP desktop? See also here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];249321

I'm afraid this is going to be rough ride, as you will have to modify
the registry without having the benefit of a graphical user interface.

Boot your machine with a floppy boot disk from
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
then do this:

1. Accept the suggested NT partition.
2. Accept the full path to the registry directory.
3. Type system when prompted
4. Type 9 (for Registry Editor)
5. Type ? (to see the available commands)
6. Type ls (to see the current keys)
7. Type cd MountedDevices (it's case-sensitive!)
8. Type ls (to see the current values)
9. Type dv \DosDevices\C:
10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 until you have deleted all values
that look like this: \DosDevices\X: where X is any letter
of the alphabet.
11. Type q {Enter}, then q {Enter} again
You will be prompted to save or discard your changes.

I expect that this will fix your problem.

Dude, thanks so much for your help. I'll give this a whirl this morning.
I've been pounding it hard on a network where the users are disabling the
firewall because it won't let them receive files from their buddies.
Sometimes USER is really a four letter word!

Thanks again to all who have responded with their helpful advice!

JL

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Thanks so much for your responses.

The system has an OEM eMachines version of XP HOME with a three disk
set and does not allow for a repair. The machine is not networked, I
do have access to another XP desktop that is the PROFESSIONAL version
across the street.

In examining the autoexec.bat file I see that it is using ghost to do
the re-imaging, and it issues a warning that all data will be lost.

It's either a re-install or boot to the A: drive. When I boot to the
A: drive I cannot see or change directories to the A: drive. I'll
follow the links provided to see if there are any other avenues, or
if you bright folks figure out anything that may be helpful it would
be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,

JL

This usually happens after some imaging operation, e.g. with Ghost,
or when additional disks with WinXP on them are installed. It is
caused by the system drive letter being incorrect, thus preventing
WinXP from locating userinit.exe.

The cure depends on your facilities. Is the machine networked?
Do you have access to another WinXP desktop? See also here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];249321

I'm afraid this is going to be rough ride, as you will have to modify
the registry without having the benefit of a graphical user interface.

Boot your machine with a floppy boot disk from
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
then do this:

1. Accept the suggested NT partition.
2. Accept the full path to the registry directory.
3. Type system when prompted
4. Type 9 (for Registry Editor)
5. Type ? (to see the available commands)
6. Type ls (to see the current keys)
7. Type cd MountedDevices (it's case-sensitive!)
8. Type ls (to see the current values)
9. Type dv \DosDevices\C:
10. Repeat steps 8 and 9 until you have deleted all values
that look like this: \DosDevices\X: where X is any letter
of the alphabet.
11. Type q {Enter}, then q {Enter} again
You will be prompted to save or discard your changes.

I expect that this will fix your problem.

Dude, thanks so much for your help. I'll give this a whirl this morning.
I've been pounding it hard on a network where the users are disabling the
firewall because it won't let them receive files from their buddies.
Sometimes USER is really a four letter word!

Thanks again to all who have responded with their helpful advice!

JL

Install a hardware firewall!