Stuck on Start-up

[barrowhill]

A friend has asked for help. He has a Dell Latitude D520 Laptude running XP
Home.

It successfully boots to User Account Screen and allows you to select an
account (2 defined). On selection of an account; settings are indicated as
to being loaded, progress advances to showing a/the Dell logo screen. This
remains for 1-2 minutes before reverting (settings being saved) back to User
Account screen ????

It doesn't matter which Account is used result the same. I tried starting
in Safe mode and last known good configuration but result the same even when
using the Admin user account that appears.

Appreciate help and next steps.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

A friend has asked for help. He has a Dell Latitude D520 Laptude running
XP
Home.

It successfully boots to User Account Screen and allows you to select an
account (2 defined). On selection of an account; settings are indicated
as
to being loaded, progress advances to showing a/the Dell logo screen.
This
remains for 1-2 minutes before reverting (settings being saved) back to
User
Account screen ????

It doesn't matter which Account is used result the same. I tried starting
in Safe mode and last known good configuration but result the same even
when
using the Admin user account that appears.

Appreciate help and next steps.

You may have to perform a manual System Restore in order to return the
machine to a point before this problem started - see here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545. This is a fairly complex process and
it appears that a complete reload of Windows is a more effective way for
non-expert users to resolve the issue.

 

[Alister]

You may have to perform a manual System Restore in order to return the
machine to a point before this problem started - see here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545. This is a fairly complex process
and it appears that a complete reload of Windows is a more effective way
for non-expert users to resolve the issue.

This sounds like it might be caused by the removal of the wsaupdater.exe.
A piece of spyware replaces the C:\Windows\system32\userinit.exe file with
a file called wsaupdater.exe. It then modifies the registry so that when
you logon the wsaupdater.exe file is executed. After removing the spyware,
(via Adaware, SpyBot S&D, or another spyware detection tool), the
wsaupdater.exe is removed, but the registry still points to it and tries to
execute it during login.

The best procedure to correct this is:

1. Boot into recovery console using your XP CD

2. Navigate to the c:\windows\system32 folder and type (without the
quotes) "copy userinit.exe wsaupdater.exe". This will trick the system
into booting by copying the legitimate XP userinit.exe file to the
wsaupdater.exe file and allow the system to boot.

3. Reboot the system and logon.

4. Open regedit (from start->run type regedit)

5. Navigate to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon and modify the value of Userinit to
C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe

6. Next in Windows Explorer delete the c:\windows\system32\wsaupdater.exe
file.


Alister

 

[barrowhill]

Thanks for prompt response. Would a Repair Install be a better option ?
Apart from the need to perform a windows update operation, other installed
programs should be unaffected.

 

[barrowhill]

Alister,

Thanks for this info. I've removed laptop HDD and put in USB test rig and
connected to test PC . Currently running Virus and Spyware checker on it to
see if it's "dirty". I'll run your tip when completed.

 

[Alister]

Alister,

Thanks for this info. I've removed laptop HDD and put in USB test rig and
connected to test PC . Currently running Virus and Spyware checker on it
to
see if it's "dirty". I'll run your tip when completed.

If you've got the drive on another machine you can do step 2 now and save
yourself having to do it through recovery console.
Obviously the drive / path will be different.

2. Navigate to the c:\windows\system32 folder and type (without the
quotes) "copy userinit.exe wsaupdater.exe". This will trick the system
into booting by copying the legitimate XP userinit.exe file to the
wsaupdater.exe file and allow the system to boot.

Alister

 

[barrowhill]

Dalo,

The first Account is titled "Dell User". It doesn't require a password.
Using this account, personal setting are loaded, it goes to the Dell Logo
screen and there it stays. Have to power off and restart.

The second account is named after the owner. It's password protected. I
know the password. It loads his personal settings, goes to Dell logo screen
but almost immediately saves personal settings, logs off and goes back to
User account screen.

As far as I'm aware both accounts have administrator privaleges.

 

[barrowhill]

Alister,

Unfortunately no joy. I understand that I'm trying copy the file named
'userinit.exe' in the c:\windows\system32 folder to a new file to be named
'wsaupdater.exe' in the same directory ?

Running the command specified gets the response "The system cannot find the
file specified".

I ran dir command in system32 folder and userinit.exe could not be found???
runing dir user*.* found user.exe, user32.dll and userenv.dll only.

 

[barrowhill]

Alister,

Fixed.......!!! Your response spot on. Concluded the the userinit.exe file
required to load personal settings and get to desktop. I have XP Home
Desktop so copied userinit.exe file to USB memory stick and via recovery
console (having rebooted with memory stick attached) copied the file to the
system32 folder, Rebooted and desktop now showing when logging on.

Many thanks for your help (and to others for responding).

 

[Alister]

Alister,

Fixed.......!!! Your response spot on. Concluded the the userinit.exe file
required to load personal settings and get to desktop. I have XP Home
Desktop so copied userinit.exe file to USB memory stick and via recovery
console (having rebooted with memory stick attached) copied the file to the
system32 folder, Rebooted and desktop now showing when logging on.

Many thanks for your help (and to others for responding).

That's great, glad you got it fixed.
Sorry I didn't reply earlier, but you worked it out for yourself, so
well done!

Alister