URGENT: Windows XP fails to start up

[Hari P]

Hi:

I ran into a strange problem yesterday. I rebooted the laptop in the morning
and it started to boot fine until "applying computer settings" and then it
automatically logged off and shut off. Since then, I am not able to boot my
laptop. It runs upto "applying computer settings" and keeps logging off again.

Can anyone help? I need to get into my laptop as quickly as possible as it
is my work laptop.

Note:
Two days ago my anti-virus expired and I was lazy not to renew it right
away. Could it be that any virus/spyware doing this? Just wanted to give you
that info so that you take that into consideration while giving suggestions.

Thanks guys.
HP

 

[Mick Murphy]

See if you can boot into Safe Mode; instructions for tapping F8 is below.
If you can, do a System restore to before the problem.

Start>All Programs> Accessories>System Tools>System Restore.
You can also do a SR as you are entering into Safe Mode.
But, I was curious whether you can get to it.

And below is also Anti-virus, and anti-Spyware and Anti-Malware Programs.
You can use Safe Mode with Networking to install, and update them before
scanning with them while there.

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

Avast Anti-Virus is XP and Vista compatible (32bit and 64bit Versions),
FREE, auto-updating, and a low resources user of your computer.
And, only have 1(one) Anti-Virus installed / running on your computer at any
one time..
Conflicts may occur if you have more than 1(one).

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6 is a very good, FREE Anti-Spyware Program.
Download, install, update, and immunize your System with it.
Then SCAN with it.
Update it, and scan your System once a fortnight.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Malwarebytes is as the name says, a Malware Remover!
For the Free version scroll down their page to either download from
Download.com, or Major Geeks.com

Download, install, and update.

Important re: Safe Mode
If you happen to find a problem that you can’t uninstall / delete, reboot
the computer, and go into Safe Mode.
To get into Safe mode, tap F8 right at Power On / Startup, and use UP arrow
key to get to Safe Mode from list of options, then hit ENTER.
RESCAN your computer with your Anti-Virus, Malwarebytes and Spybot S & D
while in Safe Mode.

If unable to install above Programs in Normal Mode:
Sometimes Trojans, Viruses, Malware, etc stop you installing and/or updating
Programs to remove them.
If that happens, reboot into Safe Mode with Networking, and install, update
and scan from there.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Hi:

I ran into a strange problem yesterday. I rebooted the laptop in the
morning
and it started to boot fine until "applying computer settings" and then it
automatically logged off and shut off. Since then, I am not able to boot
my
laptop. It runs upto "applying computer settings" and keeps logging off
again.

Can anyone help? I need to get into my laptop as quickly as possible as it
is my work laptop.

Note:
Two days ago my anti-virus expired and I was lazy not to renew it right
away. Could it be that any virus/spyware doing this? Just wanted to give
you
that info so that you take that into consideration while giving
suggestions.

Thanks guys.
HP

Can you get into another account? If this is XP Home, press F8 at
startup, choose Administrator, and create a new account. Restart, and at
the Welcome screen, choose the new account.

If that works, your old account profile may be corrupt. This isn't as bad
as it sounds, you can quickly migrate most files and shortcuts. Some
settings will have to be re-done, such as email accounts - it's a good idea
to export the mail profiles for this eventuality.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151

Do remember to add a password to the new account - by default, for security
reasons, the Windows Task Scheduler won't run some tasks on an account with
no password, and that can include things like backups and virus scans.

HTH
-pk

 

[JA]

Hi there,

I am having the same problem with HP. I can't log on to XP as it seems to
be stuck at the welcome screen. I found a site informing that this maybe due
to a trojan and said that this is because the Winlogon registry is pointing
at the wrong file. Mine is pointing to the correct file but I still can't
log on.

I also can't log on to Safe Mode and when I enter my installation CD - it
doesn't boot up automatically?

Please help.

J

 

[Max Goldman]

Hi there,

I am having the same problem with HP. I can't log on to XP as it seems to
be stuck at the welcome screen. I found a site informing that this maybe due
to a trojan and said that this is because the Winlogon registry is pointing
at the wrong file. Mine is pointing to the correct file but I still can't
log on.

I also can't log on to Safe Mode and when I enter my installation CD - it
doesn't boot up automatically?

Please help.

That is NOT the "same problem" as the one that started this thread.

Start your own thread rather than hijack someone else's,

 

[Gerry]

JA

Have you tried Last Known Good Configuration?
A description of the Safe Mode Boot options in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222/en-us

Create another User Account with Administrators rights,

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=279783

How to Copy a User Profile
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logon.htm

Corrupt User Profile Especially
How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com

What are your anti-virus and anti-spyware arrangements?

What exactly do you have by way of a Windows XP CD?

You may need to change the Boot Sequence in the BIOS
http://www.hiren.info/pages/bios-boot-cdrom


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Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
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