Welcome Screen Freeze-up

[Mila]

Hi all --

I've got a bit of a strange problem that started today. I have my settings
such that I completely bypass the Welcome Screen, and the computer goes
directly to the Desktop upon loading.

Today when I turned on my computer, it went to the desktop -- that is, the
wallpaper was visible, but not the icons or the start menu or anything -- and
then suddenly switched to the Welcome Screen. I clicked on my username and
the message "Logging in" appeared, then "Loading your personal settings". But
instead of going to the desktop, it switched to "Logging off", "Saving your
personal settings", etc. I ended up right back where I started -- on the
Welcome Screen.

I tried restarting several times, but had the same problem. Then I tried
restarting in Safe Mode (regular, "With Command Prompt", and "Last Known Good
Configuration") but had the same problem. I ran the built-in diagnostics, to
make sure there was nothing wrong with the hardware, but everything's peachy.

I run one of Spybot's background programs -- a watchdog program that keeps
an eye out for registry changes. Yesterday, the last time I logged in
properly, I got a series of 6 popups immediately upon loading telling me that
there had been 6 different registry changes. I denied them all, since I
hadn't installed any programs (to my knowledge; I've got Windows update on
auto so it might've done something without me knowing).

I've pretty much run out of ideas as to how to fix it. Does anyone know of
any solutions short of reinstalling Windows? It seems like it's a problem
with the login/logout processes -- is there some way to replace those files
with the defaults remotely without actually logging into Windows?

I'm running XP Home on a Dell Inspiron, if that helps.

Thanks --

-- Mila

 

[Nepatsfan]

Hi all --

I've got a bit of a strange problem that started today. I have my settings
such that I completely bypass the Welcome Screen, and the computer goes
directly to the Desktop upon loading.

Today when I turned on my computer, it went to the desktop -- that is, the
wallpaper was visible, but not the icons or the start menu or anything -- and
then suddenly switched to the Welcome Screen. I clicked on my username and
the message "Logging in" appeared, then "Loading your personal settings". But
instead of going to the desktop, it switched to "Logging off", "Saving your
personal settings", etc. I ended up right back where I started -- on the
Welcome Screen.

I tried restarting several times, but had the same problem. Then I tried
restarting in Safe Mode (regular, "With Command Prompt", and "Last Known Good
Configuration") but had the same problem. I ran the built-in diagnostics, to
make sure there was nothing wrong with the hardware, but everything's peachy.

I run one of Spybot's background programs -- a watchdog program that keeps
an eye out for registry changes. Yesterday, the last time I logged in
properly, I got a series of 6 popups immediately upon loading telling me that
there had been 6 different registry changes. I denied them all, since I
hadn't installed any programs (to my knowledge; I've got Windows update on
auto so it might've done something without me knowing).

I've pretty much run out of ideas as to how to fix it. Does anyone know of
any solutions short of reinstalling Windows? It seems like it's a problem
with the login/logout processes -- is there some way to replace those files
with the defaults remotely without actually logging into Windows?

I'm running XP Home on a Dell Inspiron, if that helps.

Thanks --

-- Mila

I'm guessing that your account is the only one that you have on your laptop. If
that's the case, try the following.

Restart your computer and boot into Safe Mode.
When you get tossed back to the Welcome screen, hit the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys
at the same time twice.
This should make the Log On to Windows dialog appear.
In the User name box, enter Administrator.
Unless someone changed the default password for the Administrator account you
can leave the password box blank.
Click OK.

If you're able to log on with the Administrator account, go to Control Panel and
create a new user account that's a Computer Administrator. Restart your laptop
and see if you can logon with this new account. If so, you might want to copy
the files from your old account into this new account.

How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/811151

Note: You will have to use a third account which is a computer administrator in
order to copy the files. You can use the built-in Administrator account (only
available in Safe Mode in XP Home Edition) or create a temporary admin account
that can be deleted once the procedure is completed.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[Mila]

I'm guessing that your account is the only one that you have on your laptop. If
that's the case, try the following.

Restart your computer and boot into Safe Mode.
When you get tossed back to the Welcome screen, hit the Ctrl + Alt + Delete keys
at the same time twice.
This should make the Log On to Windows dialog appear.
In the User name box, enter Administrator.
Unless someone changed the default password for the Administrator account you
can leave the password box blank.
Click OK.

If you're able to log on with the Administrator account, go to Control Panel and
create a new user account that's a Computer Administrator. Restart your laptop
and see if you can logon with this new account. If so, you might want to copy
the files from your old account into this new account.

How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/811151

Note: You will have to use a third account which is a computer administrator in
order to copy the files. You can use the built-in Administrator account (only
available in Safe Mode in XP Home Edition) or create a temporary admin account
that can be deleted once the procedure is completed.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

If only it was that easy!

When I did as you suggested, hitting Ctrl-Alt-Del and logging in as
Administrator in safe mode, I was simply directed back to the Welcome Screen,
with the messages, "Logging off", "Saving your settings", etc -- just like
when I had tried to log in as myself in a regular startup. The only
difference was that I didn't even get a flash of the desktop, just got sent
straight back to the Welcome Screen.

Thanks though.

Mila

 

[Chad]

I'm having exactly the same problem. Happened after I updated Windows Home
XP and Spybot 1.6 yesterday.

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Chad,

Have you tried booting up in Safe Mode, from which you can do some research and tweaks as needed.
As the pc is powering up (or as you force a reboot), tap & repeat tapping F8 Function key to get to Advanced Bootup options.
Then select Safe Mode.

I'd suggest you turn off the Windows duh-fault restart on error.
Right Click the My Computer icon on desktop. Select Properties.
Next, select Advanced. Look for a block that says Startup and recovery. Press the settings button.

In System failure section, turn off (un-check) Automatically restart.

Write an event to system log should be Checked (selected).
Apply change.

If you should later on see a STOP error, write down all of the codes and text. And then you can do research (as well as posting here).
HTH

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Maureen,

Keep in mind that my previous response was to Chad.

At the welcome screen, when prompted for login, skip the password field, and press the OK button.
That is worth a try.

As to the rest, and your attempt at using the Recovery CD, the state of your Windows is at question.
Let me suggest you look for and use your pc manufacturer's support website.