Windows XP startup issue, Profiles damaged ... cannot access OS.

[Cooperr71]

With Windows XP startup, none of my user profiles (incl. one with
administrator rights) can get through the log in cycle ... not even in safe
mode. When I click on any Profile, it immediately logs out ... so I cannot
get beyond the Welcome Page to use the operating system to troubleshoot issue.

 

[Pegasus [MVP]]

With Windows XP startup, none of my user profiles (incl. one with
administrator rights) can get through the log in cycle ... not even in
safe
mode. When I click on any Profile, it immediately logs out ... so I cannot
get beyond the Welcome Page to use the operating system to troubleshoot
issue.

Your Windows installation has probably been affectec by malware: The file
userinit.exe is no longer where it should be, it isn't what it should be or
the registry looks for it in the wrong place. If you're comfortable working
at a nuts and bolts level then this thread will help you:
http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-22087-xp-auto-log-off. If this is outside
your range of experience then you should ask a friend to help you.

 

[Jose]

With Windows XP startup, none of my user profiles (incl. one with
administrator rights) can get through the log in cycle ... not even in safe
mode. When I click on any Profile, it immediately logs out ... so I cannot
get beyond the Welcome Page to use the operating system to troubleshoot issue.

Pegasus is probably correct.

What you describe used to be pretty popular malware infection, then
seemed to go away for a while and now it is coming up frequently.
Luckily, there are lots of people that know how to fix this annoying
problem and it is not too complicated if you have good directions.

You will need to boot into the XP Recovery Console preferably using a
genuine XP bootable installation CD, or you can make your own bootable
XP Recovery console CD from another system. Once you get Recovery
Console booted, you can fix your system.

Here is how to make a bootable Recovery Console CD if need to do that:

You can create a bootable XP Recovery Console CD when no XP media is
available:

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic276527.html

Let us know when you have Recovery Console loaded.