XP login oddity.

[John]

The home comp running XP pro SP2 has an occasional problem logging into
one of two password protected user accounts of the three that I normally
have presented on XP's login screen. When trying to type in the password
in XP's password box nothing shows up? Its as if the PS2 keyboard has
come unplugged. One easy work around is logging into a third
non-password protected account (where the keyboard will work if tested)
and then immediately switching users (or logging out) and then log into
one of the two problem accounts. This always works (wakes up XP's
password box ?) and obviously a reboot fixes it as well. Could be a
hardware problem I suppose but it certainly doesn't seem like it. And if
it is hardware is it the mouse which fails to gain the login box's
attention or the keyboard failing to register any keys? There isn't even
any blinking cursor, just a quick flash of something when the mouse is
clicked on the entry field and then a blank box. Re-clicking on the box
doesn't even generate the original flash, its just dead to either input
device?


If it helps, the active accounts are:

1. 'The' administrator account which is *not* on the login screen. But
its not affected by the problem when its password box is invoked.
Perhaps the 3 finger salutes in some way wake things up ???

2. An admin level account that is on the login screen and occasionally
exhibits the above problem.

3. A limited account that is on the login screen that also occasionally
exhibits the above problem.

4. A Severely limited account also on the login screen for guests (not
XP's guest account).

Accounts 1 through 3 are password protected, #4 is not.


Beats me, any ideas?

John

 

[Rock]

The home comp running XP pro SP2 has an occasional problem logging into
one of two password protected user accounts of the three that I normally
have presented on XP's login screen. When trying to type in the password
in XP's password box nothing shows up? Its as if the PS2 keyboard has come
unplugged. One easy work around is logging into a third non-password
protected account (where the keyboard will work if tested) and then
immediately switching users (or logging out) and then log into one of the
two problem accounts. This always works (wakes up XP's password box ?) and
obviously a reboot fixes it as well. Could be a hardware problem I suppose
but it certainly doesn't seem like it. And if it is hardware is it the
mouse which fails to gain the login box's attention or the keyboard
failing to register any keys? There isn't even any blinking cursor, just a
quick flash of something when the mouse is clicked on the entry field and
then a blank box. Re-clicking on the box doesn't even generate the
original flash, its just dead to either input device?


If it helps, the active accounts are:

1. 'The' administrator account which is *not* on the login screen. But its
not affected by the problem when its password box is invoked. Perhaps the
3 finger salutes in some way wake things up ???

2. An admin level account that is on the login screen and occasionally
exhibits the above problem.

3. A limited account that is on the login screen that also occasionally
exhibits the above problem.

4. A Severely limited account also on the login screen for guests (not
XP's guest account).

Accounts 1 through 3 are password protected, #4 is not.


Beats me, any ideas?

Someone else recently posted a similar issue. So far no resolution in that
thread either. Interesting that two people have now posted with the same
problem in a short time.

 

[John]

Someone else recently posted a similar issue. So far no resolution in
that thread either. Interesting that two people have now posted with
the same problem in a short time.

Well I first noticed it a couple months ago so if its an XP update issue
its probably too late to track it down in my case. The mouse and
keyboard are about a year old, the comp itself and the XP install will
be 4 years in March. But as I said its only *very* occasionally that it
happens so its not a major issue, just odd.

Two other things if it helps, we never shut down the comp unless its
necessary, its used every day. Also the above accounts (#2 through #4)
are in the same group. I have a feeling the latter is a clue but not too
sure what to do with it.

John

 

[Rock]

Well I first noticed it a couple months ago so if its an XP update issue
its probably too late to track it down in my case. The mouse and keyboard
are about a year old, the comp itself and the XP install will be 4 years
in March. But as I said its only *very* occasionally that it happens so
its not a major issue, just odd.

Two other things if it helps, we never shut down the comp unless its
necessary, its used every day. Also the above accounts (#2 through #4) are
in the same group. I have a feeling the latter is a clue but not too sure
what to do with it.

John

Yes it's strange. I don't know what to suggest other than eliminate a
hardware issue by using a different keyboard. I suggested this to the other
poster but haven't had a response. It's a remote possibility, for sure,
since the problem only shows up at this one time.

 

[John]

Yes it's strange. I don't know what to suggest other than eliminate a
hardware issue by using a different keyboard. I suggested this to the
other poster but haven't had a response. It's a remote possibility, for
sure, since the problem only shows up at this one time.

Well maybe I'll try that but I have my doubts. Given the focus failure I
would suspect the mouse before the keyboard. But then again the mouse is
able to click on other things when that happens. Along with the keyboard
working OK in another password-less account leads me to believe that
hardware (at least input an device) is not the problem.

No I am convinced its software but ultimately probably not worth the
effort to track down as it only happens maybe once every two weeks or
so. I had hoped that someone had a quick answer but apparently not.

Thanks for your time Rock,
John

 

[Rock]

Well maybe I'll try that but I have my doubts. Given the focus failure I
would suspect the mouse before the keyboard. But then again the mouse is
able to click on other things when that happens. Along with the keyboard
working OK in another password-less account leads me to believe that
hardware (at least input an device) is not the problem.

No I am convinced its software but ultimately probably not worth the
effort to track down as it only happens maybe once every two weeks or so.
I had hoped that someone had a quick answer but apparently not.

Thanks for your time Rock,
John

You're welcome. If you ever find the cause let us know.

 

[Fred S *****]

Well maybe I'll try that but I have my doubts. Given the focus failure I
would suspect the mouse before the keyboard. But then again the mouse is
able to click on other things when that happens. Along with the keyboard
working OK in another password-less account leads me to believe that
hardware (at least input an device) is not the problem.

No I am convinced its software but ultimately probably not worth the
effort to track down as it only happens maybe once every two weeks or
so. I had hoped that someone had a quick answer but apparently not.

Thanks for your time Rock,
John

Hello John,

I am the original poster of the "Other problem" that appears in this
group as "Keyboard Locks Up!"

I would say that my case is almost the exact replica of yours. In my
case, the cursor has been blinking AND not blinking. So, it appears that
the focus, indeed, has been set.

I have three accounts displayed, two Limited and one Administrator
accounts. One of the limited accounts is a "Guest" account with no
password and I've done the same thing that you've described. Also the
CTRL-ALT-DEL (three finger salute) works most of the time but it also
failed at least once.

As I stated in my post, this problem never happens at initial start up,
nor does it ever happen when the PC is being used. It only occurs at a
Log In after a Log Off.

I also am convinced there is no hardware issue here. My CPU temps are
fine, no other problems at all with the system. I actually believe that
one of the Windows Updates might be the cause, although I don't know
which one it could be.

I received a comment suggesting a review of the Event Log and I plan to
do that but only after it happens again as the log is quite long and I
have not recorded time/data info.

Please post back if you discover anything and I certainly will do the
same if I stumble upon something myself.

Fred S

 

[John]

Hello John,

I am the original poster of the "Other problem" that appears in this
group as "Keyboard Locks Up!"

I would say that my case is almost the exact replica of yours. In my
case, the cursor has been blinking AND not blinking. So, it appears that
the focus, indeed, has been set.

I have three accounts displayed, two Limited and one Administrator
accounts. One of the limited accounts is a "Guest" account with no
password and I've done the same thing that you've described. Also the
CTRL-ALT-DEL (three finger salute) works most of the time but it also
failed at least once.

As I stated in my post, this problem never happens at initial start up,
nor does it ever happen when the PC is being used. It only occurs at a
Log In after a Log Off.

I also am convinced there is no hardware issue here. My CPU temps are
fine, no other problems at all with the system. I actually believe that
one of the Windows Updates might be the cause, although I don't know
which one it could be.

I received a comment suggesting a review of the Event Log and I plan to
do that but only after it happens again as the log is quite long and I
have not recorded time/data info.

Please post back if you discover anything and I certainly will do the
same if I stumble upon something myself.

Fred S

I'll do that if I find an answer.

In my case the cursor never blinks when this happens and so obviously it
can't gather keyboard input. If I click on the box with the mouse to try
and gain focus a brief flash occurs the first time but I still don't
gain focus. Nothing happens on subsequent mouse clicks, the box just
continues to stay blank.

I am convinced its not a hardware problem in my case. If your input box
displays a cursor sometimes when this happens then I would say hardware
(the keyboard) *may* be compounding the problem.

It happens so infrequently (once a week or once every two weeks) even
with the comp on 24-7 I see no way to test ideas in any type of time
frame that I would care to bother with.

Thanks for the info,
John

 

[John]

The home comp running XP pro SP2 has an occasional problem logging into
one of two password protected user accounts of the three that I normally
have presented on XP's login screen. When trying to type in the password
in XP's password box nothing shows up? Its as if the PS2 keyboard has
come unplugged. One easy work around is logging into a third
non-password protected account (where the keyboard will work if tested)
and then immediately switching users (or logging out) and then log into
one of the two problem accounts. This always works (wakes up XP's
password box ?) and obviously a reboot fixes it as well. Could be a
hardware problem I suppose but it certainly doesn't seem like it. And if
it is hardware is it the mouse which fails to gain the login box's
attention or the keyboard failing to register any keys? There isn't even
any blinking cursor, just a quick flash of something when the mouse is
clicked on the entry field and then a blank box. Re-clicking on the box
doesn't even generate the original flash, its just dead to either input
device?


If it helps, the active accounts are:

1. 'The' administrator account which is *not* on the login screen. But
its not affected by the problem when its password box is invoked.
Perhaps the 3 finger salutes in some way wake things up ???

2. An admin level account that is on the login screen and occasionally
exhibits the above problem.

3. A limited account that is on the login screen that also occasionally
exhibits the above problem.

4. A Severely limited account also on the login screen for guests (not
XP's guest account).

Accounts 1 through 3 are password protected, #4 is not.


Beats me, any ideas?

John

If anyone is interested it just happened again. Same thing no blinking
cursor and no characters received in the password input box. Clicking on
the input box with the mouse fails to gain focus. Two 3 finger salutes
and everything works perfectly allowing a login into any account on XP
pro, this avenue of course isn't available on XP home.

There are *no* errors or warnings entries in the event logs associated
with the current time, the last entry of that type was nearly an hour
ago. There are however three information entries one right after the
other that I copied below. I don't know if there is a relationship.


Entry #1 at 10:08:34 ...

Event Type: Information
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7035
Date: 12/16/2006
Time: 10:08:34 AM
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: ComputerName
Description:
The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service was successfully sent a start
control.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Entry #2 ALSO at 10:08:34 ...

Event Type: Information
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7036
Date: 12/16/2006
Time: 10:08:34 AM
User: N/A
Computer: ComputerName
Description:
The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service entered the running state.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Entry #3 at 10:08:40 ...

Event Type: Information
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7036
Date: 12/16/2006
Time: 10:08:40 AM
User: N/A
Computer: ComputerName
Description:
The IMAPI CD-Burning COM Service service entered the stopped state.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

 

[Guest]

Hi Folks,

I have been having this problem with XP Home for several months (less than a
year). I believe also that it started with a Windows Update, either for
Windows, or for MS Office 2003. Does anyone else experiencing this problem
have Office 2003 installed?

I have tried several things, including removing updates, but I will not
uninstall Office as it is critical to my work.

This is happening on a laptop, so there have been no hardware changes since
I bought the thing. It's not the keyboard, or the mouse. I doubt it has to
do with Services or drivers. And , by the way ctrl-alt-del twice does bring
up the login dialog on Home, not just Pro.

One thing I noticed is that, if the first user to log on after a restart is
a limited user, then nothing is affected. It appears to be a problem only
after an administrator has logged on.

I tried someone's suggestion of re-registering the Windows Shell User Logon
(regsvr32 shgina.dll), and this seemed to work for a couple of days, but then
the problem came back.

I've been on 'expert' forums, but everyone has the same useless suggestions.
So I thought I'd try Microsoft, but this forum is the only one I found where
the problem is being discussed.

Do Microsoft developers ever check these forums? If so, you'd think someone
would say something to the effect that either there is a solution, or the
problem is known, but there's no solution yet.