XP Starts then End

[HaroldSJS]

I am trying to find out why a system with XP Home starts, then goes directly
to the log off screen. I have trued numerous fixes (safe mode, recovery
console) to no avail. I only get as far as my desktop without anything else
on the screen. When that happens, I only have one alternative to shut down
the system, that is to hold the on off button, till it powers down.

What is typical about this problem, is that it starts, then it ends (when it
ends it says it is saving my settings. I have tried to start the computer
with the last known good install of XP, but that also does nothing to fix
this. Can anyone help me with the problem?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Take the machine to a local, reputable and independent (i.e., not
BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.

 

[Gis Bun]

Someone I know got the same problem. It's either some nasty malware on it.
The other option is the the file userinit.exe disappeared.

In any case, unless you are an expert [as PA Bear mentioned] take it to
someone who can fix the issue. As he also mentioned, Best Buy and the like
charge an arm and a leg and are generally not that good [with these issues].

 

[Clark...]

I am trying to find out why a system with XP Home starts, then goes
directly to the log off screen. I have trued numerous fixes (safe
mode, recovery console) to no avail. I only get as far as my desktop
without anything else on the screen. When that happens, I only have
one alternative to shut down the system, that is to hold the on off
button, till it powers down.

What is typical about this problem, is that it starts, then it ends
(when it ends it says it is saving my settings. I have tried to start
the computer with the last known good install of XP, but that also
does nothing to fix this. Can anyone help me with the problem?

This works about 60 percent of the time, make the CD's etc you must know
your service pack...

http://thinkinginpixels.com/quick-fixes/fix-windows-xp-log-onlog-off-loop/
if it works you might want to paypal him a couple of bucks.

Clark...

 

[Anna]

I am trying to find out why a system with XP Home starts, then goes
directly
to the log off screen. I have trued numerous fixes (safe mode, recovery
console) to no avail. I only get as far as my desktop without anything
else
on the screen. When that happens, I only have one alternative to shut down
the system, that is to hold the on off button, till it powers down.

What is typical about this problem, is that it starts, then it ends (when
it
ends it says it is saving my settings. I have tried to start the computer
with the last known good install of XP, but that also does nothing to fix
this. Can anyone help me with the problem?

Harold:
As to your last sentence/question. Perhaps...

But first you really have to provide more detailed information re the system
you're using and the problem itself.

1. Is this an OEM (Dell, Gateway, Compaq, eMachines, etc., etc.) machine?
2. Do you have an XP Home OS installation CD? Is it a retail version or a
non-branded OEM version?
3. Or all you have re the XP OS installation CD is a recovery/restore CD
provided by the OEM, assuming that's the type of machine you're working
with?
4. If it's a non-OEM machine do you have any idea of the make/model of your
motherboard?
5. Did this problem occur just "out-of-the-blue"? Do you have *any* clue as
to what might have caused it? One day it was working perfectly fine, the
next day this problem arose? No hardware/software changes you're aware of
that might have caused this problem?
6. What do you mean when you say "I only get as far as my desktop without
anything else on the screen."? Are you indicating that you can normally boot
to your Desktop but the screen is blank, i.e., no icons? But the Status bar
at the bottom of the screen is displayed? Or are you just getting a black
screen? Is that what you mean by a "desktop"?
7. When you say you've tried "numerous fixes", what exactly did you try?
What commands did you enter in the Recovery Console?
8. Do you have any idea as to whether you can run a Repair install of the OS
from your XP OS installation CD? (Not the "repair" accessing the Recovery
Console).
9. Have you checked out your HDD with a diagnostic utility (usually)
available from the disk's manufacturer? Think it might be a good idea just
to confirm you're not dealing with a defective HDD?
Anna