Login/logout loop problem on XP. I can't comprehend the fixes in the articles.

[loavesfishescomp]

I am stuck and can use some encouragement and advice from smarter people than I.

Clients computer wouldn't boot into welcome screen. Thought it was viruses. Slaved the HD to my bench computer. Ran 5 scans. Removed 20 viruses. Hooked the HD back to clients computer. Can't boot past Welcome screen: When I try to log in, it immediately logs me out. I try again, same thing.
I can't log into safe mode without getting a blue screen (07X error).
I try to boot off of an XP Pro cd, or, UBCD4Win and it shows that each CD is loading, and as it's ready to have the GUI load, up comes the BSOD (07X) error.
I have come across many sites telling me to edit the registry, and/or copy over Userinit.
Problem is, I can't boot off of any CD (Per their instructions of solution) AND I do not know how to edit a registry item on the corrupted "Slave" HD I have currently hooked to my bench computer. Please help me; I've spent 8 hours on this....
--->I hope things get easier & Thank you, Christian<------


Below is a response I posted in Podnuts forum (you guys rock!):
---------
Hi,

That sounds like an issue with Winlogon and the UserInit registry key on that Windows install.

You might want to check that this is correctly set and not corrupted.

There are some instructions and tools to fix this on this site:

w. w. w. kellys-korner-xp. com/xp_wel_screen. htm

Kind Regards

Simon
------------

 

[loavesfishescomp]

P. S.

I can access windows recovery console on the HD when it is hooked back up to the computer ( not benched). If you don't understand me I won't be surprised or butt hurt.

 

[loavesfishescomp]

I'm in recovery console and have changed directory to c:\windows\system32. What command shall I put in? I'll be reasearching this too. Cheers.

 

[loavesfishescomp]

Found it.

copy userinit.exe wsaupdater.exe.


Will let you know.

 

[loavesfishescomp]

Ugh. I copied. Still can't boot into safemode. Gets to a certain white line on screen and restarts. Fungole.

 

[Markus]

With the drive slaved to you bench PC, open regedit and select HKLM, then go file, load hive and find the software registry on the slaved hdd. In the clients hive go to software\microsoft\windows nt\currentversion\winlogon and fine the string value called userinit. The value of the key should be “c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe,” If it is anything else, change it.

After that is done, and before you put the hdd back in the clients PC, delete their userinit.exe and copy over one from a Windows CD. Try that and let us know.

 

[loavesfishescomp]

Looking for HKLM. Can't find it. Still looking.

 

[loavesfishescomp]

Duh. You ment hkey_local_machine right?

 

[loavesfishescomp]

Ok so I load hive, but a load hive selection screen appear. What Do I do? Furthur how do I find the registry on the slave HD?

 

[loavesfishescomp]

Found this and chipping away. All advice welcome.


Start > run > type regedit > click on machine

File > Load Hive
Browse to the slaved Hard Drive; Windows > System 32 > Config > choose the hive you want to edit and
search the key name from the above site.

You have full control of the registry of the Hard drive that is slaved connected.

 

[Alan22]

I've spent 8 hours on this....

Simon, seriously, well before this point I would have backed up the data & reinstalled the OS, drivers & programs for the client. Then transfered the data back on and been done with it.

 

[steve51]

Simon, seriously, well before this point I would have backed up the data & reinstalled the OS, drivers & programs for the client. Then transfered the data back on and been done with it.

Agreed, it would have been finished hours ago.

 

[loavesfishescomp]

Ok. I found it!!!! It was c:\windows\system32\86winlogon.exe or something other than what you said. I will follow the rest and post back asap.

 

[loavesfishescomp]

--Simon isn't me. I'm Christian. He's a guy who posted the response from another forum.
I thought about it but I am terrified of reformating a harddrive. I am afraid that I am missing certain files when I back his data up. I already grabbed his my documents and desktop files. But then there are his thunderbird contacts, his archived mail and all the other programs I have to install: office, avg, sp3 and all other updates. Then Id have to reconfigure his mail client.
Really what I'm asking is: at what point do you reinstall an os? How do you know you have everything off of it? And do you charge for a virus removal AND an os install because removing the virus caused this registry malfunction (I think). I am still so green. Thank you and will post back.

 

[steve51]

You back up the essentials, documents and pictures, AVG is free unless he has AVG pro in which case he just downloads it again and re-registers.
SP3 is a free download from microsoft and as for his contacts either msn or thunderbird or whatever he chooses to use, they are saved online not on his pc.
As far as office and other applications are concerned if he is using legit software he will have the discs and can simply re-install.
given the number of hours you have spent on that computer i am willing to bet that you haven't made a penny on it.

 

[loavesfishescomp]

Hey Markus or anyone. When I copy the userinit.exe file over from a xp cd do I have to unpack it first? Or can I just copy the one on my Dell bench computer os to the slave HD?

 

[loavesfishescomp]

You are so right. If I made $5/hour I'll be lucky. But correct me if I'm wrong, that thunderbird is unlike outlook. Outlook will store contacts locally and also might erase email on the server once the pop email has been downloaded. And I am a tad bugged I spent so much time on it, but stuff like this has taught me how to remotely edit a registry. Your input is appreciated and I am still learning not to give the moon for a bag of beads. Cheers

 

[Markus]

Hey Markus or anyone. When I copy the userinit.exe file over from a xp cd do I have to unpack it first? Or can I just copy the one on my Dell bench computer os to the slave HD?

Yes you do, it will only work if its userinit.exe

 

[loavesfishescomp]

And I've read that must put a "," after the value too. I've copied the userinit.exe file over from my bench os to the slave HD. Here I go!

 

[loavesfishescomp]

Markus!!!! You da' Man! It logged in automatically!!!! Only thing is, I get an error:"windows cannot find 'login.exe'. Make sure you typed the name correctly...." I will research furthur. I could not have done it without your simple instructions. Thank you. Will post back on above error. Once again, thank you.