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Cannot log in to Windows
When you log in to Windows, the computer immediately saves your settings, logs off and returns to the login screen again.
This is the result of a corrupt or invalid registry entry, which may have been changed by a virus or spyware. Therefore you are strongly advised to scan your computer for viruses and spyware as soon as possible.
Solution
Method 1
Try this method if you can start Windows in safe mode:
- Boot into safe mode.
- Click Start, Run and enter regedit
- Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft \Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- Select the Winlogon folder.
- If the right-hand pane contains an entry named OldUserinit:
- delete the entry named Userinit
- rename OldUserinit to Userinit. - Check that the value of Userinit is "C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe," (the comma at the end of the string is important.) Note: if your Windows folder is not C:\Windows, modify the path accordingly.
Method 2
If you have a Microsoft Windows installation CD:
- Perform a repair installation.
Method 3
Try taking the hard drive and attaching it to another Windows XP computer as a slave, or by using a USB-to-IDE adapter. Alternatively you can try making a BartPE recovery CD and booting the computer from that. Any method can be used that gives you read/write access to the hard drive.
Often, the registry entry referred to above has been changed from userinit.exe to wsaupdater.exe. Therefore you have a good chance of success if you just copy Windows\System32\userinit.exe to Windows\System32\wsaupdater.exe
Method 4
Gain read/write access to your hard drive from another computer running the same version of Windows.
- Log in as administrator.
- Ensure that Windows Explorer folder options have enabled Show hidden files and folders.
- Click Start, Run and enter regedit
- Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
- Click File, Load Hive, then navigate to Windows\System32\Config on your hard drive (not the host system!)
- Select system and click Open.
- For Enter a Key name type anything.
- Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft \Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
- Select the Winlogon folder.
- If the right-hand pane contains an entry named OldUserinit:
- delete the entry named Userinit
- rename OldUserinit to Userinit. - Check that the value of Userinit is "C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe," (the comma at the end of the string is important.) Note: if your Windows folder is not C:\Windows, modify the path accordingly. This is the Windows path when the drive is in use in your computer, not the drive letter it has currently.
- When you have made the changes click File, Unload Hive.
Applies to
- Microsoft Windows 2000
- Microsoft Windows XP
17 comments:
hey, i have this problem but the solution can be used only while you are logged in, how can i solve this problem from outside any account of windows?? can you access the registry from another point?
Juan Carlos () - 13 10 2007 - 00:54
use life cd
master () - 25 03 2008 - 11:27
hi i am having this problem im in safe mode rite now but when i checkd for the olduserinet file it was labeld userinet so there was no need to rename it and the path was corect C:windows/system/userinet.exe, is there nething eles other keys that i can check ? please let me know by email thanks for the help
Jeff_neveu@hotmail.com
jeff () - 27 03 2008 - 05:26
i cant even log in on safe mode what does that mean
chris () - 11 04 2008 - 22:30
my brother accidently installed 2 antivirus ,bcoz of which his laptop is not working,it hangs as soon as he log's in window .Wat to do,how to remove either of the antivirus?
abby () - 08 09 2008 - 20:30
my cumputer wont load to login
daniella () - 23 10 2008 - 21:43
I can't log on in safe mode either. Help!
Krisrin - 23 02 2009 - 14:11
i can't even login in a safe mode, is there any other way of editing the registry key?
bisrat () - 07 05 2009 - 06:39
i cannot log in to my system, it requires a password and i have never passworded it, pks can you help, need to retrieve some documents
ni () - 28 05 2009 - 20:33
hi, i m having a bit diff prob it boots up but while loading widows it restarts , i tried repairing formatting all failed, in repairing it dont move after the scree where it asks about which windows to repair and format it says a setupdd file is corrupt .........
gaurav - 30 05 2009 - 20:31
i can't login to the sytem even as administrator or get in CD bootable to the CD drive. is there any other way to fix the corrupt file?
Gilbert () - 01 07 2009 - 11:17
hi, i m using hp laptop with vin wista home basic 32 & net connecton . when i m using net my system have blue screen and system goes off and again start in safe mode. plz help me
riyazkhan - 30 09 2009 - 19:05
hi
I can not get into computer at all, i type password in, it accepts it but then logs me straight out, I can not get in on safe mode or administrator setting.
What can I do now?
hursty () - 18 01 2010 - 19:36
PLS HELP ME!!
When I log in to Windows, the computer immediately saves your settings, logs off and returns to the login screen again.
i also tried to go through safe mode & safe mode with command prompt but it is not working.
Pls help me..
Tanya () - 04 02 2010 - 05:56
I cannot log on to Windows XP Professional - windows loads to log in screen, when user name and password enter windows logs off - tried logging on as administrator - get message that administrator account is disabled. Please Help.
Sherry () - 22 02 2010 - 14:01
i got log off immediately after log on in windows 2003 server clan virus fix it as your instraction suggested hoever i cant access any hard drive c: or D: teh emssge i recive is The operation has been cancled due to restration in effecte for this computer.
khalid () - 15 03 2010 - 09:03
when i on my system,it only show the name of the pc but doesn't boot to windows
ibraheem () - 07 04 2010 - 23:43