userinit.exe failed to activate

[BRSaye]

My uncle wants me to fix his laptop. He gets the above error. When i click on a user, it brings up the background only. i can bring up the task manager, but i try to run a new process and it doesn't do anything. I don't get another error, it just doesn't open the new process. ANy help?

[BRSaye]

me again. As i was typing the above post, the laptop forced itself into hibernation and will not turn on. It was plugged into the wall when it did it, so i don't think it is a battery problem.

[itsgt]

This is a logon service error. You can try these options first

Reboot and select last known good configuration

if that does work, boot in to safe mode, log in and try a restore point to a time you know it worked

[BRSaye]

Safe mode only gets rid of the background image. Instead, it is a black screen, but it has the same problems as before. Last Known Good Config does the same

[itsgt]

Try this then,

go to safe mode,

(have your xp cd ready)

go to start
run
type in cmd
DOS prompt opens up

(Install your cd now)

Type in sfc /scannow

This checks all the protected files in windows, if yours is missing or corrupted it will replace them with the original.

If that doesn't work try this

When the Windows XP Setup has started, press R to "Repair the Windows XP installation using Recovery Console".

Select the Windows installation to repair .

Type the Administrator password, if there is one, if not just hit enter

type the following commands; pressing ENTER after each command: (I am assuming your main dvd/cd reader is d drive, if not change the letter to the right one

D:
CD I386
EXPAND USERINIT.EX_ C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32

After tapping ENTER you should see a notification text saying "1 file(s) copied"; this shows that the new file has been copied.

Restart your computer and take out your cd

Your problem should be resolved by one of these two solutions

[Planefreak]

I fixed a computer, or would've fixed it, that was doing almost the same thing. It had a virus that told the computer to look in the wrong folder for userinit.exe. I had to load the registry on a different pc to fix and it would've worked had I remembered to offload the registry before shutting down.

I would load the registry on another computer and check to see if userinit.exe is where it should be and if the startup file is directed towards it. But that all depends on whether you can hook up the hard drive to another pc. Don't forger to offload the registry though. It will screw up the whole system if you don't and force you to do a full reinstall.

[BRSaye]

Thanks for all the input. But, i don't have the XP cd (my uncle's not sure where he put it). Even if i did, the start menu doesn't show up. I can't get to the registry. I can't get to anything. I bring up the taskmanager and try to start new task, but after i click open it doesn't do anything. Nothing will load. I'm lost

[glc]

Brand and model of the laptop, please.