WinXP can't log on, immediately logs off

[joederr]

I need help from everyone on this forums.. Here is a bit of background..

On my finance's computer, she had some software that got installed by other programs. One of them was called "Search Assistant" I believe. I went on the web and found a fix to remove the Search Assistant. Its something that attaches it self to the Task bar, and you can turn it off, but it comes back the next re-boot.

On the forum site, it said to edit this registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SOFTWARE
Microsoft
Windows NT
Winlogon

Then to edit the Userinit key to:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

It had some other key in there, so it should have been a clean fix... I have fixed other spyware installs by editing the registry, so this kind of fix isnt new to me. I checked my computer and the one at work, and they are both the same key.. so its the correct one.

The problem is.. NOW it will boot to the logon screen, where her and my accounts are to log on, and if rebooted in safe mode, there is the Admin account. However, when you click on ANY of them, it starts to log on, says.. "loading personal settings" or something to that effect, and then flashes the desktop wallpaper, then immediately goes to "Logging off user" or whatever it says. It does that on her account, my account, and the Admin account. There are no passwords on any account, just click and go.

I have tried every single option on the F8 menu, all goto the log on screen. I cant boot to a command prompt, I tried to make a boot disk from my computer, and it loads Millinium edition for some reason... and the only drive available is the A drive, I cant change drives to c:, or d:

Systems are both running WinXP home, one problem why the boot disk doesnt see that the drive is there is because its a SATA drive, its the only HD in the system.

Does ANYone have any ideas ?? I dont want to re-format her HD, because she has stuff that isnt backed up for her web-design business. I can access most of her folders on her computer thru the network, but I cant get access to her My Documents folder, which would have her favorites, desktop etc. Nor can I access the Windows folder.

If anyone can think of any way to access those folders, or how to get back into her computer so I can copy all her files to my computer via the network, PLEASE let me know!!!

I think I have only seen this one time, and thats when my registration key expired when I first set up WinXP on my computer, somehow it didnt prompt for the serial key, or I didnt activate it, one of the two, and it did this to me... I had to re-format that time.. I just hope there is some utility out there that can maybe let me re-enter my serial key? I just thought about that just now as I was re-reading the post before sending.

Thank you.

Joe Derr

[Panama Red]

Do a repair from the XP CD. Boot to the CD, select 'new install' (not repair from recovery console). The when it detects the XP already on the machine, select repair existing OS. This method will preserve all the files and existing programs. When it is finished, you will have to go to Windows Updates to get current again.

[joederr]

Thanks Panama Red. I'm first and impressed with your Brozne Star. If you ever care to share the story of how you got it, e-mail me. Im currently serving in the USAF.

I will try it when I get home, I called my finance' and told her what to do as you said, but since the drive is SATA, Windows XP will not recognize the drive strait off. I have to go back and find what 3-4 files are needed to select "load SCSI or 3rd party drivers" at the beginning. I cant find the disk with them on it that I had when I set up her computer. I do know they are on the CD that came with her MotherBoard. I will do this tonight and let you know.

Joe