Automatic Log Off

[divinenanny]

Hello,

I am new here, so forgive me if the post is not correct. I'm also a Mac user, and forgot most of my Windows knowledge

When I start my mom's PC, the comp gets to the Welcome screen. I can click on a user, and the comp logs in, but just as the desktop (just the backrground, no icons or menu bar) appears it automatically logs off (saves preferences) and returns to the welcome screen.
It runs Windows XP, but if it has SP2 is not certain. From the gibberish on the screen when I start it in safe mode I'd say it has it installed.
I tried starting in safe mode, but none of the accounts would work.
As far as I know there has not been any software installed recently, but since I don't live at home I have no way to be sure. The comp also runs a regular virus check (Panda Platinum) and Ad-Aware.

I hope someone can help me, because this problem has me stumped.

Thanks,

Divine

[doctorgonzo]

When you say that "none of the accounts work" in safe mode, are you talking about your regular user accounts? Have you tried logging in using the Administration account in safe mode?

[divinenanny]

I tried administrator, and it has the same problem.

[scracker]

I think that in safe mode, there is an account that will get you in Windows without asking for password. When in Windows, run Scandisk, or recover system. Just give it a try.

[divinenanny]

But none of the accounts, not even in safe mode, and not even the administrator account will let me get that far. 2 of the three account don't have a password, one does, and that doesn't make a difference. Safe mode or normal mode, no difference. Administrator or normal account, no difference.... The weirdest thing I ever did see.

[Haris_P]

exact same thing happened to my other computer yesterday. I tried running in safe mode and clicked on Administrator... as long as i click on it... the desktop flashes and then says logging off, then back to the welcome screen.

Ran also "last known good configuration" and the same thing happened.

I called HP support and they said I would have to restore the whole computer. Now If I were to do that, can I use a boot disk and go into dos and copy the files that I need to back up on a cd? Will that work without running any cd-burning software in dos?

[doctorgonzo]

Originally Posted by Haris_P Now If I were to do that, can I use a boot disk and go into dos and copy the files that I need to back up on a cd? Will that work without running any cd-burning software in dos?

If the drive is NTFS, you are going to have a problem, because DOS can't deal with NTFS partitions. Nor can DOS deal with CD burners without software. It's not like Windows; you can't configure as burner as drive E: and just copy files there.

You could try a Linux distro that boots from a floppy like Knoppix to get things to work. That's probably the solution that works out best, because Linux can generally read NTFS partitions.

[glc]

Whoa - this is a known issue and easily taken care of by booting with an XP CD and using the recovery console.

At the Recovery Console command prompt, type the following lines, pressing ENTER after you type each line:

cd system32

copy userinit.exe wsaupdater.exe

exit

[Haris_P]

hmm, I'm not sure if there is an XP disk, but when the system starts it says press f10 for system recovery. So I did that and at the prompt it says "running this default program will not delete any of the data files you've created." Now the brilliant tech support agents at HP have confused me so much. The guy said what you created and put on your c: drive will be saved but your desktop and my document files will be deleted. Then I asked arent my documents and desktop files in the c: drive. All he said is I would have to delete everything. I promptly hung up.

So If I go with the default system recovery and it says it will not delete the files that I have created, what exactly does that mean? For example does that include pictures I have imported from the camera?

[glc]

If you don't have a CD - you have the &^%$#@ preload with a restore partition - so you will need to borrow an XP CD (YES, this is legal), boot with it, and use the console.

[Haris_P]

i put in the winxp disk, but there was no promp to go to recovery console? Do I have to press any buttons at startup?

[Yuanji]

try going to the bios i think delete at startup? and then setting the boot order to cd rom first.

[icekidjh]

I have the same problem..except with a different OS..I'm currently using Windows 2000 Pro on my other computer.
Same problem: It starts up, goes into "loading settings" and then quickly switches to "saving settings" then "loading settings" and so on..
Is there a solution to fix this with Win2000?

[mrmister1]

You should be able to do the same thing with Windows 2000 by going to the recovery console.

[icekidjh]

Okay...but I do not have the Windows 2000 CD...
Does that mean I have to get one somewhere?
Or can I use boot disks?
And how do I get into the "recovery console"?

[glc]

You will need a Win2K CD. When you boot with it, choose Repair, then choose console, not express repair.

You can use the console if you have the set of 4 Win2k bootdisks - you can download them here:

http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

[icekidjh]

Thanks.
I created the 4 boot disks...since you said I can access the console, do I still need to click repair?
Or do I just continue with the recovery console stuff like:
cd system32

copy userinit.exe wsaupdater.exe

exit

[glc]

Once you are in the console and logged in as administrator, just continue.

[icekidjh]

Okay, I went into the recovery console..and typed in the
cd system32

copy userinit.exe wsaupdater.exe

exit

And when it restarted..the problem was still there..loading settings/saving settings
Any other solutions?

[icekidjh]

Bump..anyone help?

[icekidjh]

No one can help??
I don't want to reformat my HD...

[glc]

Google "userinit wsaupdater" and start reading articles - looks like the quick and dirty fix didn't work. You probably won't have to reformat (your data should be reasonably safe) but you may have to do a parallel install or a registry replacement back to defaults which will be pretty ugly and will require all applications be reinstalled.

[josasaja]

YOU HAVE A VIRUS FROM THE BANK FAMILY, I'TS ON A FILE NAMED USERINIT.EXE
YOU CAN FIX IT BY USING AVG THE FREE DOWNLOAD WORKS FINE. REBOOT IN SAFE MODE (f8) AN RUN THE VIRUS CHECK ON THIS SPECIFIC FILE. HOPE THIS HELPS.

C:WINDOWS/SYSTEM32/USERINIT.EXE

[Ob1]

josasaja, check the date on the previous post, dont think this is still an issue anymore.

[Panama Red]

Yup, nearly 2 years old. Time to close it to prevent further posts.