[AmyC]

Hi,

My Windows XP SP2 computer is stuck in the logon/logoff loop. I am confident that this is the cause of a virus, as the computer displayed many virus warnings. I ran a system scan, it deleted several viruses, but then this one took hold of the computer to the point I am at now.

I get into the Windows recovery console, and I discovered that I do not have a the file c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe. So I can't try any of the posts that talk about copying it to wsaupdater.exe, and updating the registry.

I also looked into restoring to a previous recovery image, but I don't have a "snapshot" directory.

So I've hit walls trying the suggested fixes that I have found so far.

What else can I try? If I can avoid reinstalling the os, that would be preferable.

Thanks for your help.

[Broni]

If you can't boot in any way, I don't think, you have any other option, than clean install.

[AmyC]

I was hoping to receive additional feedback other than resorting directly to a re-install.

[Broni]

I'm sorry. I didn't notice, that you can get to recovery console.
Try these steps: http://icrontic.com/...pair_windows_xp

[AmyC]

Nevermind. I reinstalled. Topic can be closed.

[AndyGa]

For Everyone that is having the logon loop with xp, this is what is happening alot of times (but not always). YOu have been hit with malware and when you clean it the userinit file that xp uses to log you accounts on gets deleted. So after trying many things from recovery to complete reinstall, I have found a solution that seems to work (so far) all the time i have tried it. Follow the instructions below:

Before you start this, start your pc in recovery console (using system disk) and go to the system32

directory and make sure your userinit.exe file is in fact deleted (do Not delete it if it is there -- you need another solution than this one).


One note:

do not specify the file name to be extracted to.... it will fail... i.e.:

expand d:\i386\userinit.ex_ c:\windows\system32\ or if you CD into \windows\system32

type this

expand d:\i386\userinit.ex_. Will work.

if you still get the logon loop after restarting do the following:

Start the pc in recovery console and make sure that the userinit.exe file is in the windows

directory. If it is type:

copy c:\windows\userinit.exe c:\windows\system32

If it says 1 file copied, type exit and boot from hard drive and it should be all good.

[timpter]

AndyGa, on Mar 23 2009, 09:05 AM, said:

For Everyone that is having the logon loop with xp, this is what is happening alot of times (but not always). YOu have been hit with malware and when you clean it the userinit file that xp uses to log you accounts on gets deleted. So after trying many things from recovery to complete reinstall, I have found a solution that seems to work (so far) all the time i have tried it. Follow the instructions below:

Before you start this, start your pc in recovery console (using system disk) and go to the system32

directory and make sure your userinit.exe file is in fact deleted (do Not delete it if it is there -- you need another solution than this one).


One note:

do not specify the file name to be extracted to.... it will fail... i.e.:

expand d:\i386\userinit.ex_ c:\windows\system32\ or if you CD into \windows\system32

type this

expand d:\i386\userinit.ex_. Will work.

if you still get the logon loop after restarting do the following:

Start the pc in recovery console and make sure that the userinit.exe file is in the windows

directory. If it is type:

copy c:\windows\userinit.exe c:\windows\system32

If it says 1 file copied, type exit and boot from hard drive and it should be all good.

You rock, Worked great

[dteg]

AndyGa, on Mar 23 2009, 09:05 AM, said:

For Everyone that is having the logon loop with xp, this is what is happening alot of times (but not always). YOu have been hit with malware and when you clean it the userinit file that xp uses to log you accounts on gets deleted. So after trying many things from recovery to complete reinstall, I have found a solution that seems to work (so far) all the time i have tried it. Follow the instructions below:

Before you start this, start your pc in recovery console (using system disk) and go to the system32

directory and make sure your userinit.exe file is in fact deleted (do Not delete it if it is there -- you need another solution than this one).


One note:

do not specify the file name to be extracted to.... it will fail... i.e.:

expand d:\i386\userinit.ex_ c:\windows\system32\ or if you CD into \windows\system32

type this

expand d:\i386\userinit.ex_. Will work.

if you still get the logon loop after restarting do the following:

Start the pc in recovery console and make sure that the userinit.exe file is in the windows

directory. If it is type:

copy c:\windows\userinit.exe c:\windows\system32

If it says 1 file copied, type exit and boot from hard drive and it should be all good.

this doesnt work for me.

ive tried:
expand d:\i386\userinit.ex_
expand d:\i386\userinit.exe
expand d:\i386
expand d:\

for the first 3 the system could not locate the specified files
and for the last 1 the file could not be expanded.

i have way to much schoolwork and other stuff on the computer so cleaning is definitely out of the question.

so i figured mayb the cd drive is something other than D so i tried expand d: - expand f: nothing.. im really lost an out of ideas..

any help?

[diabillic]

Please start your own topic.

[edge2022]

Quote

i have way to much schoolwork and other stuff on the computer so cleaning is definitely out of the question.

Click on Backup Files Without Windows in my sig, and follow the directions to get your files back. Then you can reformat and reinstall. You could also try a repair installation: http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/How-to-repa...ws-XP-t138.html