[marlon667]

Hi there, I've been having alot of problems with my PC lately, and I have been surfing the net for days looking for solutions.
I wanted to expand my computers 80GB hard drive to a 250GB drive, so I used XXClone to clone my hard drive to my external hard drive (I only have 1 drive space in my computer). Then I realised I couldn't do that the other way, so I tried using Clonezilla, which didnt work because the external was 1TB. So, I had to download a version of Ubuntu I could boot from mu 2GB USB so I clould use GParted to partition the drive.

Since I cloned it, I left the 80GB drive untouched. I put it back in to the computer and booted it fine, but the first thing I noticed is that the login screen is it's normal blue, not the hp wallpaper it usually is. When i try to log in, it looks like it is logging in, but it logs out again immediately.

I tried to copy the userinit.exe file from my school's laptop (same os) usung the Ubuntu USB, and it copied fine, but it didn't work. I don't have the Recovery Disk for the computer, and even if I did the disk drive does not work, and i can't afford to get a new one at the moment. I know that you can boot the Recovery console from a USB, but i don't know how.

Is there anything I can do to fix the logging in error? I can use my school laptop for files, but i need to return it ASAP as i'm leaving the school. I am currently using Ubuntu 12.04 which I installed onto my 250GB hard drive and partitioned it so I could have space for Windows (This was my original plan)

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Give this a try:

If you have a corrupted account (user profile) where things are all messed up when you login or you can't login then follow the directions here to create a new account and copy all your user data over to it:

http://support.micro...om/?kbid=811151

Or follow these directions posted in GeeksToGo.com

• Boot to Safe Mode, login as Administrator
• Show all files by opening My Computer, Tools menu, View tab, check Show Hidden Files/Folders then uncheck Hide extensions for known filetypes and Hide protected operating system files [Recommended]. Click Apply then OK.
• Create a new Administrator level account via Control Panel / User Accounts.. Pick a good name as you will be keeping it.
• Reboot the computer.
• Login with the new account so the folder structure under Documents and Settings gets created, then log off.
• Boot to Safe Mode, login as Administrator
• Browse to c:\documents and settings\OldUserAccount
• Select everything in that folder, including sub folders, except the three files called ntuser.dat, ntuser.dat.log, and ntuser.ini.
• Copy all those files into c:\documents and settings\NewUserAccount. Reply Yes or Yes to all when duplicate folders or files are found.
• Reboot the computer and login with your New user account.

Once you confirm that all your documents are located in My Documents of the New user, you can delete the old profile.

[Ztruker]

Give this a try:

If you have a corrupted account (user profile) where things are all messed up when you login or you can't login then follow the directions here to create a new account and copy all your user data over to it:

http://support.micro...om/?kbid=811151

Or follow these directions posted in GeeksToGo.com

• Boot to Safe Mode, login as Administrator
• Show all files by opening My Computer, Tools menu, View tab, check Show Hidden Files/Folders then uncheck Hide extensions for known filetypes and Hide protected operating system files [Recommended]. Click Apply then OK.
• Create a new Administrator level account via Control Panel / User Accounts.. Pick a good name as you will be keeping it.
• Reboot the computer.
• Login with the new account so the folder structure under Documents and Settings gets created, then log off.
• Boot to Safe Mode, login as Administrator
• Browse to c:\documents and settings\OldUserAccount
• Select everything in that folder, including sub folders, except the three files called ntuser.dat, ntuser.dat.log, and ntuser.ini.
• Copy all those files into c:\documents and settings\NewUserAccount. Reply Yes or Yes to all when duplicate folders or files are found.
• Reboot the computer and login with your New user account.

Once you confirm that all your documents are located in My Documents of the New user, you can delete the old profile.

[marlon667]

Give this a try:

If you have a corrupted account (user profile) where things are all messed up when you login or you can't login then follow the directions here to create a new account and copy all your user data over to it:

http://support.micro...om/?kbid=811151

Or follow these directions posted in GeeksToGo.com

• Boot to Safe Mode, login as Administrator
• Show all files by opening My Computer, Tools menu, View tab, check Show Hidden Files/Folders then uncheck Hide extensions for known filetypes and Hide protected operating system files [Recommended]. Click Apply then OK.
• Create a new Administrator level account via Control Panel / User Accounts.. Pick a good name as you will be keeping it.
• Reboot the computer.
• Login with the new account so the folder structure under Documents and Settings gets created, then log off.
• Boot to Safe Mode, login as Administrator
• Browse to c:\documents and settings\OldUserAccount
• Select everything in that folder, including sub folders, except the three files called ntuser.dat, ntuser.dat.log, and ntuser.ini.
• Copy all those files into c:\documents and settings\NewUserAccount. Reply Yes or Yes to all when duplicate folders or files are found.
• Reboot the computer and login with your New user account.

Once you confirm that all your documents are located in My Documents of the New user, you can delete the old profile.

I can't log into any account. It logs in, then logs straight back out.

[Ztruker]

So even booting to Safe Mode and logging in as Administrator doesn't work?

Also, please don't quote the post your are replying to. It's not necessary, thanks.

Do you have a XP Install CD?

[CompCav]

Hi marion667,

One of the typical causes of the immediate login/logout is a problem with your userinit file.

If this is your problem this tool will do the trick, however there may be other underlying issues contributing to your problem.

You will need a computer to make a bootable USB flash drive and a USB flash drive to execute these steps:

Download http://unetbootin.so...ows-latest.exe & http://noahdfear.net.../xpud-0.9.2.iso to the desktop of your clean computer

•Insert your USB drive
•Press Start > My Computer > right click your USB drive > choose Format > Quick format
•Double click the unetbootin-xpud-windows-latest.exe that you just downloaded
•Press Run then OK
•Select the DiskImage option then click the browse button located on the right side of the textbox field.
•Browse to and select the xpud-0.9.2.iso file you downloaded
•Verify the correct drive letter is selected for your USB device then click OK
•It will install a little bootable OS on your USB device
•Once the files have been written to the device you will be prompted to reboot ~ do not reboot and instead just Exit the UNetbootin interface
•After it has completed do not choose to reboot the clean computer simply close the installer
•Next download http://noahdfear.net...UD_userinit_fix to your USB (without a file extension, you may have to right click on the link and click on Save Target As, and make sure that "All Files" is selected)
•Remove the USB and insert it in the sick computer
•Boot the Sick computer
•Press F12 right as the computer is initially starting up, and choose to boot from the USB
•Follow the prompts
•A Welcome to xPUD screen will appear
•Press File
•Expand mnt
•sda1,2...usually corresponds to your hard drive
•sdb1 is likely your USB
•Click on sdb1 (this is your USB drive)
•Confirm that you see xPUD_userinit_fix on your USB drive (sdb1)
•Double click on xPUD_userinit_fix
•After it has finished a report will be located on your USB drive named UserinitReport.txt
•Click on the Home tab, click on Power Off, and then click on Turn Off
•Remove the USB drive and insert back in your working computer and navigate to UserinitReport.txt

Please note - all text entries are case sensitive

Please copy and paste the UserinitReport.txt for my review.

[marlon66]

Thanks. Sorry I took ages, i went away for a week, and i could not log in to the site so i created another account.

I saved the report to the usb, but i cant find it on ubuntu. Also I cant boot windows any more, it says unknown filesysten... grub rescue>

[CompCav]

I saved the report to the usb, but i cant find it on ubuntu. Also I cant boot windows any more, it says unknown filesysten... grub rescue>

The filesystem should not have been affected. The xPUD was to be installed on a USB drive not on the sick computer.

You were to boot up on the USB drive and run xPUD_userinit_fix and the file UserinitReport.txt would be on the USB drive and on a healthy computer you could plug it in and retrieve the text file from the USB drive.

Regards,

CompCav

[marlon667]

Found it!

I don't have the XP laptop from school anymore, so i have to use the Ubuntu OS on my other memory stick. I did copy some of the system files from the laptop.

Attached Files

•  UserinitReport.txt   4.85KB   265 downloads

[marlon667]

The filesystem should not have been affected. The xPUD was to be installed on a USB drive not on the sick computer.

I did install it on the USB stick.

[CompCav]

OK but the grub statement implies that multiple OS's are or were installed on the hard drive. I need to consult with a grub specialist so please be patient with me.

Regards,

CompCav

[Ztruker]

You said you now get: unknown filesystem... grub rescue

Is that the exact error message? If not would you please post the exact message?

Thanks

[marlon667]

Yes that was the exact message; after the hp splash screen it tried to boot and read

error: unknown filesystem
grub rescue> _

It allows me to type on the "grub rescue>" line.

[CompCav]

OK, I have a few questions to ask to help us understand your set up.

Which file or files did you copy?

Did you copy them to or from the computer that is not booting into windows?

Do you have another operating system besides windows installed on the internal hard drive?

Did you have the external drive with Ubuntu attached when you tried to boot into windows?

When you installed Ubuntu on the external drive was the external drive attached to this computer that we are trying to boot into windows?


Regards,

CompCav

[marlon667]

OK, I have a few questions to ask to help us understand your set up.

Which file or files did you copy?

I copied the userinit file from the system32 folder, but i don't have that file anymore.

Did you copy them to or from the computer that is not booting into windows?

I copied it from my school laptop, which i dont have anymore.

Do you have another operating system besides windows installed on the internal hard drive?

No. I have 2 thirds of the drive partitioned for windows, and the other third to install Linux Mint, when i fix windows.

Did you have the external drive with Ubuntu attached when you tried to boot into windows?

No.

When you installed Ubuntu on the external drive was the external drive attached to this computer that we are trying to boot into windows?

No. I used my school laptop to install Ubunu onto my usb.

[CompCav]

Thank you for answering the questions. Let's get a copy of the master boot record using xPUD.

Try this please. You will need the USB drive that you installed xPUD on.

• Boot the Sick computer with the USB with xPUD
• The computer must be set to boot from the USB flash drive
• Gently tap F12 and choose to boot from the USB drive
• Follow the prompts
• A Welcome to xPUD screen will appear
• Press File
• Expand mnt
• sda1,2...usually corresponds to your HDD
• sdb1 is likely your USB
• Click on the folder that represents your USB drive (sdb1 ?)
• Press Tool at the top
• Choose Open Terminal
• Type the following and press enter:
  
  dd if=/dev/sda of=mbr.bin bs=512 count=1
  
  
• Press Enter
• After it has finished a file will be located on your USB drive named mbr.bin
• Remove the USB drive and insert it back in your working computer and navigate to mbr.bin, zip it up and attach it to your next reply.

This will allow me to have a look at the MasterBootRecord of your drive and see if it is corrupted.