Weird windows xp start up problem !

[renovation]

windows xp - you click your login icon and windows start and returns you to the sign in page. this even happens in safe mode.

it seems like it wants to or is going to open up windows but you always end up back to the sign in page !

were it stands as of right now - pulled the HD from the affected machine . attached it to my computer and running malwarebyte's anti-malware. found nothing doing a complete scan !

this is a IBM tower with a 40 gig hd p-4 . not been able to figure out how to switch the drive order in the bio's if anyone knows please inform :(

the client did approve for me to install a larger 2nd drive. as they have use about all the small 40 gig up. this is there kids computer (oldest child is like 13 years old ) and 3 of them use it.
tomorrow im going to try the info i got on this link here and see if that works - http://en.kioskea.net/forum/affich-27775-pc-logs-on-then-off-again
if anyone has any other ideas im all ears at this point.

[Jeffbx]

Try logging in with a different profile, if you can. They probably have an administrator account with no password.

[renovation]

jeff tryed that to no avail :(

[Jeffbx]

If you have one, boot from the XP CD. Begin setup, and it will scan the hard drive for prior installations of XP. It should fine one & ask if you want to repair it - choose yes & let it go to town. If that works, you'll have to run Windows Update to re-apply all of the security patches.

[renovation]

problem is im not able to get into the boot setup in the bios to switch it from booting to hd then to cd . i need to switch the order to boot to cd before it boots to the hd. is there a special trick on a IBM to get into that sec.of the bios. i can see it when in there but can't get the order changed. im sure there has to be a special key to hit to do this in the bio's. i tryed but failed to find what i need do on ibm web site!
any one ever used / worked on a ibm before and remember how to switch boot order in the bio's.

[Markel]

If you have one, boot from the XP CD. Begin setup, and it will scan the hard drive for prior installations of XP. It should fine one & ask if you want to repair it - choose yes & let it go to town. If that works, you'll have to run Windows Update to re-apply all of the security patches.
But doesn't using the Repair option require the Administrator account password?

[renovation]

in my case i have the pass word if needed anyway !

[Jeffbx]

No - recovery console requires admin password, but not repair.

Try pressing F10 or F12 at startup to get to a boot menu.

[Devhux]

Sounds like the userinit registry key is messed up (possibly by spyware/etc (even though you scanned for that). Have a look at post #6 HERE (http://www.mcse.ms/message1265615.html) for a list of some files that can cause this.

If you have the hard drive and an XP CD, you can always install the drive in your computer and then burn a BartPE (http://nu2.nu/pebuilder/) disc.

- Start Registry editor and load the registry from the other drive (ntuser.dat file in c:\Docuemts and Settings\<username>\)

- Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon and double-click on "UserInit"

- Make sure it reads "C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe" (with nothing else added to it)

As for setting the boot order in the BIOS, usually the Plus/Minus keys will let you change the order of the drives once your in that menu. You can also try pressing ENTER and see if a list pops up.

[renovation]

Ha all i still need to fix this machine . just not been able to fine the time to reset it up and apply the extra time to it. but i did get a call tonight from another friend who said he just got a phone call from a friend of his in New York or New Jersey with the same problem going on in his machine . there maybe a new bug out there or one hell of coincidence !

[renovation]

well computer back to the owner. i returned it better then when they got it new. the computer got a new f-disk on there factory 40 gig hd. A fresh install of all the drivers and help center that it was sold with from IBM. I also installed a new 320 gig harddrive that the owner requested. what ever it was that messed up windows is HARD CORE !

[renovation]

my 2nd machine arrived over the weekend doing the very same thing as the last one (the IBM ) this time its a HP so now i need to download all the drivers to a cd and then f-disk the harddrive on the HP rig .man do i HATE hp when it comes to getting drivers for there rigs .
and i know these people never made the back up disks when they first got it. i find most clients who by prebuilt factory computers run the program to burn the back ups for there new computer.:banghead: