I get to the login screen and when I type in my password and hit enter it says "loading your settings", flashes a one second view of my desktop picture and immediately jumps back to the login screen and says "logging off". I have tried booting in safe mode, logging in as the administrator with the same results. I also tried logging in to the last known good configuration of windows with no luck either. I have an XP cd for another desktop machine and the product key number, but don't know how to re-install or ghost the machine without logging in. How do I re-install windows without logging in? Thank you for any helpful advice, DeDe

You can't reinstall Windows by logging in. You could try a Windows Repair, or look here: http://www.computing.net/answers/wi... http://www.computing.net/answers/wi... EEOC

or a bootable cd with Fdisk !

Don't use fdisk. Just boot to the CD and run a Windows Repair. EEOC

Hey there, Thanks to all who are replying. The problem I'm running into now is the even after going into BIOS and setting my CD/DVD drive as the 1st bootable option, it still does not boot to the cd but goes directly to the login page. Even tried hitting f8 and f10 while booting as a short cut to the cd, but it doesn't work. I don't get a command prompt nor do I get to a recovery console page, just back to my login page. The xp cd is legal, I know that is an issue with many cds that don't boot, but this mine is LEGAL, so it should boot right??? Please help!