Guys, I think I have a real problem on my hands. Every time I try to log in with my user name and password, it says 'logging in or loading your personal settings" but then immediatly goes to "logging off." I've tried booting directly from our Windows XP Upgrade CD however it will not let me load directly from the CD. I have tried logging in directly from an older Dell Re-Install CD which appeared to work but stlil couldn't log in. When I log in in safe mode, either through my username or the administrator I get the same thing. Has anyone experienced this or can anyone help me out so I don't have to spend a few hundred dollars fixing it or re-format my hard drive? THANK YOU!

Logs off before fully logged on- http://www.computing.net/answers/wi... Response Number 2 looks like a fix.

A few posts on this very site: http://www.computing.net/answers/wi... http://www.computing.net/answers/wi... "So won’t you give this man his wings What a shame To have to beg you to see We’re not all the same What a shame" - Shinedown

Thanks for the help thus far on ways to get past this. You guys recommended these steps: hey try this 1. Boot using your winxp cd. 2. Enter recovery console. 3. at the command prompt go to C:/windows/system32 4. next type: copy userinit.exe wsaupdater.exe 5. exit and reboot normally. You should now be able to logon. But you're not done yet! 6. run regedit 7. find the Userinit key in: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\ 8. modify the entry: C:\WINDOWS\System32\wsaupdater.exe so that it reads: C:\WINDOWS\System32\userinit.exe The problem is, I can't seem to figure out how to do Step 3? When I type in c:/windows/system32, it tell me the command is not recognized and to type HELP for a list of supported commands. HELP PLEASE!! (sorry for posting this twice everyone)

I have no idea if the instructions that you have will fix your problem. But ... Try this correction to #3 3. at the command prompt type cd C:/windows/system32 <Enter> FWIW to XP users: When you click on the 'Command Prompt' you are just causing the 'Command prompt' to be displayed. This prompt gives you access to NTVDM.EXE, the 'NT Virtual DOS Manager'.

thanks for that suggestion. I typed it in exactly how you wrote it and I get this: "The system cannot find the file or directory specified" thoughts? thanks so much

Thanks Aegis, I actually got past that step. Now I am having trouble entering step 4. Any suggestions on how exactly this should be typed in?? THANK YOU!!!