Need Help. I have a strange problem with WinXP Pro. When I boot up everything seems fine until I get to the Logon screen. I type in the correct password and the system starts with *loading your settings* but then it switches to logging out and returns to the logon screen. This computer was working fine a couple of days ago, then it was moved and now won’t boot into WinXP. I don’t have much experience with WinXP and I’m wondering if there is a problem with the authentication procedure since the young chap who owns the computer bought it second-hand from a charity shop. Perhaps this is a pirate copy of WinXP and/or he hasn’t registered it with Microsoft. Any help at all would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance, CDH

thi shappened to me a while back. it's damaged files i bet, prob due to cross linking or soemt such. boot from your XP CD and choose Repair from the SECOND set of options, not the first, and it'll reinstall it and your data will be intact. faster, better, MORE!!

Hi Mugalai. The link below may help you Windows XP Login Quote: If you are having problems in Windows XP Pro, with Fast User Switching enabled and you are using the "Welcome Screen" feature, check this out. The symptoms I experienced were as follows: * Non-admin users unable to log in - after the password has been entered, the screen shows that XP is "Loading user settings" - then it abruptly returns to the Welcome Screen * Administrative users could log in without difficulty. I determined the cause of the problem by disabling fast user switching and the welcome screen. HTH i_XpUser

Many Thanks clubjunkie & XPuser I'll try your suggestions and let you know how I get on.

Thanks clubjunkie and XPUser a repair install worked fine. Everything back and no harm done. Cheers