Cannot log in to Windows

When you log in to Windows, the computer immediately saves your settings, logs off and returns to the login screen again.

This is the result of a corrupt or invalid registry entry, which may have been changed by a virus or spyware. Therefore you are strongly advised to scan your computer for viruses and spyware as soon as possible.

Solution

Method 1

Try this method if you can start Windows in safe mode:

• Boot into safe mode.
  
• Click Start, Run and enter regedit
  
• Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft \Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
  
• Select the Winlogon folder.
  
• If the right-hand pane contains an entry named OldUserinit:
  - delete the entry named Userinit
  - rename OldUserinit to Userinit.
  
• Check that the value of Userinit is "C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe," (the comma at the end of the string is important.) Note: if your Windows folder is not C:\Windows, modify the path accordingly.

Method 2

If you have a Microsoft Windows installation CD:

• Perform a repair installation.

Method 3

Try taking the hard drive and attaching it to another Windows XP computer as a slave, or by using a USB-to-IDE adapter. Alternatively you can try making a BartPE recovery CD and booting the computer from that. Any method can be used that gives you read/write access to the hard drive.
Often, the registry entry referred to above has been changed from userinit.exe to wsaupdater.exe. Therefore you have a good chance of success if you just copy Windows\System32\userinit.exe to Windows\System32\wsaupdater.exe

Method 4

Gain read/write access to your hard drive from another computer running the same version of Windows.

• Log in as administrator.
  
• Ensure that Windows Explorer folder options have enabled Show hidden files and folders.
  
• Click Start, Run and enter regedit
  
• Select HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
  
• Click File, Load Hive, then navigate to Windows\System32\Config on your hard drive (not the host system!)
  
• Select system and click Open.
  
• For Enter a Key name type anything.
  
• Expand HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft \Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
  
• Select the Winlogon folder.
  
• If the right-hand pane contains an entry named OldUserinit:
  - delete the entry named Userinit
  - rename OldUserinit to Userinit.
  
• Check that the value of Userinit is "C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe," (the comma at the end of the string is important.) Note: if your Windows folder is not C:\Windows, modify the path accordingly. This is the Windows path when the drive is in use in your computer, not the drive letter it has currently.
  
• When you have made the changes click File, Unload Hive.

Applies to

• Microsoft Windows 2000
  
• Microsoft Windows XP

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