All User Accounts are Locked out! Immediate Logoff.

[Prince1099]

Tonight, I cannot log into any of my 4 User Accounts in my XP Pro Installation, after it ran fine for over a Year.
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(aside from occasional User database corruptions)
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After my Sony Notebook was starting to perform very slowly, with a minute delay to every program, I rebooted and now I am unable to login to any one of my 4 User Accounts, including Ctr.Alt.Del = Administrator.
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The Screen goes to "Loading your Personal Settings" (Like it's going into the Users Database") and immediately, or after going briefly into the environment for a flash, returns to "Saving your Settings" as if the "Services" registry gave the machine the command to LOG OUT immediately. I cannot get into any of my Login's even in Safe Modes.
- Is this a new Virus? Have you seen this pattern come up in a new Virus?
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Or just corrupted user databases? (Which it should and normally tells me)
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Do I have to re-install XP and start over again?

/Cheers, Carlos.

[Grendel]

It could be a Startup application not starting correctly.

If you can boot into Safe Mode, turn off all your Startup applications with the System Configuration Utility.

To open it type msconfig in the Run command box.
Then on the General Tab uncheck the box for Startup items, then apply and reboot.

If you can get in, it is a Startup item. Then start turning a few on at a time until the error reappears; then you should be able to narrow down what item it is.
It may take a number of reboots to find out.

If its not a Startup item, it may be a 3rd party service. In the same msconfig utility click the Services Tab, then check the box for Hide All Microsft Services.
What ever is left on the list uncheck and reboot. If it boots OK, it is a service, if not...

Also, unplug any external devices, printers, scanners, drives, etc.

If you can get to Safe Mode, it is very unlikely you will have to reinstall Windows.

[Prince1099]

Thanks, Grendel....
Interesting approaches... that would have worked in many cases.
I was never able to get into Windows at all. In no mode possible.
Otherwise I would have been able to use a RegKeeper or JPower Tools freeware programs to tweak on my startup tables and my services.
I was able to boot into the System on the Command Line with a XP CD and go to the Console Repair Screen. I copied the current files called SECURITY, SOFTWARE and SYSTEM into a Temp directory and renamed them with a date extension.
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Then I copied the three previously saved and backed up files (from 2 Months ago) back into C:\windows\system32\config
and the Computer came back alive that way it was before.
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I learned about this from a previous problem I had, when the USer databases get corrupted and you cannot get into your Machine anymore.
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But this error with the immediate kickout was a new one for me.....

Thanks, and Cheers, Carlos.

[Grendel]

Good fix.

But since you replaced the registry Hives you have to repalce all 5, or you might run into some bad errors in the near future.

I would highly recommend also repalceing the DEFAULT and SAM Hive from the same set you took SYSTEM, SECURITY, and SOFTWARE.

If the are not done you might get a LSASS.EXE not found error on Startup, and the only fix for that is a Fresh install of XP.

[Amd Rocks]

were u using a haked version coz if u werre thats why after the "30" dfay trail runs out and u deleted the activateion program it will not let u log in the only soultion is to re-install, wipe the hdd and start again

[snowmonkey]

Prince1099, There is another way of recovering your account without playing with registry and security,, personally I did not believe on the software till I used it once. It is called ERD Commander and I think everyone should get a copy: http://www.winternals.com/products/r...mander2002.asp

It really does work. you can replace any of your password, Modify registry, System restore and whole bunch more.




cheers