xp keeps looping in log in and log off screen 1

[drashish]

I just used Ad-Aware on a friend's PC to remove popups and it had to restart to remove one of the running .dll popups. Upon restart I logged in and it immediately says "logging off", then keeps cycling through "logging on" and you hear the windows start sound, then the windows shutdown "logging off" sound, but it never actually shuts down, it just keeps cycling through... I have to use the power button to restart.

I tried the other administrator profile and safe mode and the same thing happens...

Last known good config doesn't work either...

I'm thinking this may be a virus that doesn't want to allow itself to be removed or a failure in the Spybot software at it startup scan.

Either way, is there a way to modify the registry with out actually booting into Windows to remove whatever is causing this startup failure? Or what is the specific repair command I can use from the XP CD to fix this (I don't see any automatic repair option)?

I can't just reinstall XP Pro because there are many misc files and configuration settings on this pc that can't be replaced.

I would greatly appreciate any help anyone can provide.

 

[smah]

Start the Recovery Console and run checkdsk /r. Let it complete, then reboot & test.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058

 

[linney]

Some things for you to look at.



Logon - Logoff loop, also caused by BlazeFind

http://www.winxptutor.com/wsaremove.htm

http://www.paulscomputerservice.net/index.php?body=./os/autoLogoff.php

Log in Logs straight back Out
Thread779-924408

logs you on loads personal settings then logs you off?
Thread779-919265

A second reason can be security policy settings:

http://www.exodus-dev.com/techtips/windows_xp_pro_login_problems.htm

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console for Windows XP (Q307654)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q307/6/54.asp

Try running ChkDsk /r from the Recovery Console.

An easy to follow recovery console description when unable to start computer due to corrupt registry.

http://www.digitalwebcast.com/2002/03_mar/tutorials/cw_boot_toot.htm

This is a layman's version of Q307545 in simple language.

Removing adware & spyware
FAQ608-4650


Ad-aware has a restore function where you can undo what was removed, trouble is you have to be able to get in to XP first, same story with System Restore.

If they don't work you could try repairing windows by running it over itself. You will lose all your windows updates but your files will be untouched.

How to Perform an In-Place Upgrade (Reinstallation) of Windows XP (Q315341)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q315/3/41.asp

 

[BadBigBen]

To add to the above already great suggestions...

HIT F8 at boot (after BIOS) as if you would go to SAFE MODE, is there a listing that would allow you to stop the REBOOT on ERROR? if so, tab that, next time it reboots it should show you a BSOD, note the information given there and post back...

mostlikely it is a DRIVER problem...

short while ago I had a similar problem, after I uninstalled a program, it just kept rebooting, without any BSOD... problem was that the reloaded XP (per q315341) caused another program , mainly DAEMON TOOLS, SPTD driver actually did not load correctly (corruption) and another driver to not load properly, until I deleted them from the C:\windows\system32\driver folder...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."