Hello!
I'm here posting on behalf of a friend who currently can't login to her computer..
She used to have 2 accounts, 1 admin account (hers) and 1 guest account.
She was installing Window Blinds 6 Public and when she rebooted her computer (as prompted to), her welcome screen was just blank- as in it was like: [external image: Posted Image]
^That
Only with no accounts or anything.
She tried CTRL+ALT+DEL to try to login, but her login information didn't seem to work.
She also tried configuring (F2) at startup along with trying to login with Safe Mode but that didn't work either.
She really doesn't want to reformat her computer too.
So basically, she can't login to do anything, which includes System Restore.
Press F8 after machine reboots and before windows starts loading to access the Boot Menu.
Try SAFE Mode from there
Then System Restore instructions for System Restore from Command Line in SAFE Mode http://support.microsoft.com/kb/304449
Thanks Doug, but when she goes to the part where it's like:
"Log on to your computer with an administrator account or with an account that has administrator credentials."
She can't login.. Her account doesn't seem to work D:
Since you've been googling, you've probably discovered that this can be Malware Related. Bummer.
Are you familiar with Pre-Windows environment bootable CD's?
We may be able to create a bootable CD to run various antimalware utilities in hopes of fixing Malware if it exists.
Are there important Documents, Media, and files that need to be preserved that presently reside on the machine?
Do you have the original XP installation CD(s) in case of need to perform a repair installation?
Please give me some time to consult and research.
Since you've been googling, you've probably discovered that this can be Malware Related. Bummer.
Are you familiar with Pre-Windows environment bootable CD's?
We may be able to create a bootable CD to run various antimalware utilities in hopes of fixing Malware if it exists.
Are there important Documents, Media, and files that need to be preserved that presently reside on the machine?
Do you have the original XP installation CD(s) in case of need to perform a repair installation?
Please give me some time to consult and research.
There is.. Which is why she doesn't want to reformat.
She has no XP installation available to her at the moment though.
OK, understood.
There are valuable files, documents and media to be preserved.
No XP install CD is available.
The following are instructions provided by Dsenette and Keith, courtesy of referral from Wannabe1.
They are Tech Team members here and Teachers over at our sponsor site: GeeksToGo.
I've found their collective advice beyond their collective weight in gold.
Use the second part that provides instructions for downloading and burning an iso image for System Recovery.
That should get us started.
Keep us posted with your progress.
If you have your Windows XP disk
Insert your Windows XP disk into your computer and reboot
Make sure the PC is set to run from the CD as the primary boot device. NOTE: You do this by setting your PC to boot to the CD-ROM in BIOS (enter bios by pressing f1, f2 or del key during memory count up, then search for boot order, and set the CD as the first boot device)
When the PC boots, it will boot from the CD…after the first several screens load, you will be given a choice to choose R for Recovery Console. You will be asked to log in. NOTE: For Windows XP Home, there is not password, just hit ENTER. For Windows XP pro, ask whomever set up the machine what password they used.
When you see the Recovery console C:\WINDOWS prompt continue to section 3 ("System Restore")
Now burn this ISO image to a CD and boot your computer with it. NOTE: Keep in mind that this is different than burning a file to a CD-ROM. If you do not know how to burn an ISO image, then download CDBurnerXP Pro to another Windows machine and install it. Then go Here for instructions for burning the ISO image
Once the CD is created, place it in the defunct computer
Then reboot your broken PC with that CD in the CD-ROM drive.
Make sure the PC is set to run from the CD as the primary boot device. NOTE: You do this by setting your PC to boot to the CD-ROM in BIOS (enter bios by pressing f1, f2 or del key during memory count up, then search for boot order, and set the CD as the first boot device)
When the PC boots, it will boot from the CD…after the first several screens load, you will be given a choice to choose R for Recovery Console. You will be asked to log in. NOTE: For Windows XP Home, there is not password, just hit ENTER. For Windows XP pro, ask whomever set up the machine what password they used.
System Restore
When you get to the recovery console Type
CD \
Press Enter
Type
cd system~1\_resto~1
Press Enter
Type
dir
Press Enter
After you press enter you will see a list of folders (like rp1, rp2) If the list of restore points has more than one page then press the Enter key untill you reach the end of the list
Type
cd rp {number of the second to last folder in the list}
Note: Example: cd rp9, if rp9 is the second to the last restore point where the last restore point no. is 10
If you get an access denied error when doing the above, then do the following at the recovery console:
Type
CD \
Press Enter
Type
cd windows\system32\config
Press Enter
Type
ren system system.bak
Press Enter
Type
Exit
Press Enter
Your PC will reboot, go back into the Recovery Console and start from the beginning
If you still cannot get access in anyway to your installation in the recovery console then your SAM database files are corrupt. There is no way you can restore these with the recovery console. You may need to do a fresh install
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