Re: Can't get past the "Welcome" screen

From: Larry Samuels (larry_at_mvps.org)
Date: 09/20/04 

Date: Sun, 19 Sep 2004 20:25:06 -0400

Sounds like you recently removed BlazeFind.
Thanks go to Rick Rogers, MVP for the following instructions:

 Did you run a spyware removal program lately? The userinit value may have
been corrupted by the removal of blazefind. It adds wsaupdater.exe to the
logon value in the system registry, sometimes appending it, sometimes
replacing it. Running Adaware or other cleaners detects and removes
wsaupdater.exe, but doesn't correct the registry damage. If this is the
case, then you may need to load the registry hive from another installation
and change it. This is the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon

Userinit string value should be:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,

On the damaged installations it's one of these:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,
C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,C:\WINDOWS\system32\wsaupdater.exe,

Another "quickie" method of resolution is to load the Recovery Console (see
below), copy userinit.exe as wsaupdater.exe from the command prompt, then
restart normally. Once in, go and change the registry value back to what
it's supposed to be and delete the copied file.

HOW TO: Install and Use the Recovery Console in Windows XP [Q307654]
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=307654

This can also be done by using the 6 disk boot floppy set mentioned in the
above article, as it loads enough of the Recovery Console so that you can
copy the file. This is particularly useful if you have an OEM installation
that includes only a Restore CD, or no disk at all. 

-- 
Larry Samuels MS-MVP  (Windows-Shell/User)
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
"TDickey" <TDickey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:BD314982-7CE0-4ED2-9ED3-7DDC34E46B11@microsoft.com...
>I can't get past the "Welcome" screen.  None of the options (safe mode, 
>safe
> mode with networking, etc) allow me to click on one of the users at the
> Welcome screen and proceed.  When I do select one of the users (including
> Administrator) it immediately begins to "load preferences" and then moves 
> to
> "saving preferences" and essentially remains at the "Welcome" screen.
> I tried booting with the reinstall disk that Dell sent with the system, 
> but
> nothing happens as I suppose that the bios has the C-drive as a higher
> priority than either one of the other drives.  Can't even change the 
> priority
> until I get a DOS prompt...
> I've seen the posting about having recently run "ad-blocker" software & 
> the
> corruption that this can cause.  Problem is that I can't restore if I 
> can't
> get past the "Welcome" screen.
> I'm open for any suggestions...
> Thanks!  Tom
>