Re: XP logs on & logs off repeatedly - HELP !!!

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: marburg (marburg_at_wt.net)
Date: 09/01/04 

Date: Wed, 1 Sep 2004 14:48:42 -0500

XP has a feature that automatically forces a reboot if there is a crash.
You may need to disable this feature (sorry but I don't remember how
exactly-but you should be able to find out by doing a google search) so you
can see the actual crash/error dialog.

Hope that helps to point you in the write direction.

Marburg

"Maerko" <nomail@mail.com> wrote in message
news:9557CD13DA097471AE@127.0.0.1...
Hi guys I really need some help. When I boot my PC, XP logs on and logs off
repeatedly.

XP manages to get past the Welcome screen. But as soon as it is about to
paint the icons on the desktop then it logs itself off. And it keeps
logging on and then logging off.

I wonder if this is due to some sort of malware. Or maybe due to me
tweaking the registry too much today.

Can someone please tell me what to look for to track down the cause.

The rest of this posting contains:

 (a) steps detailing exactly what happens
   (b) the solutions I have tried. 

----
EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENS
I am able to boot the same PC hardware but into another XP partition.  This
second XP partition is a clone of the "rebooting" partition.  Of course it
was cloned some time ago.  That way I can read the files on the "rebooting"
partition.
The rebooting partition is XP Pro + SP1 and with all Microsoft patches
applied to it except SP2.  It it set to automatically logs on due to an
autologon setting made by TweakUI.  There are no Restore Points and the
System Volume Inforamtion folder is empty.
The following the details of what happens.  I happened to have XP's "verbose
information messages" set on when the problem occurred:
(1)  I boot up the PC and it goes through its hardware checks
(2)  XP starts up and gets past the Welcome screen.
(3)  A message says "Loading Your Personal Settings ..."
(4)  The desktop wallpaper appears (a plain-colored background)
(5)  There is a pause for a second or so and then my Kerio firewall splash
screen appears.  Normally this screen appears after the desktop icons,
taskbar and notification area appear.  But this time none of those items are
painted on to the screen.
(6)  Very soon afterwards the XP logoff screen says "Playing Logoff
Sound..." and then "Saving Your Settings ..."
(7)  Straight away the system loops to step (3) above where it loads my
settings and the system continues looping.  Apart from the first time, there
is now no time to see and desktop wallpaper or Kerio splash screen on each
iteration.
===============
THESE ARE THE SOLUTIONS I HAVE TRIED
(1) I booted to 'Last Known good Configuration' but the result was the same
repeated rebooting.
(2) I next booted and selected "Enable Boot Logging".  This went on to boot
XP.  The boot process carried on repeatedly rebooting just as before.
(3) I booted to Safe Mode.  I saw the Safe Mode desktop background appear.
But then XP rebooted itself repeatedly.
---
Using the other XP system, I could not find the boot log "Ntbtlog.txt".  I
think this sometimes happens because I read this:
   "Ntbtlog.txt File Not Written When Boot Logging Is Enabled"
   http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;275735
I checked all the Startup folders to see if there were any strange programs
in there but there was nothing.
At once point during the rebooting I was hitting the keys at random to try
and interrupt the process and I got the system to stop at the Welcome screen
with user accounts.  I was able to sign on as a different user (the
'original' XP administrator account which is normally hidden).  I had to use
a password which TweakUi does not know.  I got the same rebooting without
any further prompts to enter the password on each iteration.
I am effectively locked out the system.  What can I look for to try and get
it working again?
Thanks for any info.

Relevant Pages

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