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

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From: George Valkov (null_at_somewhere.com)
Date: 09/03/04 

Date: Fri, 3 Sep 2004 11:25:00 +0300

"Maerko" <nomail@mail.com> wrote in message
news:9559AF37A3CC471AE@127.0.0.1...
> (1) Is the log which the Event Viewer normally displays available to me
if
> I am booted in to another XP partition?
>
Yes, it is available to You. In even viewer select
    Open Log File...
Browse to
    ?:\WINDOWS\system32\config
You should see this files:
[Event log]
    AppEvent.Evt
    SecEvent.Evt
    SysEvent.Evt
[Registry hive - DON"T modify those with CAPITAL letters!]
    default
    SAM
    SECURITY
    software
    system
    userdiff

> Do you know where the files are stored which I would need to go and look
at?

I already answered that. Just remember to choose the correct "Log Type:".

>
> (2) The link you gave me steered me to this Microsoft article called
> "Dumpel.exe: Dump Event Log".
>
>
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/dumpel-
> o.asp
>
> However the article assumed I am able to get on to my system and can
instal
> "Dumpel.exe" there by running its normal installation routine. I can't do
> that. But if I knew what to do I could move various files into the right
> places. Do you have any info?
>
> (3) Is there a little routine or program I can insert somewhere (again
from
> putside the failing XP partition) which will stop the boot process and
give
> me a command line window or even the explorer desktop?
>
> This would permit me to have a look around and maybe set up programs like
> Dumpel.exe mentioned above.
>
You can insert whatever You like in the "Run" folder; "RunOnce" and
"RunOnceEx" folders.
1. Load the "software" hive - in my case as:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\XP_SOFTWARE
2. Take a look at here
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\XP_SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
3. You may want to remove unwanted programs.
4. New --> String Value. The data is full or short path that the system will
search for the program to run.

You may want to install a service manually? Create:
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\XP_SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\MyService]
Note: There may be smore than one folders with name like
    ControlSet001
    ControlSet002
    ...
You may need the make changes to all of them. Unless You know which exactly
will be mounted as
    CurrentControlSet

You need:
    String Value - "DisplayName"
    DWORD Value - "ErrorControl"
    String Value - "ImagePath"
    DWORD Value - "Start"
    DWORD Value - "Type"

George Valkov
---------------------------------------------------------

>
>
> ------------ ORIGINAL POSTING ----------
>
> Maerko <nomail@mail.com> wrote:
>
> > 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;27573
> > 5
> >
> > 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.

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