URGENT: Windows XP fails to start up

Hi:

I ran into a strange problem yesterday. I rebooted the laptop in the morning
and it started to boot fine until "applying computer settings" and then it
automatically logged off and shut off. Since then, I am not able to boot my
laptop. It runs upto "applying computer settings" and keeps logging off again.

Can anyone help? I need to get into my laptop as quickly as possible as it
is my work laptop.

Note:
Two days ago my anti-virus expired and I was lazy not to renew it right
away. Could it be that any virus/spyware doing this? Just wanted to give you
that info so that you take that into consideration while giving suggestions.

Thanks guys.
HP

See if you can boot into Safe Mode; instructions for tapping F8 is below.
If you can, do a System restore to before the problem.

Start>All Programs> Accessories>System Tools>System Restore.
You can also do a SR as you are entering into Safe Mode.
But, I was curious whether you can get to it.

And below is also Anti-virus, and anti-Spyware and Anti-Malware Programs.
You can use Safe Mode with Networking to install, and update them before
scanning with them while there.

http://www.avast.com/eng/download-avast-home.html

Avast Anti-Virus is XP and Vista compatible (32bit and 64bit Versions),
FREE, auto-updating, and a low resources user of your computer.
And, only have 1(one) Anti-Virus installed / running on your computer at any
one time..
Conflicts may occur if you have more than 1(one).

http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html

Spybot Search & Destroy 1.6 is a very good, FREE Anti-Spyware Program.
Download, install, update, and immunize your System with it.
Then SCAN with it.
Update it, and scan your System once a fortnight.

http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Malwarebytes is as the name says, a Malware Remover!
For the Free version scroll down their page to either download from
Download.com, or Major Geeks.com

Download, install, and update.

Important re: Safe Mode
If you happen to find a problem that you can’t uninstall / delete, reboot
the computer, and go into Safe Mode.
To get into Safe mode, tap F8 right at Power On / Startup, and use UP arrow
key to get to Safe Mode from list of options, then hit ENTER.
RESCAN your computer with your Anti-Virus, Malwarebytes and Spybot S & D
while in Safe Mode.

If unable to install above Programs in Normal Mode:
Sometimes Trojans, Viruses, Malware, etc stop you installing and/or updating
Programs to remove them.
If that happens, reboot into Safe Mode with Networking, and install, update
and scan from there.

--
Mad Mike


"Hari P" wrote:

> Hi:
>
> I ran into a strange problem yesterday. I rebooted the laptop in the morning
> and it started to boot fine until "applying computer settings" and then it
> automatically logged off and shut off. Since then, I am not able to boot my
> laptop. It runs upto "applying computer settings" and keeps logging off again.
>
> Can anyone help? I need to get into my laptop as quickly as possible as it
> is my work laptop.
>
> Note:
> Two days ago my anti-virus expired and I was lazy not to renew it right
> away. Could it be that any virus/spyware doing this? Just wanted to give you
> that info so that you take that into consideration while giving suggestions.
>
> Thanks guys.
> HP
>

"Hari P" <HariP@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:11F4EDD5-555C-4FA5-A74E-B0FFD205636F@microsoft.com...
> Hi:
>
> I ran into a strange problem yesterday. I rebooted the laptop in the
> morning
> and it started to boot fine until "applying computer settings" and then it
> automatically logged off and shut off. Since then, I am not able to boot
> my
> laptop. It runs upto "applying computer settings" and keeps logging off
> again.
>
> Can anyone help? I need to get into my laptop as quickly as possible as it
> is my work laptop.
>
> Note:
> Two days ago my anti-virus expired and I was lazy not to renew it right
> away. Could it be that any virus/spyware doing this? Just wanted to give
> you
> that info so that you take that into consideration while giving
> suggestions.
>
> Thanks guys.
> HP

Can you get into another account? If this is XP Home, press F8 at
startup, choose Administrator, and create a new account. Restart, and at
the Welcome screen, choose the new account.

If that works, your old account profile may be corrupt. This isn't as bad
as it sounds, you can quickly migrate most files and shortcuts. Some
settings will have to be re-done, such as email accounts - it's a good idea
to export the mail profiles for this eventuality.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151

Do remember to add a password to the new account - by default, for security
reasons, the Windows Task Scheduler won't run some tasks on an account with
no password, and that can include things like backups and virus scans.

HTH
-pk