Cousin of BSOD - Profile/User account problem

[Fenrirshowl]

I hope someone can help. I am running XP Home on my personal PC. Unfortunately when I log on (after windows loads) all I can see is the desktop background - there are no icons, no start menu, no taskbar etc.

I cannot even raise the task manager using cntrl+alt+del, so I am left with the option of viewing the desktop indefinitely, or turning off the PC to save the electricity bill.

I've logged on under other user profiles/user accounts (there are 4), and as an Administrator, but get the same result.

I've tried repairing Windows from CD, but to no avail.

Does anyone know what might have happened and whether there is a file I can copy or replace to rectify the problem? (I have a second version of Windows running on another hardrive so can gain access to the folders, but it doesn't contain all the updates I've installed.)

Or, is there anything I can do from a DOS prompt to make the corrupted windows version usable such as deleting / adding profiles and hoping the best? (I am not an expert on DOS)

Alternatively I will copy all files to the other harddrive, reformat and start again. Unfortunately it will take some time to reinstall all the updates, software etc, which is something I hoped to avoid.

Any ideas/comments etc, gratefully received.

 

[electronicsfreak]

How does it act in safe mode? If you can get into recovery mode, run chkdsk /r

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[Fenrirshowl]

Thanks for the quick response.

I did run chkdsk but no problems were returned.

(chkdsk, fixboot and exit are about the sum of my experience of recovery mode. I've not bothered with fixboot this time round as I wouldn't have thought it had anything to do with the boot sector).

 

[electronicsfreak]

Are you able to get the computer in safe mode though? Or does it do the same?

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[Fenrirshowl]

Apologies - I got focused on recovery prompts. No safe mode is the same.

 

[electronicsfreak]

In recovery mode run sfc/scannow and post back with the results. You will need your cd, so have it handy.

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[Fenrirshowl]

Thank you for the advice - I will give it a try.

 

[Fenrirshowl]

Is there a way to save the output to a text file from recovery mode? (Just thinking that I will need to copy it down by hand and type it in otherwise).

 

[ArizonaGeek]

Sounds like a corrupted profile. You could always delete your profile. Log on as Administrator then go to c:\documents and settings and delete your user folder. You might want to see if you can open it and grab your Favorites, My Documents and maybe Desktop and copy those to a temp folder someplace if you actually need them. After you delete your user folder, log on with your login name and it should recreate your profile.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!

 

[Fenrirshowl]

Hi Rob

I agree that it sounds like a corrupted profile, but the corruption has applied to all profiles so I think it is something more central.

In any case, logging on as the administrator results in the same problem. i.e. I have no icon, start menu, or prompt available to access C or create a replacement profile.

Thanks anyway.

 

[ArizonaGeek]

Hmmm, guess I breezed over where you said it was under all names. It usually helps when I read everything Since you can access the files on the drive, see if you can delete one profile and sign on with that. If it works than you can just do it to the rest of them.

If it doesn't work my second choice for a problem would be a corrupted registry or someone goofing around with local group policy (virus maybe?) and blocked access to everything. At that point a reinstall of the OS would probably the fastest fix. Good luck!

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!

 

[Fenrirshowl]

Thanks Rob

I'm taking the delete the profile as per your previous post - delete the user folder. Will give it a go anyway - there's nothing to lose!

Cheers

 

[electronicsfreak]

If that dont work my suggestion when you see nothing but background, hit ctrl alt delete, then click file, new task, find explorer.exe and start it and see what that does.

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[Fenrirshowl]

Unfortunately ctrl alt delete does nothing apart from make the screen flicker once, the arrow becomes an egg timer for a couple of seconds and then its returns to being an arrow.

 

[electronicsfreak]

Im starting to think hardware issue here. How long have you had this hard drive? Has it shown any signs before of problems?

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[ArizonaGeek]

electronicsfreak, why would think a hardware error? Clearly there is an issue with Windows. For the most part hardware typically works or it doesn't, not something in the middle.

If you can't log in after deleting a profile I'd stick with my suggestion of reinstalling Windows. In fact I'd suggest Darik's Boot and Nuke to wipe the drive clean then reinstall Windows fresh. I mean you could troubleshoot for hours and days but in less than 2 hours you could wipe the drive clean and have Windows back up and running. Just my thoughts.

Cheers
Rob

The answer is always "PEBKAC!

 

[electronicsfreak]

I know but this profile thing is the strangest ive seen. Just made me think possible hardware. I may be wrong but was just a thought lol.

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[Fenrirshowl]

The harddrive is a couple of years old, probably 3 at most.

Sorry to say guys, I didn't have a chance to run any of your suggestions yesterday, but a dark damp Thursday UK night seems an ideal time to sort this out.

I'll let you know what happens, if anything!

 

[Fenrirshowl]

Guys -
I deleted all the profile folders.
I ran chkdsk again, this time it did fix some files.
I tried to run sfc/scannow, but it didn't understand the command.

The profile now works again. Many thanks to you both.

Fen