automatic Logon/logoff after update

[TechSupp]

Got a teacher laptop that after the teacher accepted an update for itunes and rebooted the laptop gets to the log on screen, enter user and password ( even admin) it logs onto the desktop (no icons) then automatically logs off back to the logon screen! Any ideas for a quick fix as rather than spend alot of time on it I'd just reinstall everything from scratch.

[BJG]

Sounds like logoff loops can be caused by problems with userinit.exe. Have you tried doing a system restore...? Otherwise you could try something like this, From Experts-exchange...

 

Here is the solution to the logon - logoff issue in Windows XP.

 

Enter the Recovery Console

 

Boot the system using the Windows XP CD-ROM. In the first screen when the Setup begins, read the instructions press "R" (in the first screen) enter the Recovery Console. Type-in the built-in Administrator password to enter the Console. You'll see the prompt reading C:\Windows (Or any other drive-letter where you've installed XP)

 

Type the following command and press Enter.

 

CD SYSTEM32

(If that does not work, try CHDIR SYSTEM32)

 

COPY USERINIT.EXE WSAUPDATER.EXE

 

Quit Recovery Console by typing EXIT and restart Windows.

 

You'll be able to login successfully as you've created the wsaupdater.exe file (now, a copy of userinit.exe)

 

Now, change the USERINIT value in the registry (see Phase II in this page) and change it accordingly.

 

Phase II - Fixing a registry entry which causes the Quick Launch issue (not retaining the settings)

 

Click Start, Run and type REGEDIT. Navigate to:

 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ WindowsNT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon

 

In the right-pane, change the value of Userinit to "C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,"

 

Type the above value exactly as given, including the comma - exclude the quotes. Also, change the path to userinit.exe appropriately if Windows is installed in a different drive.

 

Close Registry Editor and restart Windows.

 

 

 

NOTE If you don't have a Windows XP CD-ROM, you need to use Windows XP Setup floppy disks to enter the Recovery Console.

Edited May 20, 2009 by BJG