Member Avatar for amarein

My computer is running Windows XP Home SP2 and has three accounts. My account uses a password. My wife’s account does not. With increasing frequency, my wife’s account asks for a password and, of course, there is none. When this happens, I try switching back to my account and Windows will not accept my password.

That’s one problem. There’s another which may be related. With increasing frequency some of the processes needed to run Windows do not start. For example, my account normally opens 41 processes. Sometimes, only 30 start, and some of the ones that don’t start are essential because when this happens I can’t do anything with Windows. For example, nothing happens when I click on the Start Button. However, Task Manager still opens and I can re-boot or shut down the computer from there.

Here’s what I’ve tried so far:

--A virus scan shows the hard drive is clean.
--A scan for spyware shows the drive is clean.
--I ran Check for Errors on the Tools tab under Properties by right clicking on the drive in My Computer. This showed no errors.
--I ran sfc /scannow. Since I don’t know what this does, I’m not sure it ran correctly. In any case, I didn’t get any messages.

I’d rather not re-install Windows, obviously, but for all I know I have a hardware problem.

Any thoughts?

Andy

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Summary of likely causes and a practical diagnostic order for the symptoms described by : an account with no password intermittently being asked for one, the owner account refusing its password, and a fluctuating set of processes at startup with Explorer/Start menu unresponsive while Task Manager still opens. Those signs most often point to either (a) damaged system files or Winlogon/profile corruption, (b) a failing hard disk or bad sectors, or (c) a third‑party startup/service conflict that prevents the shell and some services from loading.

Non‑destructive checks (try these first): boot to Safe Mode (F8) and note whether the problem appears there; use Last Known Good Configuration from the F8 menu; set or reset the blank account password as a quick test (as and suggested) and see if the prompt stops; create a new local Administrator account and test whether that account logs on consistently — a working new account usually indicates a corrupt user profile rather than a hardware fault.

Deeper diagnostics and repairs: inspect the System and Application logs in Event Viewer for Service Control Manager/Winlogon/user‑profile errors around the failure times (look for 7000/7009 style service errors). Run a full surface/repair disk check from outside the live system, for example:

chkdsk C: /f /r

If bad sectors are found, image the drive immediately and run the HDD vendor’s SMART/diagnostic tool. With care and a registry backup, check the Winlogon values under:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon
Shell
Userinit

Those should typically be explorer.exe and C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe, respectively.

If the non‑destructive steps don’t help, a repair install using a matching XP build/SP level (as and pointed out) will replace damaged system files without wiping user data — but only after making a verified backup or disk image. Given the intermittent missing processes, run HDD and memory tests before a repair if possible; failing hardware can mimic OS corruption.

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Member Avatar for gerbil

Windows break, so does Windows. It can happen that errors slowly creep in until they reach a critical point where they suddenly interfere destructively. My installation first started showing problems with [system] Search whereupon it could only be used from IE, not Explorer; then it just failed totally and I tried everything to get it back. Then my sys got hit by lightning so I did a Repair [new mb and cpu etc...], and all is back. You won't lose settings, files, accounts, and most pgms [3rd party sware] will still work afterwards.It does sound like more than Explorer is broken in your sys... eg. links are broken, Winlogon and security systems are down, so...
BTW, sfc does its job and just closes, no fanfare.

Member Avatar for amarein

Hi gerbal,

I'm a little unclear about your answer. Do you mean insert the Windows installation disk and choose repair, for something else? The installation disk is an antique, from SP1, will it still work?

Thanks,
Andy

Member Avatar for gerbil

Nope, that one will not work... you must have an equivalent upgrade status on it, for that sys it should be SP2. Just borrow one from a mate, same type.. eg OEM, or retail version. When you boot from the cd, hit Enter to setup: "To set up Windows XP now, Press ENTER" [yeah, I know...], but you will be given the choice to Repair when Setup recognises your installation. Don't type R to use the Recovery Console.
PS... when you run Repair there will be an automatic restart... and the msg Press any key to boot from the CD - don't touch anything... let the sys bypass that and boot itself from the hdd.

Member Avatar for sys life

if ur account is an admin account then try to edit ur wife's account or creat a password so that u can login next time by typing new password if this dosn't work's try to delet account password and re creat the account password

Member Avatar for Frank Wallis

I prefer the suggestion of sys life.

Member Avatar for Bob_180_Bob

To Repair Windows XP from your XP CD…..

1. Re-start PC with XP CD in drive (Have your serial number handy)
2. As your PC starts press “F12” for boot menu (Or what your PC may ask for)
3. Scroll to and select “boot from CD.”
4. At prompt “Press any key to boot from CD” Press “Any key”
5. In the Windows XP Setup window, Press “Enter” to set up windows XP, (Don’t worry, this is a repair only, not a fresh install.)
6. At next window, Press “F8” to accept license agreement
7. Wait until windows displays your current version of XP and asks “To repair the selected windows XP installation press R”
8. Press “R”
9. Enter serial number when prompted.
10. Wait for files to be copied (PC will indicate 39 mins, it will take a lot less.)
11. When asked to adjust Regional language options, click “Next” as it is still set.
12. PC will re-boot.
13. Check to see if problem still exists.

Member Avatar for Bob_180_Bob

System Restore

1. Go “Start”
2. “All programs”
3. “Accessories”
4. “System tools”
5. “System Restore”
6. ensure “Restore to an earlier time” is checked and click “Next”
7. Select an earlier date when your PC worked well. (Must be a highlighted date)
8. Click “Next”
9. Allow system restore and reboot.
10. Check to see if problem still exists

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