Member Avatar for Psycho_Acolyte

Hi, I'm new, sorry >.>

anyway, my sister has a problem with her computer. Her computer will not load up past the user sign in screen. She's restarted the computer a few times, with the same result.

I'm not sure if it's a virus or spyware, but her computer's always been slow. If there's any advice for her computer, it would be much appreciated.

Thank you ^^

-signed, The Neko

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by tayspen

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Good call by to try Safe Mode and by to look at a clean-boot — since Safe Mode does start, the problem is much more likely to be a startup/service/driver issue, a corrupt user profile, persistent malware, or a failing disk than a basic bootloader failure. Below is a compact, ordered checklist (safe-mode first) that addresses the common causes and preserves data.

  1. Backup first — copy the whole user folder from Safe Mode to an external drive.
  2. Scan for malware in Safe Mode with Networking (updated antivirus plus a dedicated antimalware scanner). A persistent infection often blocks a normal shell load but allows Safe Mode.
  3. Perform a true clean boot from Safe Mode: run msconfig, on Services hide Microsoft services and disable the rest, disable all Startup items, then reboot normally. If normal boot succeeds, re-enable items in halves to isolate the culprit. (This expands on @gemini4’s clean-boot suggestion.)
  4. Test profile vs. system problem: create a new administrator user in Safe Mode and reboot normally. If the new account logs in normally, migrate files from the old profile rather than copying system hive files.
  5. Check Event Viewer (Application/System) timestamps at the failed logon for specific service or driver errors.

Safe checks to run (from Safe Mode or Recovery Console):

chkdsk c: /f /r
sfc /scannow   (may require the XP install CD)

Run these after backing up. If SMART or chkdsk shows imminent drive failure, priority is data rescue and drive replacement.

Advanced: if the symptom is a corrupt profile, the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList can sometimes be repaired (rename .bak entries, correct ProfileImagePath). Back up the registry before editing — registry repairs and repair-installs carry risk and may require hands-on support. System Restore (if available) is a lower-risk rollback option as suggested.

This sequence isolates startup software first, quickly finds profile vs. system faults, and preserves files before deeper repairs or reinstall.

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Member Avatar for tayspen

Hi, and welcome,

First lets see if you can boot into safe mode. To do this. Read Here.

http://www.pchell.com/support/safemode.shtml

If you are able to go into safe mode we will go from there. If you are able to it is a possiblity that you are infected...

good luck!

-T

Member Avatar for Psycho_Acolyte

Okay, let me see if she can start it up in safe mode. What do I do from there if she can't?

Member Avatar for tayspen

*Sorry double post, twitchy finger :)*

Member Avatar for gemini4

Perform a clean boot:

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