WinXP, computer logs off immediately

Hello,
I have Windows XP home loaded on my computer. It was running slow, so I ran SpyBot search & destroy, I ran AdAware, then I downloaded a new copy of CrapCleaner and ran it as well. Then, I rebooted my computer. Now all it will do is get to the login screen icon, let me type in my password, then instead of starting up - it says "logging off", then returns me to the same loggin screen. I tried turning off the computer, and starting fresh, I still get the same problem.

HELP! is it a malware? and what can I do to get rid of it? hopefully I don't lose everything on my harddrive... I have 2 years of pictures that I haven't backed up yet.

 

so, looks like I screwed it up already.

I went to the microsoft support page as directed, and thought I typed in all the commands correctly. The last portion of step 1 tells you to "copy c:\windows\repair\system c:\windows\system32\config\system" and the computer tells me "file not found". All the other files were copied successfully.

Sure enough, I go to the directory of c:\windows\system32\config, and the other 2 files are there (default, sam, security, software) but no system.

Am I screwed?? there is a system.log dated today (but it's only 1024 KB) and a system.sav (380928 kb), but that's dated 9/02.

Help again....

 

Yes, there is, thank you thank you! I am able to log on now - although all the settings are gone...

Do I need to do the steps listed in Part 2 and Part 3 of the Microsoft document?

Oh, I do have Dell installed windows, which I guess is OEM, which is maybe why the system file disappeared??

I think I need to back up all my photos and valuable files (like the copy of quickbooks I maintain for our little league), but the computer doesn't see the external hard drive that's attached, and my itunes says it's "only valid for products that are currently installed".

Should I take this discussion over to software??