Can't Logon

My laptop PC (Acer Aspire 5920) won't log on. It runs under Windows Vista HP SP2 (I'm sure latest SP is 2; anyway, PC has latest SP).

When I switch on and it has completed Setup I get to the screen where I have the option of logging on to either of the two user accounts. Mine, which has administrator privileges and requires a password, won't log on. I click on the account name. I type in the password. A screen comes up saying "Welcome" but the log on process does not go beyond that point. Last night I left it for two hours, came back to it and it was still saying "Welcome" but it hadn't logged on. I tried again this evening, I logged on an hour ago and it hasn't got beyond saying "Welcome".

 

Have you tried booting into last known good config? Start tapping f8 as it boots.

 

No, but I'm going to do that now.

 

@ Earthling: Thank you very much for the advice. Last known good config solved my problem.

 

Unfortunately, I was too quick to respond that everything was alright.

By using last good config I got my PC to logon. However, even though it's logging on I can't do anything with it. I'd love to be able to give a specific symptom but there isn't one. I can't open Control Panel and no applications will open.

Before coming back here I thought I'd try the following, which I carried out in Safe Mode, for both user accounts on the PC and with both accounts having administrator privileges:

• I ran a search for "*.tmp" but no such files were found.
• In Run I typed in "%temp%" and deleted all files found.
• In Run I typed in "prefetch" and deleted all files found.
• I used Advanced SystemCare 6.3.0.269 and in Care I used the following: Privacy Sweep, Security Defense, Registry Fix, Junk Files Clean, Shortcuts Fix and System Optimization.
• I used Wise Care 365 (version 1.84.139 (GiveAway Version)): I ran PC Checkup, in System Cleaner I used Registry Cleaner and Common Cleaner, and in Privacy Eraser I used Privacy Eraser
• I used CCleaner 4.04.4197 and I used Run Cleaner in Cleaner and Scan for Issues in Registry

I'm now stumped. I don't know what to do. To be frank I don't even know what the problem is.

 

It's been my experience that the more advanced features of tune-up programs such as the two you have mentioned can themselves seriously destabilise a system. If you have been using them prior to this problem there is imo a significant possibility that they have brought about the present situation.

If you have or can obtain a Vista HP installation disk you could try running sfc /scannow from an elevated prompt on the command line to attempt to correct any missing or corrupt system files, but it has to be an installation disk, not a recovery disk.

Other than that, if you haven't been backing up with an imaging program, you may be facing a factory restore.

 

I do have disks. I don't know if they're installation or recovery disks. The PC came with no disks. In the past when I had a problem and needed to do a factory restore, I purchased disks from Acer. How can I know if they're installation or recovery disks?

I don't know if this is a clue to the problem. When you click on the Start button and go to the Shut down options there's a symbol over the shutdown button. I pointed the cursor to this button and it said allow Windows to update and shutdown. However, if I click on the button nothing happens. I don't know if this is indicative of anything. But, as you can imagine, I'm rather keen to avoid a factory restore.

 

From the description they are most likely recovery disks but what does the lable say?

 

1. "acer AS5920 RCD VHP32AT English Disc 1/2"
2. "acer AS5920 RCD VHP32AT English Disc 2/2"
3. "acer AS5920 SCD VHP32 Bootable Disc 1/1"

 

No good Mark, they are not Windows Installation Disks so won't help when you run sfc /scannow. When sfc finds a file it thinks needs replacing it asks for the installation disk and can't go any further without it.

 

Is my only option a factory restore? When you go into F8 during setup an option that comes up is "Repair Computer". I don't know what that does. Is it likely to have any options worth a try?

The disks I have will install Windows because I had to go back to square one with this PC before. If they can install Windows why wouldn't any required files be on them. Would sfc /scannow not "see" them on these disks?

 

By all means try sfc /scannow, it can't do any harm. Start it from an elevated command prompt.

The Repair Your Computer option will attempt to correct any boot configuration errors and give options to restore a previous disk image, run System Restore, run a memory test, and access the command line. From what you have said it doesn't seem very likely that any of those will fix your issue. Hopefully someone else can suggest other things you could try before going back to the start line.

 

I have restored my laptop to factory settings using the Acer provided disks.

Whoever said the only output from a computer is based on the user's input is wrong.

During the restoration process I was given the opportunity to install McAfee software. I declined. I know for certain I declined. I do not want McAfee, Norton et al. When the process completed what did I discover installed on my laptop: the McAfee software I declined.

My time was then wasted in having to download and install Revo Uninstaller Pro so that I could get rid of the McAfee software.

I'm still very tempted to throw out my computers and buy some papyrus and a quill.

 

I now have a clean install of Windows Vista on my laptop. Thus far I've downloaded nothing save for Revo Uninstall Pro (cf. post #13).

What software would you recommend?

• Antivirus: I'd go for "avast! Free Antivirus"
• Firewall: do I rely on Windows? I don't normally: I've been using Outpost
• Defragmenter: I've used Iobit's "Smart Defrag". I believe anything's better than Window's own defragmenter.
• CCleaner: I've been using this for as long as I can remember.
• I've also had "Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware", "SpywareBlaster" and "SUPERAntispyware".
• I gather you're no fan of "Advanced SystemCare" and"Wise Care 365".

I'd be grateful if you could give any reasons for your recommendations.

Thanks!

 

Security is rather more about the user's surfing pattern than which AV or firewall he uses. I make sure that my browser will flag up any possibly risky sites and then simply avoid them. In Chrome I use the WOT extension but all browsers have something equivalent. Other than that I have for years relied on MSE and the Windows firewall. Can't remember the last time I picked up anything other than tracking cookies, and they don't concern me.

With Win 7/8 third party defragmenters are unnecessary. If you do run a third party one it will appear to have lots to do, but that is merely a function of the different algorithm it is using. Win 7/8 will keep your disk well sorted without outside help.

I use all of those too, but only the free 'on demand' versions.

Can't comment on WiseCare but ASC System Optimisation brought my Win 7 down and I had to restore an image to recover. But its remaining functions largely duplicate what MSE, Windows itself, and CCleaner already do and are simply unnecessary in my book.

I maintain five different systems here for three users. All use the setup I've described, all have been problem free and all have run well for some years. But to each his own. Others may heartily disagree with my simplistic approach but while it continues to work well I don't have any reason to alter it..

The one thing missing in your setup is an imaging capability. Once you have that and have mastered it there isn't anything that can cause you to have to do what you have had to do - a factory restore.

 

I have gone for the minimalist approach. I will be able to compare what transpires on this machine compared to my other one, which is set up the way I said I was going to set this one up.

You gave advice based on Windows 7/8. The machine in question has Vista. Would that change any of the advice given?

I'm using Window's own firewall and I'm not going to download nor use a third party disk defragmenter.

My antimalware is Microsoft Essentials.

I've also installed CCleaner, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, SpywareBlaster and SUPERAntispyware - the free, on demand versions, which is all I've ever used with these programmes.

 

All I can say about Vista is that my wife has a Vista machine that must be 6-7 years old at least. It has exactly the same setup as the Win 7/8 machines and still runs remarkably well. I've never used a 3rd party defragger on it so the built-in one must be doing an adequate job.

I'll be surprised if the minimalist setup gives you any problems but do let us know if it does.