cant log into windows xp

Lucky I have 2 computers because otherwise I'd be screwed! I have a comuter with Windows XP installed, and when i turn on the computer it comes up with the welcome screen and the login name with no password. When i click the name it goes to my background then almost logs off. I cant seem to be able to do anything. Ive tried last known good configuration and safe mode but I still cant reach my desktop. Chances are its a virus but I cant get rid of it 'cos I cant scan. Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

Reinstall XP?
Followed Quickly by installed Anti-Virus.

 

You could try a repair, recovery console or system restore.

 

how can i do that i cant log in!

 

I'm going with MOxby. You should reinstall XP. Do you have SP2? If problems still occur, maybe you should get a new OS.

 

At microsoft web site lot's of info on recovery console and such.
http://search.microsoft.com/search/results.aspx?st=b&na=88&View=en-us&qu=recovery+console

As far as reinstall OS, save that for last option, and if that was your last option, then you could do repair install which would save ya programs, or reformat and do complete reinstall.

 

You say you cant login, Is pc wanting a password?
If so you can use "Offline NT Passsword & Registry Editor" is free, I have used this program to reset the password, you can reset any user or adminastrator password, can change or just make blank.
If you use, you will have to reinstall some critical updates as it removes some, all other programs etc. will remain intact.
Here is link:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/
Basicly read instructions, make boot disk, insert disk and boot to disk.
I reccomend printing instructions. (the program can do other stuff besides password reset, I have not tryed the other stuff)

Good Luck!

 

Are you able to do Ctrl+Alt+Del or Ctrl+Shift+Esc to bring up the task manager?

If you can, you can try running explorer.exe manually from the task manager.

 

Sorry if my original post was unclear. You know the welcome screen where if you had a family or business or whatever, people can choose the account they wish to log into. Now my problem is, is at that welcome screen, i click the account, it says logging on, then goes to just my background of my desktop, then almost immediately logs off straight away. I cant get into my desktop, therefore cannot format my drive or open task manager. I'm completely stuck because even if i had to format everything, I wouldn't know how to. Sorry if my original post was unclear.

 

If nothing else, ya might want to do repair install of windows, ya dont need to access your current install to do this, here is how to link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/tips/doug92.mspx

Here is another link for freash install or upgrade:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=316941

 

If you are using WinXP Home, then the built-in Administrator account should be available in safemode without any password.

If you know any accounts which isn't presented on the welcome screen then by pressing CTRL+ALT and DEL-twice, should bring forth a normal login screen where you can access the system with such accounts.

 

I had this exact same probelm. It was caused by the 'SearchAssistant' malware (or something similar). Here's what I did: Boot your XP CD and enter
Recovery console. Type 'CD SYSTEM32' without the quotes. Type 'COPY USERINIT.EXE WSAUPDATER.EXE' without the quotes. The WSAUPDATER is the Search Assistant .exe causing problems. Type 'EXIT' and the PC will reboot. Load to the XP login screen and you should be able to login now. Click
Start>Run, type 'regedit' without the quotes to enter registry. Navigate to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE>Software>Microsoft>WindowsNT>CurrentVersion>Winlogon and look for the 'Userinit' key. If you see a key named 'OldUserinit', delete it. If you don't have a 'Userinit' key create it buy right clicking in the
right pane, choose New>Key. The 'Userinit' key should read 'C:\Windows\System32\userinit.exe,'. Note the comma after the '.exe'.
Now, exit regedit, and reboot and all should be peechy!! It worked for me. Go
to http://www.winxptutor.com/wsaremove.htm for more info.