loop on boot

Gswiss · Aug 7, 2007

I have an xp/W2k dual boot system which has been working for years. Now, when I boot into w2k, it starts out normally. It hangs for a few seconds (which is not usual) on "Opening a User Session" (I use no password and it usually goes automatically through this part) and then it goes on until it reaches "Recording your parameters". At that point, it starts looping with "Loading your personal parameters" indefinitely.

I loaded a previously saved partition in its location and the same problem occurs. I shifted the partition on the disk in case some sectors were defective. No change.

From XP, I ran a chkdsk /R on the w2k partition. No improvement.

Exactly the same loop occurs when I go into Safe Mode.

TimW · Aug 7, 2007

This usually works for XP ...should be similar in w2k:
Boot the system using the Windows XP CD-ROM. In the first screen when the Setup begins, read the instructions press "R" (in the first screen) enter the Recovery Console. Type-in the built-in Administrator password to enter the Console. You'll see the prompt reading C:\Windows (Or any other drive-letter where you've installed XP)

Type the following command and press Enter.

CD SYSTEM32
(If that does not work, try CHDIR SYSTEM32)

COPY USERINIT.EXE WSAUPDATER.EXE

Quit Recovery Console by typing EXIT and restart Windows.

You'll be able to login successfully as you've created the wsaupdater.exe file (now, a copy of userinit.exe)

Now, change the USERINIT value in the registry (see Phase II in this page) and change it accordingly.

Click Start, Run and type REGEDIT. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ WindowsNT \ CurrentVersion \ Winlogon

In the right-pane, change the value of Userinit to "C:\WINDOWS\system32\userinit.exe,"

Type the above value exactly as given, including the comma - exclude the quotes. Also, change the path to userinit.exe appropriately if Windows is installed in a different drive.

Close Registry Editor and restart Windows. The Quick Launch settings should be retained now.

Gswiss · Aug 8, 2007

I copied USERINIT.EXE to WSAUPDATER.EXE as described. At reboot, I immediately got the message that the system could not start because "Winnt\System32\Config\System is missing or corrupt".

From the xp environment I have on the same pc, I replaced the defective system file in CONFIG by a copy of a 2-month old system file. This solved the "corrupt file" situation.

However, despite the wsaupdater.exe, I still run into the original problem where the W2k startup process loops at the point where the personal parameters are loaded. This is accompanied by the w2k jingle which repeats itself.

One interesting item is that the login block remains displayed for 20 to 30 seconds before the process moves further. Normally, it just whizzes through this phase as I have no password on this system.

Safe mode also loops at the same parameter loading location without the jingle.

Since I have direct access from xp to the actueal w2k files, is there a way to carry out the corrections you suggest in the w2k registry?

I also have another pc with a w2k installation if that could be used.

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loop on boot

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TimW MajorGeeks Administrator - Jedi Malware Expert Staff Member

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