Normally when I turn on my computer, it loads and logs in automatically and doesn't need to show the login screen. But today when I turn it on, it goes to the login screen. So I click my name which is Compaq_Owner, and it logs me in. I see a quick flash of my background of my desktop with no icons, and then it goes back to the login screen and logs me out. It says "Saving Personal Settings" and "Logging Out" . Then I am back at the log in screen. I do not get any errors, just this. I have tried Safe Mode and making a different account I can log into, but it doesn't work. I did a SYSTEM restore to Monday, 2 days before it started this. I then log in and it does the same thing all over again. I have also restarted and tried to log in, but that doesn't work either. Can anyone help?Welcome to the forums.

Please read this first..

ThanksImportant info needed, like Operating System, Service Pack, what happened prior to this, other issues, etc.Operating System - WINDOWS XP Home
Version - 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2608
Type - x86 Based PC
Phys Memory - 512 MB
Processor - X86 Family 15 Model 47 Stepping 2 Authentic AMD 1790 Mhz

Just got Firefox 2 the day before this started. It worked fine until yesterday when this started. I never got any error messages when I try to log on, just logs me on, flashes the background, then goes back to the login page after logging me out.


Have you tried Last Known Good Configuration?Yes I have, and it does not work.In Safe Mode can you run msconfig>startup and disable any modules which are obviously not required such as Firefox, Anti-virus, Firewall etc.  Then reboot.

If your boot is successful then run msconfig again and enable the ones you disabled one at a time, rebooting after each one.  Bit time-consuming but this procedure might highlight a problem.  MAKE notes of what you disable for later reference.

As a last gasp you might have to do a repair install of XP, do you have a genuine full XP cd (not an update or recovery cd) and is your backup up-to-date :-?My PC is doing the same thing.  I want to dispose of the computer because it is old but want to delete all os and files.  But I cannot get to the place to reformat the drive.  Can you please help. Quote

My PC is doing the same thing.  I want to dispose of the computer because it is old but want to delete all os and files.  But I cannot get to the place to reformat the drive.  Can you please help.