Problem with windows login, could be corrupt

compshredr

Member
Jun 19, 2004
47
0
0
I recently built a computer with some spare parts I had laying around, successfully installed windows and have been able to run it for a week or so without any serious problems, except for a corruption of a DLL file (because of Windows Update) which prevented windows from booting, but I was able to fix that.

I went to test some sticks of RAM in the machine to see which ones were bad (I disconnected the hard drive while doing this) and kept the largest sticks in. I proceeded to boot windows but got a blue STOP error for a split second before it cut off.

I think I have the original sticks in their respective slots, but when I try to boot the drive now, it doesn't show the XP 'home screen' it goes straight to the textbox style login, and when I do login it displays 'loading settings' then immediately 'logging off'. But, it does show my wallpaper, no icons... so, it just loops fairly quickly back to the login. I only have the 1 user besides the admin, and neither that user or the admin work.

I do have SP2 on it, and I have been overclocking the gfx card, but I don't think that's the problem.

And I do have another empty drive with the same version of XP with SP1 that I can use to fix anything, if it be a simple matter of changing files...

I would format but I spent all week putting everything I need on it (and of course, updating to SP2 and downloading 150 updates).
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,570
10,200
126
It sounds like your user profile got corrupted due to bad ram.

When testing RAM, always use a bootable Memtest86+ CD, that way you don't corrupt your windows.