Windows XP start up failure at User screen

[snowy]

I am new at this although I do have a reasonable understanding of computers.

When I start my computer up it seems to start correctly and displays the User log on screen. When I go to log in with my password it starts to load the seetings and then imediately starts the shut down process by saving the users settings and returns to the User screen ready for logging in again.

This happens under both the user profiles. One is an administrator and one a basic user profile.

The other thing I notice is that the button (at the bottom left of the screen where the Start button normally is once running )for shutting down has changed from shutdown computer to "Shutdown Netcom"

I tried to get into "Safe Mode" by rebooting and using the F8 and F5 keys but it just boots to the Windows User log on screen.

I can get into the BIOS Ok as well.

The last time I was on my computer I ran Adaware and Malawarebytes software as well as did a disk clean and defrag. I also did a full Disk scan with AVG free Virus software. This was because I had a Trogan.

After running these my computer was still running OK and I shut it down correctly.

[-pops-]

Assuming you don't have a full backup of your system to restore from, the only thing I can think of is a repair install. This is not without danger and you may be best to wait a little to see if anyone else has a better idea.

A repair install is described here: http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

[snowy]

Thanks, I was about to try a repair but thought I would try to see if anyone had some ideas before I did this. I did find some references on the web about what to do if you cannot boot into Safe Mode.
/>http://au.yhs.search.yahoo.com/avg/search?fr=yhs-avg&type=yahoo_avg_hs2-tb-web_au&p=windows%20will%20not%20boot%20in%20safe%20mode

My concern was that even if I got into Safe mode I still was a little unsure what to do next. May be run one of the Spyware programs whilst in Safe Mode and then try again.

I will wait and see if there are any other comments.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

When you boot into Safe Mode, can you check the Event Viewer if it gives you any information why it shuts down during the login into normal mode? You should look for the time when you tried this last time.

[snowy]

thanks however as mentioned I cannot get into Safe mode yet.

I found this article on MS site and will give it a go. It seems very simular to mine especially since the "Turn off computer" button changes its title to "Shutdown NETCOM" after the first time I enter my ID and password and it returns to the log on screen. I have a Netcom router and maybe when I was setting up my Internet connection after the Trogan issue I had I set up a map drive or something by mistake.

Hopefully it still might work

/>http://support.microsoft.com/kb/816873/en-us