WinXP Logon Error

Hi guys and gals, got a problem for you, it's probably something really simple but its a new one to me.

Customer bought in his PC saying it wouldn't boot into windows xp pro, so after checking it out I did a chkdsk /r - same problem so I did a full re-install in the original windows directory, got me through to the log in screen (great I thought a nice simple job!)

Now when I try to log in it gives me this message:

"The system cannot log you in due to the following error:

The specified domain either does not exist or cannot be contacted."

And then takes me back to try again. But it give me no other options, can't even shut down or restart just have to switch it off via the power button.

I've searched for an answer on the web but they all say its a problem logging into the network domain and just log in locally to fix it....but this is a stand alone PC, there is no network to log into and there is no option to log in locally.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks.

Have you tried booting into safe mode and then checking out the network properties? I've never heard of that problem before, but that would be my next guess...

the log in screen, is it the one where you select the user from a list or where you type one in manually? If you type it in manually does the username have an @ symbol in it? If so remove the @ symbol and everything after it and try to log in again with the truncated username. Have you tried administrator yet? Do you have Winternals which will allow you to boot "Windows" off a CD and allow you to change the user account information on the computer?

Also, I would try as InTheWayBoy says and boot into safe mode and see whatcha get.

Yep tried safe mode, gives you a chance to log in as administrator or the regular user, both come up with the same error as before, so I can't get in even in safe mode.

The log in screen is the one where you just click on the users name (next to that stupid pic of a frog! :rolleyes: ) so no option to change it I'm afraid.

When you installed XP, did you join and specify a domain name? You could re-install and make sure that you do NOT join the domain this time. There's something seriously not right here - I thought you only got the 'frog' type pics at log on if the PC was NOT part of a domain.

No I didn't join a domain during the instalation, and the customer says he's never been on a network, certainly a weird one.
My boss says he saw it once before and had to use some kind of linux boot disk to essentially hack the xp log in screen so that may be my next route.

However customer is saying he wanted a new hard drive anyway so it may be just as easy to do that and start from a fresh install, but I'd still like to know the answer to this one as it's bugging me.

Try replacing the winlogon.exe (or winlogin, can't remember exactly) and the crss.exe or csrss.exe (again, can't remember exact name) file.

Had a similar problem where logging in just rebooted the machine. I did find a MS article on it at the time and it said these two files are possibly corrupt, changed them and its been fine ever since.

I'll have a look again for the article which will explain more.... :thumbs:

EDIT: Can't find article but the files are winlogon.exe and csrss.exe as I did find the jobsheet.

Don't know whether it will fix it, it could also be that the computer name is incorrect, remember that XP treats the local computer name as a domain name as well. Also check that the domain name is not blank....

Well if you can't get into either normal mode or safe mode, I would next suggest you do in an in place upgrade...boot from windows xp install CD, select install (NOT REPAIR!), and then after hitting F8 it should find your exsisting OS and ask if you want to repair it. You want to repair it now, so do that and the rest is pretty self explanitory...you'll probably need to re-enter your CDKey so hope you have that handy!

If that fails, do a parallel install.