So my Windows XP Home Edition will not let me log in.?

Question

Soo, about 6 months ago. So here's the jist of things, about 6 months ago i was using my laptop like a normally did, i ran some scan/clean up programs, restarted my computer and have never been able to log into my computer since. I type my name and password into the Windows XP Home Edition screen..... and without fail....it starts to login.....stops half way and reverts back to the login screen. P.S i believe the programs i ran where Spybot, and Ad-Aware.... and they seem to have just messed something up during the clean up process which has bared me from my own damn computer. The XP cd never came with the laptop....and i need it to reinstall the software...so that's not an option.

I plan to just buy a new computer sometime in the future since i refuse to pay hundreds to get this one fixed.... but i do have a few questions before i do.

1) if i did just BUY a NEW WIndows Home Edition XP cd to reinstall it......... would i lose all of my data?...... i have thousands of pictures i have taken over the years on it... and refuse to lose them that way.

2) what would i be looking at, price wise, if i bought a new XP cd. around $200?

3) any ideas or methods that could possibly solve this without me having to pay someone/buy a new XP cd or buy a new computer?....

its just so damn ridiculous i have got a perfectly good laptop sitting in my room that i can't even login too.

Answer 1

You have various options available:



Have you tried booting your computer in safe mode? (for this, press F5 or F8 just as your computer is passing the bios tests before the Windows XP logo shows up)

- If you can get into safe mode, back up all of your photos.



From safe mode, both Spybot S&D and Ad-Aware have recovery sections should something go wrong after you have removed spyware. Look into these sections and try restoring things that you have deleted.



Failing all of this, you can use the System Restore function through safe mode, located in Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools



To do this, just choose a date that you have available to you that you last know that your system was working and follow the on screen instructions.



As for an XP cd, you already have a valid user license, so you should not have to pay much for a replacement disc. Speak to your PC manufacturer for the restore discs as they can normally provide them much cheaper than if you were to buy them from a shop.

Answer 2

Is it a Laptop or Desktop? If it is a laptop, you might be touching the mouse pad with one of your hands. This would move the pointer and then if by chance you have that annoying [to me it is annoying] feature turned on that allows you to double tap your mouse pad and it acts like a left mouse click; if so, then you may be accidently moving the pointer away from the password window and then left click that would possibly move your cursor out of the window. If it is a desktop, and you are sure that you are spelling it correctly and the caps lock is in the correct position, then it may be a bad keyboard. If you have a spare keyboard, then try it and see if this still happens. Also, if you are the only one using the computer and you have no concerns of others [in your house] getting into your computer, then you can turn off the password feature. Hope this helps. **** Luck.

Answer 3

The windows home will be dropping in price soon. but you may be able to get a recovery disk if microsoft still offers it. or get the recovery disk for XP Pro just as good a few updates to some of the windows programs that you have. cost i think that I paid like 10 bucks for mine may run a bit more not sure

You should be able to install and keep most if not all of your files

Answer 4

to answer #1 yes if you reload your operating system you can say good bye to everything on there.



can't answer #2 sorry



to answer #3 you could try logging in, in safe mode. when you boot up your computer just press F8 when you see the first screen come up and there should be an option to run in safe mode.

Answer 5

If you can get to it, try defrag first. If that doesn't work, try System Restore to the date earlier than the point about six months ago when you did the scan/clean up programs.