# Weird Win XP problem

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-win-xp-problem/268756>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 12, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-win-xp-problem/268756 "2004-10-12T02:21:27Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-win-xp-problem/268756/1 "2004-10-12T02:21:27Z")

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My HP pavillion laptop starts to boot, goes to the page where you choose the user, and then, when you click on the user says is is saving your settings and offers to shut down. The on/off icon in the corner says “turn off second laptop.”  
Going to last know good config does nothing. Any advice on what is wrong and how to fix it?

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**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-win-xp-problem/268756/2 "2004-10-12T02:42:06Z")

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Have you tried booting into safe mode?

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**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-win-xp-problem/268756/3 "2004-10-12T02:44:30Z")

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Yes, when I try booting into safe mode, the same thing happens. I can’t get the computer to boot at all.

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**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-win-xp-problem/268756/4 "2004-10-12T02:54:22Z")

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Do you have your XP CD? You can try a repair?  
Scroll to the bottom of [this page](http://www.theeldergeek.com/repairing_windows_xp.htm) for instructions.  
Post back if you need further help.

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**Author:** ![dauerbach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c2a13f/32.png) [@dauerbach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dauerbach)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-win-xp-problem/268756/5 "2004-10-12T03:52:37Z")

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OK, so I fixed the original problem by doing the following:

I Booted the computer from the xp os cd.

I pressed R to get to recovery prompt.

I went from C:\Windows, cd system 32

At C:\Windows\system 32 I typed userinit.exe wsaupdater.exe

Now I get to the regular screen but nothing works, not my wireless nework, not anything from the start menu, no programs, nothing.

Any idea what I did, how to undo it and/or fix the thing?

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**Author:** ![Daizy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@Daizy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daizy)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-win-xp-problem/268756/6 "2004-10-12T17:39:07Z")

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At the risk of sounding redundant…  
How about trying a **repair**?

Scroll to the bottom of the page I linked to, and look for the heading "Windows Installation CD - Repair Current Installation: "