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Question

WinXP stuck in "Safe Mode"?

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I was recently hit by some type of virus after clicking on a link sent by "Google Alerts".  In the process of "cleaning" the computer (with the assistance of an online security forum), I've somehow managed to muck up my WinXP (Home) OS.

When I boot to the normal WinXP "Welcome" screen, the "Administrator" account and my own account (with admin privileges) are displayed, but a 3rd "user" (with limited privileges) is not displayed.

Upon entering WinXP, I'm experiencing many faults (Windows Update, for example, presents me with an error message and I can't "update" MSSE due to another error message).  

My troubleshooting thus far has led me to believe that my OS is somehow "stuck" in some version of "safe mode".

Any direction would be much appreciated 

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Whateez

Whateez

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Answer

Mike, thank you for responding.

While I've been waiting several days for MS tech support to get back to me again, your suggestion inspired me to start tinkering around...again...and I managed, somehow, to "restore" my system successfully.

While my first 2 attempts to enter "Safe Mode with Command Prompt" were unsuccessful (I observed what appeared to be a normal list of "safe mode" file/driver loads but it appeared to hang trying to load agp440.sys), on my third try the initial "safe mode" screen appeared for a moment...then "faded" into the standard "loading WinXP" blue screen and then the same non-standard "User" login page displayed.  This time, however, when I logged into WinXP, it was into a full screen "command prompt" window.  Weird.

I tried the sfc /scannow but I was, apparently, still locked into some broken version of "safe mode" and the following error displayed...

Windows file protection could not initiate a scan of protected system files.  The specific error code is 0x000006ba [The RPC server is unavailable.].

I discovered that using cntrl-alt-delete brought up the "Task Manager" but I found the desktop totally bare when I arrived...and displaying the "safe mode" window.  I entered "Explorer" in the task manager "run" window and was able to restore the desktop...but nothing else would load (network, MSSE, etc etc).  Soooo...I tried to reboot using "Normal" then "Safe Mode w/networking", but now I couldn't get out of the "command prompt" full screen login.  Bad to worse thought I.

Getting desperate now, I tried the "restore last working" option from the F8 list and, wonder of wonders, I was back to normal!!!  I don't know how it restored itself (perhaps from an MSSE restore point?) since I had turned off "system restore" during the virus-cleaning process and hadn't yet turned it back on.

Sorry for the length, but I thought you might like to read the success story.

Thanks again for the assistance.
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Whateez

Whateez

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Run the System File Checker: click Start > Run , type sfc /scannow in the box, and click OK .
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Steve Winograd

Steve Winograd
Steve Winograd

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Steve, thank you for your response.

When I run sfc /scannow, the screen momentarily goes dark then brings me back to the desktop.
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Whateez

Whateez

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Whateez,
    Can you boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt and then run SFC?  Let us know the results of trying that. 
Mike - Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.
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Mike - Support Engineer

Mike - Support Engineer
Mike Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us kn

Was this helpful?

Answer

Mike, thank you for responding.

While I've been waiting several days for MS tech support to get back to me again, your suggestion inspired me to start tinkering around...again...and I managed, somehow, to "restore" my system successfully.

While my first 2 attempts to enter "Safe Mode with Command Prompt" were unsuccessful (I observed what appeared to be a normal list of "safe mode" file/driver loads but it appeared to hang trying to load agp440.sys), on my third try the initial "safe mode" screen appeared for a moment...then "faded" into the standard "loading WinXP" blue screen and then the same non-standard "User" login page displayed.  This time, however, when I logged into WinXP, it was into a full screen "command prompt" window.  Weird.

I tried the sfc /scannow but I was, apparently, still locked into some broken version of "safe mode" and the following error displayed...

Windows file protection could not initiate a scan of protected system files.  The specific error code is 0x000006ba [The RPC server is unavailable.].

I discovered that using cntrl-alt-delete brought up the "Task Manager" but I found the desktop totally bare when I arrived...and displaying the "safe mode" window.  I entered "Explorer" in the task manager "run" window and was able to restore the desktop...but nothing else would load (network, MSSE, etc etc).  Soooo...I tried to reboot using "Normal" then "Safe Mode w/networking", but now I couldn't get out of the "command prompt" full screen login.  Bad to worse thought I.

Getting desperate now, I tried the "restore last working" option from the F8 list and, wonder of wonders, I was back to normal!!!  I don't know how it restored itself (perhaps from an MSSE restore point?) since I had turned off "system restore" during the virus-cleaning process and hadn't yet turned it back on.

Sorry for the length, but I thought you might like to read the success story.

Thanks again for the assistance.
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Whateez

Whateez

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Whateez,
     I don't mind the length at all.  I like to hear all the details.  I'm glad it is back up and running for you.
Mike - Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.
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Mike - Support Engineer

Mike - Support Engineer
Mike Microsoft Answers Support Engineer
Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us kn

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Mike...

Just where my system got "restored" from with "system restore" turned off is both puzzling and interesting to me.  Do you think it was from an MSSE backup as I suspect?  I'll leave you alone after this...promise.
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Whateez

Whateez

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