Winlogon.exe has detected errors...

[Ryall]

Question: Recently, I was downloading a patch related to the Worm Blaster, and after doing so, I rebooted.

However, when rebooting, I get to a certain point (Windows 2000 Professional), and I get a message: "winlogon.exe has detected (or maybe it's "generated" or "encountered") errors, and is shutting down the program. An error log is being created."

So then it starts all over, gets to the same point, generates the same message, and shuts down again. This goes on and on forever. Put simply, now the computer won't turn on.

A support guy at a local Gateway retailer told me that the problem is this: I already have Norton 2003, and when I tried to download the Worm Blaster/patch, it caused the problem I now have. He said that two programs "detect" each other during the start-up, thus causing the error message, and the resulting shutdown. (As an aside: I already had one version of the Worm Blaster detector, but while it didn't find anything, I was still having the same problem: After being logged on for a while, I was unable to "paste," or open certain links, etc. So I tried to download theis patch in an attempt to fix it.)

Any idea what to do?

[BipolarBill]

The support guy is a dope. Reboot the PC into Safe Mode by pressing F8 during startup or holding the CTRL key. Run the patch in Safe Mode.

[Ryall]

Thanks for responding.

I've actually already tried that, and it doesn't seem to work.

Once you get to the "special startup" screen (after pressing F8), it gives you roughly 10 options, such as "start in safe mode," "boot normally," "use last successful configuration," and nothing seems to work. I get the same message, and am unable to successfully start the computer.

The only different outcome is when I choose the ""debugging mode" option. When I do that, I get to a bluish screen, whwith the mouse pointer in the middle of the screen, locked and unable to move.

With every other option, it's the same result: No luck.

Is there something I'm missing?

[BipolarBill]

If you can't log on in either Safe Mode or normal, you will have to repair Win2K. Boot from the Win2K CD and run until it asks what you want to do. Select R for Repair. On the next screen, tell it that you do not have the ERD disk. On the next screen, choose F for Fast Repair and continue. Run the MSBlaster patch *according to instructions* as soon as you're in Windows. As a matter of fact, uninstall and reinstall your whole antivirus package. You may have to disconnect from the Internet until you're ready to download.

You will have to reinstall the last service pack and download security patches and IE updates.

I hope that you see the importance of Windows Update and an antivirus program now.

[Ryall]

Looks like I'll have to get a Win2K CD. The computer that's having these problems was actually given to me, without anything else, such as the CD.

Hopfully, this will work, because right now, like I said, I can't even get the computer turned on.

Will I lose everything that hasn't been backed up?

[BipolarBill]

If the repair works, you will lose nothing. Even if you choose to reinstall (without formatting), you will still have your data.

The guy who gave you the PC should have provided a CD. What he did is called piracy.

[Ryall]

As soon as I can get my hands on the aforementioned CD, I'll give it a try.

I appreciate your help.

[Midknyte]

you should have also done a scan for the Welchia worm. Little too late now.

Make sure you also get the win2k product code. Gateway usually puts a sticker with the code right on the case. Just guessing that you have a Gateway since you talked to Gateway support.

[neverwhere]

Originally posted by BipolarBill
The guy who gave you the PC should have provided a CD. What he did is called piracy.

yeah, and to top it off the repair man you went to is a moron... tell the guy who gave you your computer that you need the CD from him and (if he is a buisness especially) remind him that its kind of illegal to deal out Win2k w/o a CD and a unique product key

[Ryall]

Any suggestions as to where I should go (online or otherwise) to find this CD, reasonably priced?

[BipolarBill]

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...82E16837102138

That's a reasonable as it gets.

[Ryall]

$145, huh?

If I can't find the CD that came w/ the PC, I guess I don't have a choice.

Let me ask you this: Assuming I described the problem accurately and sufficiently, should I go ahead and buy the CD? In other words, what are the odds that the repair will be successful?

If we're talking just a 50/50 chance, I may just go ahead, bite the bullet, and buy a new PC, which I was going to have to do at some point anyway.

[BipolarBill]

The chances are about 66% for success. Like I said, even if the virus is so bad that it fails, you can use the same CD to reinstall and salvage your data.

[Ryall]

Forgive my ignorance, but are you saying that I have a 2 in 3 chance of rectifying the problem, and salvaging my current PC, with all data intact, or are you saying that I have a 2 in 3 chance of retaining my data, regardless of what ultimately happens w/ the PC?

Another stupid question: Are we sure this is a virus? I know the Gateway support guy wasn't a genius, but he did say that basically the same thing happened to him, which is that he had 2 virus protection programs "conflict" with each other, thus leading to a failure similar to what I'm experiencing.

[Midknyte]

2 virus programs on the same computer are a bad idea, but I haven't seen the combination totally wreck a system. That's for full installations of mcafee and norton or something like that. Not just patches or fixes.

if you're that concerned with data, you should remove the drive and plug it into a working computer. pull the data off and then you can attempt your repairs. you're obviously working on a good system if you can post here.