Windows login screen flashing showing no users

[sleepylight]

I have an odd problem I've not been able to fix. I have a laptop from a friend of a friend, so I don't know much of the history of it.

Essentially, when started normally the laptop hits the windows 7 welcome screen, but instead of displaying a list of users, it flashes again and again. The cursor shows the busy circle next to it for a split second, then the screen goes black, then the screen comes back with the busy cursor.

The system starts normally in safe mode.

I've tried to disable all of the services and startup items with MSConfig, but that's made no difference. I've also run sfc /scannow which on it's first pass detected and fixed an item, but on subsequent passes sees no problems.

After that was a bust I decided to try to revert to a system restore point. There are several the choose from, but once selected the restore doesn't actually take place. The system simply shuts down after preparing to restore, and when restarted in safe mode states that it was unable to start the shadow copy service (which to the best of my understanding can't be started in safe mode)

Any ideas?

 

[writhziden]

Try to do the system restore through a repair CD/DVD:

Repair CD/DVD System Restore:

Do the following steps:

• Read carefully through http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html...
• Use the System Repair Disc to access the System Recovery Options...
• Use the http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html to choose System Restore...
• Follow OPTION TWO of http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html and pay close attention to the NOTE: in OPTION ONE step 8.

If that does not work: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

 

[sleepylight]

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried what was on your list but to no avail. When I try to restore the system from the CD I get the following error message:

System Restore failed to extract the original copy of the directory from the restore point.
Source: %SystemRoot%\registration
Destination: ComPlusStaging

It looks like there might be more text to the message, but it's all cut off and there's no scroll bar in the error window.

 

[writhziden]

A co-worker of mine had a similar problem yesterday. I was able to resolve it with the following:

You will need a Windows 7 repair disc or you can use the http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/666-advanced-boot-options.html to get to the System Recovery Options.

Then try the steps in Startup Repair Infinite Loop Recovery. Note the warning:

   Warning

The instructions presented withing this tutorial must be followed correctly, or you can damage your Windows 7 installation even further. This tutorial is designed to help recover from a bad registry that is causing the startup repair loop. You should note that there may still be some issues remaining that cannot be fixed by manually restoring the registry.

You may also need to clear the temporary memory of corruption after doing the above. When we did those steps for restoring the backed up registry files, Windows would blue screen with a critical object termination and registry corruption blue screen. Clearing the temporary memory of corruption resolved that problem and Windows booted normally again. Here are the steps for clearing the temporary memory of corruption:

1. Shut down and turn off the computer.
2. Unplug the computer from the wall or surge protector (then remove the battery if it is a laptop).
3. "Remove the computer from any port replicator or docking station, disconnect
   cables to printers or devices such as external monitors, USB memory sticks or SD cards, headset or external speakers, mouse or auxiliary keyboard, turn off WIFI and Bluetooth wireless devices." (Use Hard Reset to Resolve Hardware and Software Issues HP Pavilion dv5000 Notebook PC series - HP Customer Care (United States - English))
4. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds. This closes the circuit and ensures all
   power from components is drained to clear the software connections between the BIOS
   and hardware and clear any corruption in the temporary memory.
5. (If it is a laptop, plug the battery back into the laptop and then) Plug the computer back into the wall. Do not reconnect any unnecessary peripherals; monitor, keyboard,
   and mouse should suffice and be the only peripherals reconnected.
6. Turn it on to reinitialize the software connections between the BIOS and hardware

 

[sleepylight]

Thanks for the suggestion. I've given it a try, but still get the same error message. It doesn't seem to matter which set of windows\system32\config files I use. Any other ideas? I've tried googling the error message but almost everything I find says, "just try it in safe mode." Nobody seems to have the issue that restores won't run in safe mode or from a boot DVD.

 

[writhziden]

If that does not work: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219533-troubleshooting-windows-7-failure-boot.html

Have you done the steps in the above tutorial yet?