Characters are invisible when typing in login window

[skunky62]

I've tried searching this symptom using Google but it leads me to other non-related issues. Can I insert a photo image of the problem I'm going through? I'm asking permission.

forgot to add: Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit

 

[Megahertz07]

Are they invisible or ****?

To post an image on a post, Go Advanced (below button) - Manage Attachments - Browse - Upload

 

[skunky62]

Are they invisible or ****?

Thanks for the reply, here are the pictures...

On both "w7u.GIF" and "w7u.GIF", you can see the yellow triangle with the exclamation point, warning you that you are using Caps Lock. There's no warning there to read. And when you finish typing the password, nothing happens, even if you hit return five to ten times. Not even ALT-CTRL-DELETE works.

Suggestions are most welcome.

 

[Megahertz07]

The picture was taken so close to the screen that I can't see the hole screen.

Normally passwords aren't visible while you type. They are replaced by **** or dots. It's done this way to avoid other people to see what you type.

 

[MilesAhead]

I think the OP is saying that the login is hung at that point. Hitting Enter does nothing. No error message about incorrect password etc..

I cannot remember running into this on Windows. I seem to remember something similar happening on Linux and if I remember rightly I got around it by using a different window manager and logging in. This workaround is not available on Windows though.

 

[skunky62]

Exactly, no nothing. I thought it was some kind of malware or joke virus but I've scanned it with multiple AVs. Either the Profile is corrupt or the whole OS is.

 

[skunky62]

I think the OP is saying that the login is hung at that point. Hitting Enter does nothing. No error message about incorrect password etc..

I cannot remember running into this on Windows. I seem to remember something similar happening on Linux and if I remember rightly I got around it by using a different window manager and logging in. This workaround is not available on Windows though.

And thanks MilesAhead.

 

[skunky62]

The picture was taken so close to the screen that I can't see the hole screen.

Normally passwords aren't visible while you type. They are replaced by **** or dots. It's done this way to avoid other people to see what you type.

I apologize if my post was little bit iffy. I know passwords are not visible (shouldn't be), I was talking about the Caps Lock warning after the exclamation mark inside the yellow triangle. You can't see/read "Caps Lock is..." and nothing happens after you type the password. You cannot even do a Ctrl-Alt-Del, you have to do a hard reset (push power button).

 

[Ranger4]

You could try a Start Up Repair to see if that will fix your problem. This Forum tutorial will explain how to do that.

Startup Repair

 

[marsmimar]

You could also try running a System File Checker scan from an elevated command prompt. (Open the Start Menu, click on All Programs > Accessories, right click on Command Prompt, and click on Run as administrator.) The scan will check for incorrect, corrupted, changed/modified, or damaged system files and attempt to replace them with the correct versions if possible. Also note there is a space between sfc and /scannow. See Option Two this tutorial:

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

 

[HAVOC]

Maybe the text is there but it's the same color as the background? Can you get to Personalize and use a standard Windows theme?

 

[skunky62]

You could also try running a System File Checker scan from an elevated command prompt. (Open the Start Menu, click on All Programs > Accessories, right click on Command Prompt, and click on Run as administrator.) The scan will check for incorrect, corrupted, changed/modified, or damaged system files and attempt to replace them with the correct versions if possible. Also note there is a space between sfc and /scannow.[/URL]

I did that five times and later left the machine defragmenting the HD. I'll check today to see what happened.

 

[skunky62]

You could try a Start Up Repair to see if that will fix your problem. This Forum tutorial will explain how to do that.

Startup Repair

No one can find the Windows 7 Installation DVD, I believe the PC did not come with one and no one created a Repair Disc for the PC. Can I use a Windows 10 32-bit installation disc and instead of installing it, try the Repair option? I do have lots of Repair Discs created on machines with Win 7 64-bit Home Premium. Does it make any difference if it's Win Ultimate vs Home Premium, 64-bit vs 32-bit and so on?

 

[skunky62]

Maybe the text is there but it's the same color as the background? Can you get to Personalize and use a standard Windows theme?

But nothing happens after I type the password. Either the characters (black dots) disappear or it freezes to the point you need to do a hard reset.

 

[MilesAhead]

This image seems to be from Microsoft. Please check it out carefully before booting it though:
Microsoft services


Also if you have an external USB drive it may be a good idea to make a back up image of what you have now so you don't lose ground during fix attempts. There are plenty of free system image making softwares out there for download. Macrium Reflect makes a good one. But you can find others if you search the large freeware download sites. Also there is a list of free ones here:
Free Hard Disk Backup and Restore, Hard Disk Image and Cloning Utilities (thefreecountry.com)

 

[skunky62]

This image seems to be from Microsoft. Please check it out carefully before booting it though:
Microsoft services


Also if you have an external USB drive it may be a good idea to make a back up image of what you have now so you don't lose ground during fix attempts. There are plenty of free system image making softwares out there for download. Macrium Reflect makes a good one. But you can find others if you search the large freeware download sites. Also there is a list of free ones here:
Free Hard Disk Backup and Restore, Hard Disk Image and Cloning Utilities (thefreecountry.com)

Thanks for that link (thefreecountry), MilesAhead. Right now I'm downloading the ISO and let's see what happens. Didn't know there was a Windows version for dd. I use dd a lot when cloning HDs through Linux Mint (Cinnamon Serena).

Thanks...

 

[MilesAhead]

Thanks for that link (thefreecountry), MilesAhead. Right now I'm downloading the ISO and let's see what happens. Didn't know there was a Windows version for dd. I use dd a lot when cloning HDs through Linux Mint (Cinnamon Serena).

Thanks...

You are welcome. I did Linux back in the day. I did a few versions of Slackware. Tried RedHat and a couple of others. The one I liked best was Mandrake 9.1. Last time I checked it was renamed Mandriva. Next time I get a couple of desktop PCs I am going to get back into Linux. Right now I have bootable USBs with Mint and Puppy just in case I need them.