Please help my pc logs in then logs straight out

livelyred

Ive got a big problem with my pc, i was on my pc today then it logged itself out today twice for no reason completly shut down, now when i switch the pc on it goes to the page where you log it then says its logging on then it goes to logging off please can someone help i have all my NVQ work on my pc Thankyou

[Deleted User]

Are you running Windows? If so, which version?

It sounds like you might have a virus. Do you have a virus scanner installed?

Try starting the computer in safe mode - hold F8 as soon as the BIOS screen disappears (this is the screen that is displayed first when you turn the computer on). Then choose "safe mode with network support" from the menu. Run a full virus scan when the computer has started. If you don't already have a virus scanner, see one of the sticky posts on this forum for how to get one.

livelyred

tentonine wrote: »

Are you running Windows? If so, which version?

It sounds like you might have a virus. Do you have a virus scanner installed?

Try starting the computer in safe mode - hold F8 as soon as the BIOS screen disappears (this is the screen that is displayed first when you turn the computer on). Then choose "safe mode with network support" from the menu. Run a full virus scan when the computer has started. If you don't already have a virus scanner, see one of the sticky posts on this forum for how to get one.

I have windows XP but its a old pc but does work great and still quick i havent updated the xp for a long time now. I have a virus scanner installed i have tryed to work in safe mode but it happens when i get on this aswell in safe logs off again, how do i run the virus mode when i cant get no where nr the web ?

[Deleted User]

Have you tried safe mode with a command line? Do you know how to use MSDOS prompts?

Do you have a Windows Vista or Windows 7 DVD from another computer? They contain some recovery tools that could be useful. If not, you could use a Linux boot CD - have you ever used one before? I will explain if you haven't.

livelyred

tentonine wrote: »

Have you tried safe mode with a command line? Do you know how to use MSDOS prompts?

Do you have a Windows Vista or Windows 7 DVD from another computer? They contain some recovery tools that could be useful. If not, you could use a Linux boot CD - have you ever used one before? I will explain if you haven't.

Hi to be honest i dont know alot about pcs, my pc hasent been updated for about 2 yrs i didnt bother as it run ok and is old. I have windows xp dont know what one one off the oldest i reackon lol. I havent used no cds at all. My daughter has the laptop which im on now and its vista .

[Deleted User]

Try to start in safe mode again, but this time select the option for "safe mode with command prompt". When it starts, it should hopefully take you to a command window. If it doesn't, then let me know and I can explain how to use the restore DVD froim the laptop to get to a command prompt.

The command prompt should tell you the folder that you are currently in. To display the contents of the folder, type:
dir

To run a program in the folder, simply type the name.
To move to a different folder (say called foldername), type:
cd foldername

To move up to the folder above (e.g. to move from C:\windows to C:\), type:
cd ..

You will need to use these commands to locate your virus scanner and run it. If this all sounds a bit complicated or you get stuck, then let me know and we can proceed to using a Linux disk (which would be graphical and therefore more straightforward). Note that the Linux disk would be a download of few hundred MB - do you have a fast internet connection with a reasonable data allowance? Do you have any blank CDs?

[Deleted User]

One other thing that could be much easier - did safe mode get as far as giving the option to use system restore? If it did, that should hopefully be able to correct the problem by putting the computer back to where it was a few days ago.

livelyred

tentonine wrote: »

One other thing that could be much easier - did safe mode get as far as giving the option to use system restore? If it did, that should hopefully be able to correct the problem by putting the computer back to where it was a few days ago.

Thankyou i will have to try this tomorrow now as i have to be up at 6am, it does sound a bit complicated to me. I will have another look tomorrow and get bck to you.What time you back online ? Oh and not sure about the safe mode and restore point i will also check this out aswell tomorrow , Thankyou for your help.

[Deleted User]

I'm actually temporarily living in the US at the moment, so I won't be up until after lunch for you tomorrow!

Incidentally, is getting the work off the computer an immediate priority or do you just need to know that it is safe for the future?

livelyred

tentonine wrote: »

I'm actually temporarily living in the US at the moment, so I won't be up until after lunch for you tomorrow!

Incidentally, is getting the work off the computer an immediate priority or do you just need to know that it is safe for the future?

Hi and good morning. Right this morning i done all you said with the safe mode but my pc isnt having none off it, every time you go into safe mode it logs in then seconds later its telling you its logging out so im not getting as far getting to my page with my icons on at all. I havent a spare blank cd at the mo in actually off sick at the mo so i cant even pop to the shop to get one, i will try and get one tomorrow. What will happen when i get the cd i will have to download something off the laptop onto my pc ?

[Deleted User]

There are two things to try (one of which only requires a disk that you should already have). First, if you have the restore DVD that came with the laptop, you can put that in and the computer should start up from it instead of loading Windows from the hard drive. It will take a minute to start and will hopefully eventually ask if you want to install Windows or repair an existing installation (although, depending on the manufacturer of the computer, it is possible that it might not give you these options).

If you click on repair, you should be able to find an option for a command prompt (I think you have to first click on manual repair instead of automatic repair). Rather than using the commands I gave you above, it would probably be easiest at this point to type notepad and press enter. Hopefully notepad will come up. Then go to file, open. Near the button, there is a drop-down list with "Text Documents (*.txt)" currently selected - click on this and change it to "All files". Now you should be able to navigate around your computer as normal. You can double-click on folders to open them, but do not double-click on a program to run it, as this will simply attempt to open it in notepad. Instead, when you have found your virus scanner icon, right-click it and choose open.

I hope that will work. At the very least, it should let you copy your work to a USB stick. If it doesn't work, then you will need to use a Linux CD - download this:
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/download

Do not just copy the file to a CD - you must open it in your CD writing program and write it as an image (there should be an option for this).

Note that the Linux CD is a few hundred MB in size, so please don't download this if you have a significant limit on how you can download in a month (e.g. 2GB/month on some cheap internet packages).

I will explain how to use the Linux CD when you get to that point (if it is necessary and the laptop's disk doesn't work).