W10, login box never appears

[nlinecomputers]

You also haven't mentioned trying to install on top.


Nevermind. That doesn't work except from the desktop.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Restore regbackup?

 

[Porthos]

You also haven't mentioned trying to install on top.

If I recall doing this still resets the pc and you lose apps on win 10.

 

[mraikes]

You also haven't mentioned trying to install on top.

Like the old fashioned repair install? Has that become possible again?

 

[Sky-Knight]

Like the old fashioned repair install? Has that become possible again?

No, as mentioned it just makes a new install. Users.old and Windows.old, may as well just nuke and pave it.

As for the original issue I've done quite a bit of research on it, and the only reliable resolution I've found referenced is a nuke and pave I'm afraid.

 

[nlinecomputers]

If I recall doing this still resets the pc and you lose apps on win 10.

Yeah crap that is right. Ridiculous as the build updates are essentially that.

 

[mraikes]

Ok Gang, thanks for all the suggestions. At least I can feel that I can proceed with the reset without missing something obvious and simple.

Thanks!

 

[mikeroq]

Did you try enabling the built in Administrator account?

What if you setup auto login in the registry and see if that will bypass the login screen, then you can do a repair install.

 

[frase]

Does seem like a corrupt profile. As Mike stated enable the hidden admin account to create a new profile and use FABS to transfer data.

I would use a Win10 on USB to access CMD and enter net user administrator /active:yes

 

[nlinecomputers]

One other thing to try is to read the event logs on the dead machine. You can slave the drive and read the logs with Event Log Explorer. https://eventlogxp.com/

This is just to get in my usual mantra of Event Logs, Event Logs, Event Logs. LOL

 

[mraikes]

Yes I tried the Administrator account. But I didn't think about changing the registry for auto-login. Doh! That might have been the simplest and perhaps most likely to succeed suggestion given the symptoms.

But I've already N&P'ed and currently Fabs-ing her data back. All's well that ends . . .ok, just ends. ;-)

 

[GreyWolf]

Damn I was hoping you would get a luck of the draw.. I wonder if you could get the registry to auto login...

Let me do some searching .. I'll get back the moment I find you something.

---------------- Auto Login where did I hear that from ... ;-)

 

[nlinecomputers]

I doubt it would have worked. Auto-login doesn't bypass the login procedures. They still happen. Whatever it was that caused it to crash would have still crashed.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

Thats an interesting case, i wonder whats actually happening when the login prompt tries to come up, i cant imagine its anything actually account related as one would expect that loads in the background as soon as windows comes up but perhaps something with the graphics and hardware acceleration since its a sliding animation and something about that is corrupt? sure is strange.

 

[Sky-Knight]

There are configuration settings for the welcome screen, my assumption would be some registry corruption in that area. And if true, probably got issues elsewhere too. If I were to throw a dart at a board, I'd say the 1809 update went wrong due to 3rd party AV.

In any event, a reinstall is the most reliable path forward in these cases.

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

I was doing research on this, how long did you try waiting on at the login screen? Just curious for future reference. I read about some people having an issue that caused delays on the login boxes showing as long as 10 minutes.

 

[mraikes]

...... how long did you try waiting on at the login screen? Just curious for future reference. I read about some people having an issue that caused delays on the login boxes showing as long as 10 minutes.

9-10 hours. I let it sit overnight thinking that same thing. I figured eventually something in the background would complete or "let go" and allow the password prompt to appear as normal.

 

[Moltuae]

Like the old fashioned repair install? Has that become possible again?

Yes. "In-place upgrade" I think they call it now? (even though you will be 'upgrading' to the same version in most cases).

I've used it myself a few times to fix time-consuming issues caused by bad drivers, etc. If you choose to retain all apps and settings, nothing should be affected. You can do it remotely too. I usually use the Media Creation Tool. I have it in my ScreenConnect toolbox to enable me to remotely start the download/install process with just a few clicks. You will lose remote access during the final installation stages of course, but that's usually only for about 15-30mins. And, if for any reason the Media Creation Tool fails to work, which it occasionally does (before re-installation/disconnection), you can just download and mount the ISO instead.

 

[mraikes]

Yes. "In-place upgrade" I think they call it now? (even though you will be 'upgrading' to the same version in most cases).

I've used it myself a few times to fix time-consuming issues caused by bad drivers, etc. If you choose to retain all apps and settings, nothing should be affected. You can do it remotely too. I usually use the Media Creation Tool. I have it in my ScreenConnect toolbox to enable me to remotely start the download/install process with just a few clicks. You will lose remote access during the final installation stages of course, but that's usually only for about 15-30mins. And, if for any reason the Media Creation Tool fails to work, which it occasionally does (before re-installation/disconnection), you can just download and mount the ISO instead.

Wow, I've completely missed this. But presumably as an "upgrade" it has to be launched from within Windows?

 

[Sky-Knight]

Yes, setup.exe works for upgrades / repairs, but it only works if you can login. Which makes it wonderfully useless for the OP's problem.