login / logout problems

Question

I recently got a dimesion 5150c. It is fine when the first user after the pc is turned on tries to access their profile but when trying to access a second profile from the main screen where all the porfiles are listed, it just blinks and refreshes the screen.  The first profile accessed does not log off properly, and instead of logging out, i sometimes have to use the switch user option to try and gain entry into another profile and even then the main screen blinks and refreshes.   i am confused as to why some profiles are logging out okay and then not allowing others to be accessed and some are having problems going into them.  The only profile that can be accessed was the previous one used.   i havent found any other users in the forum with similar problems - but if anyone can think of any reasons why this might be happening, please help.   n.b. there are no programs running in any of the user profiles while we are trying to switch profiles.

captaintech · Answer

Nik also check for the total space/used space on the hard drive in those profiles.

captaintech · Answer

hi Nik,

first question i would like to ask is 'how freuently you guys download anything from websites?' (especially in the problematic user accounts).

Second question " was there any kind of virus/spyware attack alert?"

If I am correct on my part you said you are not able to log off from certain accounts and finally you have to choose 'switch user' option.

(Switch user option helps you to switch to another profile without loosing your unsaved data)

Some times what happens is, in these accounts there are some applications which take sometime to shut down completly. So when you log on this time you should check the task manager and click on application tab to check for applications running in background. For better performance of the windows you can also configure it using the following path.

click 'start' > click 'run' > type 'msconfig'

it will open the system configuration utility window.

there in the top row the last tab is startup click the 'start up' tab and there you'll find all applications running in the computer at that moment.

click on 'disable all'. this will uncheck all options there.

Then you should click on anti-virus, anti-spyware and other security software listed there in the list under startup tab.

click on 'apply' . click on 'ok'.

windows will give you a prompt to choose between restarting your computer and exit without restart. we need to choose restart. Dont touch any key while it restarts.

when you are back onto the window you'll see one system configuration utility pop-up. there you need to check on dont show this message again and click apply.

If you still face any issue feel free to inform us about that.

rickmktg · Answer

@captaintech wrote: Nik also check for the total space/used space on the hard drive in those profiles. To add to a recent post, simply click on it, pick Message Options, then Edit.

nik74 · Answer

Dear captain tech, thanks for your fast reply and suggestions.

To answer your questions - we dont download anything reguarly to our computer - no music/movies or anything like that. we've only had the computer about a month and have only put ad-aware se personal, spybot, microsoft office 2003, msn messenger 7.5 and itunes+quicktime on it in addition to what it came with already installed.

There has been no virus/spyware attack alert.

After your response, i ran ad-aware and spybot in all the profiles and also changed the system configuration utility window as you said. - the only things enabled on it now are mcafee, dell support and windows install shield. - everything else has been disabled.

The problem however is still occuring. I can switch on the computer and log in and out of any one profile. I can then log into another profile second but when trying to log out, you cannot get out through the 'log off', so the only way to get out is through ' switch user'. Once on the welcome screen, you cannot enter any other profile as the screen only blinks and refreshes and you can only go back into the profile you just came out of.

Also when I changed the system configuration, and the two options appeared - 'restart' and 'exit without restart', when i clicked restart, i waited several minutes but nothing happened so i had to return to the welcome screen and then select 'turn off' and then select 'restart'.

the used space in the hard drive is 9.4 GB and free space is 134GB.

Do you have any other advice as to how I can fix the problem?

Many thanks,

Nik

captaintech · Answer

Hi NIK,        thanks for your reply and all the info you have given me. its quite possible that the problem you are facing is due to the security softwares you have on this computer(it doesnt mean that you are advised to remove it from your computer), what happens is, when ever you log in and log out, these softwares perform a security check on the computer. probably they are set to check all files thoroughly thats why it takes some time and it will not log off early.  but lets check the hard drive, all you need to do is to run a quick 90 sec test on the hard drive. follow these steps:-   1 restart your computer, when dell pops up on the screen, press f12 (functional key).   2 it will give you certain options, choose IDE/hard drive diagnostic.   3. after couple of minutes it will tell you, if there is any issue with the hard drive and will give some error code. but if hard drive is fine it will say 'passed'   just restart your computer and all set to work.   do inform me about the error code(if any)   regards,   captain

nik74 · Answer

Hi again Captain,

I ran the diagnostics test as you advised and it did say 'pass'. However the same problem is occuring - which is that I am able to log out of whichever profile is accessed first but not the second. And subsequently not able to enter any other profile.

Do you have any further advice?

If it is the security software as you suspect, then I wonder why it is able to log out of the first profile without any problem but then always chokes on the second one...? Also, nothing shows up under applications and processes running when I do Ctrl-Alt-Del....

Please let me know if you have any further thoughts.

Many thanks,

N

captaintech · Answer

Hi Nik,         Now in this case when the hard drive passed the test, probably its an issue with the profile it self, what i will suggest you is to back up data from that perticular problematic profile and delete the profile by going to user accounts. create a new account and check how it works. As its an issue with one profile only where all other are working normally.  if same thing occurs do inform about this. probably your computer is taking the initial user as the main logger thats why you are able to switch user and you are not able to log off from the initial loggers account.   regards, captain                     Message Edited by captaintech on 02-16-2006 10:46 AM

Storage, Drives & Media

login / logout problems

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