Windows Installer - Computer Lock out

Hi,

Try this

Control Panel / Performnce and Maintenance / Admin Tools / Services

Scroll down to "Windows Installer"  Double click on it and make sure it is set to "Manual" and "Stopped"

If it says "Started"  change it to "Stopped"

If you can't solve the problem without taking the drastic measure of reinstalling the OS... try posting your problem on MS technet/community website:

http://www.microsoft.com/communities/find/default.mspx

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/support/default.mspx

If you still don't get a solution try asking a microsoft tech supp advisor for help:

http://support.microsoft.com

Try "Get help from other users(newsgroups)" and/or "Ask microsoft for help online"

You usually get 2 free tech supp problems per win xp purchase. Any more than that and you'll have to pay!

I Tried setting Windows Installer to "manual" and "stopped" but it is still the same. I had to do that in "Safe Mode"

HI... do what dunedin says IF you are able to do anything in windows when it boots... otherwise follow these steps:

1. Reboot and press del or whatever key YOU press to enter your bios settings

2. Set the primary boot device to cd-rom drive, and secondary/third device to IDE0 or IDE1 (depending upon which HDD you boot windows from)

3. Insert win xp cd

3. Save settings and exit bios (pc restarts)

4. The cd will boot and and you should get a page where you see existing partitions and installations. If you have a spare partition with enough space then install winxp onto it. If you have valuable data on the existing xp installation, then buy a new HDD... fit it to a spare IDE slot and install xp onto it then when installed goto the files and settings transfer wizard to migrate your user accounts data and settings etc.