XP start up and installing software problems

Question

Hi just got a new Dimension 5150 running XP Media. I have just tried to ring support here only they are closed on the weekend so hopefully someone can help here.

I am yet to install most of my programs, just unpacked it all and installed a few things (ZoneAlarm, Office, Broadband, Adobe Reader, Canon printer driver, Ghost, Nortons). I have come into two problems. I have been using Win98 for years, but only new to XP.

Firstly, whenever I restart or start the computer from scratch, it flashes up 'unable to log you in' some permission error, then really quickly it goes to another screen saying "loading XP". It sits here for sometimes in excess of 10 minutes and appears to of hung. I have to turn off the computer and start again, same thing seems to happen. One time I got it on the error message and clicked okay and it then seems to load and brings up the profiles to click on. I cannot give the 'exact' message because it flicks off so quickly. It seems pot luck as to whether I can get the system booted.

Also another problem I'm having is loading Photoshop 7.0 upgrade. It requires you to verify the original media. I select the option to show it the original CD. The original CD loads the startup screen which you cancel out of but then the 7.0 install just does nothing. If you open the CD drive after considerable waiting time it then comes up and says no media detected. I have been successfully installing the PS 7.0 this way on Win98 forever, in fact I just did it last month which leads me to think this is something to do with XP?.

burlof · Answer

OK thanks, here's where I'm at and what has happened since my earlier post.
The error message I receive is "Unable to log you on because of an account restriction". What happens is this flicks for a second, then goes to the 'loading xp' screen where it sits. I went into User Accounts and changed the way a user logs on and it brings up the error and remains there. It is trying to log me in as "Administrator" and this is where the problem seems to be. If I change this to "Michelle" it then logs me in no problem. For some reason by default it is attempting to call me Administrator with each log in.

I am listed as the Administrator when I go into the settings like you said.
I didn't set up the PC so I'm not sure what was entered as the password, actually I believe no password was set for anything. The fields are empty. The Guest User is turned OFF. This is just a home PC so no drama about sharing.

I did a google search on this error I'm getting and it says it is to do with remote computer log in or something. Yet also something is listed at Norton web site about it. But nothing clear or specifically related to my problems though.

Software problems with installing Photoshop 7.0 --- still working on that. Baffled as to why it wont regognise the CD I'm inserting. Microsoft firewall is off. I use Zonealarm but no I'm not turning them off. PS 7.0 has never tried to access the internet just to verify media before at this install point so not sure why that would effect it though?

Thanks for help.
Michelle

robinhood42 · Answer

I think I can help you out enough until someone with more experience comes along. First of all, XP is very fussy compared to Win98. I learned that lesson the hard way when I bought a computer with XP on it. When you are getting the "Unable to log in" message, I think Windows is telling you that you are not logged in as the Administrator. Something that is very annoying in WinXP that was never a problem in Win98. When you first turned on your computer and went through the registration and all that, there should have been a page that asked if you wanted to be the only one using the computer, or Administrator. It should have also asked you for a password.

Go to Start-Control Panel-User Accounts. The User Accounts icon is almost the last one on the list. Check to see who is listed as the Administrator. If you aren't, that's the problem. It also could have com about by installing so much software at once that some software deleted it. It's a really annoying thing in XP and I hate it. If you can access user accounts and don't care if anybody else uses your pc or there isn't anyone else that does use it, you can turn "Guest user" off.

As for having problems with the software, it could be many things. Do you turn off your AV programs and any Spywear programs before installing any new software? The software could also have an incompatibility problem with XP. XP is very fussy. Also, you want to check Windows Firewall and make sure you have access to the internet when installing these problems. It could be that the program wants to install but can't get an internet connection even though you are hooked up with Broadband. Go to Start-Control Panel-Windows Firewall. See which programs are checked and which aren't. To get to the list you want to hit the Exceptions tab. Please let me know if this does or doesn't help. XP has a lot of security features and I believe that is the problems you are experiencing.

Message Edited by robinhood42 on 01-14-2006 09:42 PM

robinhood42 · Answer

That's what I don't like about XP. You have to log on as Administrator before you can access the machine. When I first turned on the pc when I got it, it went through this thing where it asked my name as the Administrator and it also asked me for a password. I put in both, but when I use my computer now it never asks me for a name or user id unless I have to install a program that needs to know that I am the Administrator and have to prove it.

I can't understand why it isn't recognizing the software you are trying to install. Was there ever a key number that had to be put in to reinstall it? The only thing I can think of is that maybe ZoneAlarm and your Anti Virus should be turned off while installing this program, because they are known to interfer with installations. But you said that you never had any problems with that before. I'm wondering if something is wrong with the CD drive, or if AutoRun is turned off. Try putting in the CD, go to Start-Run and then type in the drive letter followed by setup.exe or check the disk in Windows Explorer. It could be corrupt or have a scratch. If you can find the setup file you may be able to install the program.

Message Edited by robinhood42 on 01-15-2006 10:30 AM

burlof · Answer

I have the software issue sorted out. Asked at Adobe forums and someone suggested I copy all the files from the CD to C:/ and install it from there. Did this with success. They think this could happen because of a CD drive problem and/or maybe that Photoshop was expecting a certain path and it wasn't receiving it. In any case, by copying the contents of the CD to the hard drive it all installed okay.

I still have my other problem though. I dont know what I need to do here.

robinhood42 · Answer

I'm glad one problem was finally solved. Now maybe the other one can be figured out. Computers can be very irritating at times. Good Luck with the other problem.

Windows General

XP start up and installing software problems

Was this post helpful?