Re: Windows Logon Screen Changed and classic style now shows....

On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:48:00 -0800, blewby_you wrote:

> Thats part of the other problem. I cannot go into manage or to the
> administrative settings at all..even tho I still login into my name
> (administrator), I also cannot go into add/remove prog's...and my when I
> click start to shut off ..all i see is "turn o.." (instead of "turn off
> computer") and when it does shut down..it shows classic window...there is a
> long... long pause then it finally shuts down. I still would like to know the
> answer to this as this is the 2nd time this happend. For now I have
> formatted and reinstalled windows and all updates and programs......BUT I
> have a feeling that sense it did it twice already....it will probly do it
> again. I also have 2 other computers with xp (home) that i run the same way
> with same programs and these dont do this. So I am baffled.
> Thanks for the response and if theres any other suggestions please state it
> as im sure it will do it again.
>

I wish I knew the answer. The XP style logon/log off usually disappear when
another program has altered msgina.dll. However, you're only getting the
classic screens at log off so this not an msgina.dll problem. If you have
XP Pro, might check some of the options in gpedit.msc. There are a few that
dictate using classic vs XP style log off/log on screens.

Truncated text on portions of the UI (the Turn Off text) is probably due to
an anomaly in your display. Could be caused by settings:
Display Properties> Appearance> Large Fonts or Display Properties>
Settings> Advanced> DPI. Or possibly using Display> Appearance> Advanced
and changing font size for individual items. To fix, revert settings to
"normal" and/or re-apply the XP theme.

The truncated text could also be due to a damaged or incorrect display
driver. Reinstalling the correct and current driver for hardware should
help. Also check that desktop size is set to the dimensions that are
recommended for your monitor.

Some games will change display settings to a low resolution while they are
running. They are not always good about restoring your original settings
after exiting the game. Keep an eye out for changes when opening and
closing programs. Compare settings from "before" and "after" and adjust
accordingly.

Another possible is other users: If other people have access to the
computer, they may be changing display settings that change text size or
desktop size. These settings are not kept on a per user basis so they would
show up when you logged on to your account.

Not being able to access Add/Remove Programs or administrative screens is
very worrisome. Gpedit.msc can be used to block and to restore access but
disabling with this tool is done purposefully and would be something that
you would remember doing. If the machine is a member of a domain, there may
be policies that are being "pushed down" from the server. If in charge of
the server, check policies on that system too.

Another cause is a bit more sinister. Blocking access to Add/Remove
Programs and other administrative tools is a common "defense" used by
malware. Removing the malware is good but that action seldom restores the
permissions and settings that the malware changed while it was active. If
you can uncover all the locations that the malware "touched," you can
reverse the changes manually. Of course a repair install or reinstall of
Windows can set those straight too.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User

Thanks Sharon for the responses. I too thought it was malware..i ran a few
programs to check for anything..but there was nothing found....I wanted to
find something before resorting to a full format (altho not terrible) it is
just time consuming getting all the MS updates. It wasnt a display issue
either as all other windows were normal...everything was normal besides
getting into administrative tools or even add/remove. I did check the forum
if anyone else had an issue...altho there were some that were close..i
couldnt find this issue...but i did try using a msgina program that was
suggested to others...but I kept getting the classic view still...and still
locked out of administration.
All is better now with a full format and install and all programs back in
place (a fun filled 5 hour task). But I am concerend this may happen again as
it has like 6mths ago. I am a clean freak of the computer and it gets FULL
cleanings and defrag at end of the week...also I am the only user of this
computer, and I do not run any games either....so this makes it even harder
to figure out why 1 day it runs great (I used yahoo chat to my mother, then
shut it down) Then the next it goes down the crapper LOL.
This is XP Pro SP2 on this computer..and I have 2 others with xp home and I
use them all the same and keep them all updated & cleaned, but the xp pro is
the only machine effected...only real difference between all my computers is
this one is alot faster and uses a Sata drive.
Asus K8V SE DLX, AMD 3700 64 bit, 3GB Ultra Extreme ram w/coolers, 300GB
Sata Maxtor, Creative Audigy sound, Nvidia 256mb graphics, 550W Ultra X2
modular power supply, 4 cdroms, card reader/floppy combo unit....all in a
Ultra Aluminus case that is cooled majorly.

Thank you for your time on this issue...as it is bugging me as this is 2nd
time.

"Sharon F" wrote:

> On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:48:00 -0800, blewby_you wrote:
>

> > Thats part of the other problem. I cannot go into manage or to the
> > administrative settings at all..even tho I still login into my name
> > (administrator), I also cannot go into add/remove prog's...and my when I
> > click start to shut off ..all i see is "turn o.." (instead of "turn off
> > computer") and when it does shut down..it shows classic window...there is a
> > long... long pause then it finally shuts down. I still would like to know the
> > answer to this as this is the 2nd time this happend. For now I have
> > formatted and reinstalled windows and all updates and programs......BUT I
> > have a feeling that sense it did it twice already....it will probly do it
> > again. I also have 2 other computers with xp (home) that i run the same way
> > with same programs and these dont do this. So I am baffled.
> > Thanks for the response and if theres any other suggestions please state it
> > as im sure it will do it again.
> >

>
> I wish I knew the answer. The XP style logon/log off usually disappear when
> another program has altered msgina.dll. However, you're only getting the
> classic screens at log off so this not an msgina.dll problem. If you have
> XP Pro, might check some of the options in gpedit.msc. There are a few that
> dictate using classic vs XP style log off/log on screens.
>
> Truncated text on portions of the UI (the Turn Off text) is probably due to
> an anomaly in your display. Could be caused by settings:
> Display Properties> Appearance> Large Fonts or Display Properties>
> Settings> Advanced> DPI. Or possibly using Display> Appearance> Advanced
> and changing font size for individual items. To fix, revert settings to
> "normal" and/or re-apply the XP theme.
>
> The truncated text could also be due to a damaged or incorrect display
> driver. Reinstalling the correct and current driver for hardware should
> help. Also check that desktop size is set to the dimensions that are
> recommended for your monitor.
>
> Some games will change display settings to a low resolution while they are
> running. They are not always good about restoring your original settings
> after exiting the game. Keep an eye out for changes when opening and
> closing programs. Compare settings from "before" and "after" and adjust
> accordingly.
>
> Another possible is other users: If other people have access to the
> computer, they may be changing display settings that change text size or
> desktop size. These settings are not kept on a per user basis so they would
> show up when you logged on to your account.
>
> Not being able to access Add/Remove Programs or administrative screens is
> very worrisome. Gpedit.msc can be used to block and to restore access but
> disabling with this tool is done purposefully and would be something that
> you would remember doing. If the machine is a member of a domain, there may
> be policies that are being "pushed down" from the server. If in charge of
> the server, check policies on that system too.
>
> Another cause is a bit more sinister. Blocking access to Add/Remove
> Programs and other administrative tools is a common "defense" used by
> malware. Removing the malware is good but that action seldom restores the
> permissions and settings that the malware changed while it was active. If
> you can uncover all the locations that the malware "touched," you can
> reverse the changes manually. Of course a repair install or reinstall of
> Windows can set those straight too.
>
> --
> Sharon F
> MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User
>

On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 16:47:00 -0800, blewby_you wrote:

> I too thought it was malware..i ran a few
> programs to check for anything..but there was nothing found

Nothing found doesn't necessarily mean that nothing was there. But it does
lessen the chance that this is the cause.

> I am a clean freak of the computer and it gets FULL
> cleanings and defrag at end of the week...

Hopefully you're using XP's system tools for this. Third party cleaners are
really unnecessary and can cause unexpected results.

> so this makes it even harder
> to figure out why 1 day it runs great (I used yahoo chat to my mother, then
> shut it down) Then the next it goes down the crapper LOL.

A few years back, I struggled with a problem where XP decided that all of
my local disks were remote. Disk Management was rendered useless as "access
denied" was reported for all partitions. Many programs failed for the same
reason. Not the same problem as yours but a similar situation in that it
was a problem that was not common.

I never did pinpoint exactly what had changed but was able to duplicate the
situation by installing XP fresh and then reinstalling programs one by one.
I waited a full day between each program installation to test
"aftereffects" and to insure that local disks were still local. I finally
tracked down the program that was causing the problem and luckily the fix
was as simple as uninstalling it.

Right after that episode, I decided it was time to establish a Plan B
strategy and started trying out different image programs. There are many
offerings in this software category. Personally, my favorites are Acronis
True Image and Image for Windows from Terabyte Unlimited.

In 5-10 minutes: an image of the Windows drive can be made.
In 5-10 minutes: an image can be verified for accuracy and integrity.
In 15-20 minutes: a broken XP can be replaced with a working XP

The process is simple enough that it's easy to keep a regular schedule for
creating images. I always keep on hand a "base" image - XP +updates
+software +data. And I keep the last two "good" images that are made
weekly. If a problem surfaces that goes back further than the last two
images, I still have the "base" to fall back to.

I also like to know exactly goes wrong when there's a problem but there are
busy times in my life when troubleshooting is just not possible. The images
make life simple then. I can have my PC running perfectly in minutes
instead of the long drawn out process or reinstalling the operating system,
applying updates, reinstalling software and restoring data files from
backup.

--
Sharon F
MS-MVP ~ Windows Shell/User