Okay... So I'm really terrible with computers, and somehow I've managed to stuff mine up. I was just using it and it was playing up when I was trying to access folders, the directory would just keep closing down on me. So I restarted the computer and now on the welcome screen a box pops up saying "userinit.exe failed" or something like that, and all I get is my computer background, no desktop items, taskbar etc etc and other then pressing ctrl alt del to get the task manager to access things, I can't do anything else. Help anyone????

What is the exact error message? Best place to start is to google the exact error message you get.

got xp cd?

windows key + R
sfc /scannow

userinit.exe - Application Error
"The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000142). Click on OK to terminate the application."

I've tried google, but everyone's using really high tech terms that I don't understand...

Found the xp cd, but the windows key doesn't work. I can get to the cd using the task manager tho, but I'm not sure what to click on then

Here you go!

Hey jackass, I already said I tried google so stfu

I just finished fixing a friends PC with exactly the same problem.

It was some malware that had screwed with the logon/permissions.

Once the error has come up and you clear it. Bring up the task manager. Run explorer.exe (from c:\windows\explorer.exe). Hopefully this will bring your desktop back. If it doesn't then you will need to run msconfig. In the startup tab check for anything that doesn't need to be started and untick them. Close the window and restart. It will probably do the same error this time try to run explorer, hopefully you get a desktop back. You need to run spybot and an antivirus over you system to clean out whatever has done this.

Use task manager to bring up the run window and try Spooks line.

Sweet, what you said Mass worked perfectly. Google was telling me to do all sorts of complicated stuff. Thanks heaps :)

Great. Now I have a rundll32.exe error lol

i think it is time to back up the data you want and reinstall. your box has been owned. no matter what you run over it there will always be something left in there, some unknown malware.

yea, I tried to fix the rundll32.exe error, but i can't access command prompt either due to a cmd.exe error... sigh

I also had to fix a mate's pc with the exact errors you all are posting, I figured it was just easier to rebuild. Probably could have fixed it but it never would have been perfect.

do a repair install over the top with your XP CD. That should get your windows working again. Once that's done if you can get into windows installed HiJackThis and post the log to this thread.

Yea, I figure I'll wait til J comes over tmrw and see if he can sort something out for me. It's usable atm, I've only been using this computer for a little while so I don't have much on here, but I've backed up anything important anyway for the time being

format.

this fixes everything.

Userinit.exe is used to run scripts at logon, specified via HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVerion\Winlogon\userinit
(off the top of my head)

imo malware or corrupted userinit.exe

I think malware is more likely (probably some stupid mouse pointer or IM smilies face gadget).

Either way, 2 realistic options.
1. format & reinstall
2. repair eg. MS KB 315341

There are other options but if you are asking here you probably can't handle them.

get your boy to figure out what caused this, and decide the best action to take once you have that figured out.


reinstalling/repairing the OS isn't going to do anything if your machine is dying except waste your time

last edited by koopz at 18:59:14 18/Jun/08

Thanks guys :)

A quick read of a few other forums seems to suggest that its something going around at the moment, do know what actual virus it is but the moral of the story is that you might be able to boot into safe mode and clean the virus but its more effort than its worth.

Backup and re-install.

You don't need to do the full repair or reinstall, I just fixed this problem. I also got the rundll error after fixing the userinit.exe problem. Install and run a full spybot s&d scan pre-startup. Run a full AV scan after this.

Check for any processes that shouldn't be running, in task manager and also in msconfig/startup. Check the registry settings for the userinit.exe

hklm/software/microsoft/windows nt/current version/winlogon

it should have value c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe,

After doing all this (I had about 3 unknown processes starting up) after a reboot the Rundll error was gone.

I've had mixed success fixing this at work
f***ing spyware and malware s***e...

Copy both "C:\Winodws\system32\userinit.exe" + "C:\Winodws\system32\user.exe" from a known good same working version of windows (XP Home to XP Home, XP Pro to XP Pro)
Boot up via a PE disc or some other method of looking at the filestystem
Copy and or replace the above files into the munted Windows installation and reboot

Usually works tho on other occasions, it's screwed right royal and needs a Repair installation.
^ As Mass has also said. Check the value within the registry and edit it so that it only has "c:\windows\system32\userinit.exe" and nothing else

Good Luck :)

I was just about to give up on this crap frigin virus and do a complete reinstall when after hours searching google I came across a program called Uniblue Registry Booster 2. Just do a complete scan and and watch all the viruses pop in your Registry then reboot and bingo that s*** virus is gone forever and you once again have control of your computer again. This virus infected one of my other computers on my network and had to be reformated and i thought this was going to be number 2, but thanks to Reg Boost, problem solved. I tried Spybot , Adaware and just about every other spyware program out there and this is the only one that fixed userinit.exe error. The people who implanted this code need flogging with a rusty rabbit trap. Scumbags.

PS. You need the full version of Reg Boost 2 to remove the viruses. It comes as a stand alone program or you can get the Uniblue Power Suite which includes Regitry Booster 2, Speed Up My Pc and Spy Eraser. I use the Power Suite and all my computers are running like a dream. Hope this can help everyone who is infected with this s***.

haha dude you got scammed ^ 95% of the time programs like that claim you have a virus/ spyware when you infact dont and say to remove them you have to pay for the program.

all you need is spybot S&D and AVG.

You assume he actually bought the program and isnt advertising it.

heyyy guys, am tottaly distressed,,, someone help!! lol

i started off with some userit.exe probs, took Mass's advice n somehow managed to get my icons back on d desktop... however, after running spybot scan i'm recieving endless error messages on ' bad image' n ' check against installation diskette'... :(((
any advice?

I love it when chicks say jackass

why's that infi?

I'd say use a boot disk and have a look at what is starting up

Hiren's Boot CD over the years has been a god send.

Process Explorer and Autoruns are alos good tools.

hey minxy... did u get ur problem solved? i cant seem to solve mine :'(

am stuck with 100's of error msgs

"the application or DLL C:/ WINDOWS/system32__c00C7 0D.dat is not a valid windows image. please check this against your installation diskette"

Just.
Format.

I just did the Run explorer.exe (from c:\windows\explorer.exe thing and that brought my desktop back. Then I noticed I couldn't access command prompt or add remove programs etc, so I installed avg (I'd just got the computer, so I had no virus protection on it yet) ran a whole computer scan and that fixed it.

format? :(((

thanx, minxy... yea i just spoke to this guy and he asked me to download AVG as that should fix d problem.... i reallllllyyyyhope it works!!