Windows Vista – Logon Process Initialization Failure

Computer

Windows Vista - Logon Process Initialization Failure

Error message when Windows loads – “Logon Process Initialization Failure”
Interactive logon process initialization has failed
Please consult the event log for more details (That…. would require logging on.)

Clicking OK in the dialog above simply returns you to the same dialog.
All ur logons are belong to us??

Windows LSD – Logon Screen Of Death

Yep that’s my title for what I experienced less than five business days into testing Microsoft Windows Vista Business edition. After having issues with activation, wireless, app compatibility, UAC, system speed, memory use, and having to learn a completely new GUI I am locked out of my machine with no way back in.
The Microsoft website returns zero hits on the error dialog below.
The greater Internets returns nothing I can find beyond “me too” and “re-install Vista”.

I card into the office, snap my D630 into it’s port replicator, boot my machine, get my apps fired up (860 megs of Memory for Lotus Notes, Internet Explorer, McAfee VSE 8.5, McAfee CMA 3.6, and SMS 2003 SP2 clients) and go get some eye opener while the system settles in.
Five minutes into my day I’m browsing the Dell ImageBuilder website when my machine reboots with zero notification. During reboot Vista runs a Chkdsk and reports no errors. Then I’m greeted with my first ever Logon Screen of Death. I cannot log in and am advised to “consult the event log for more details” which of course requires logging in to do. Clicking the “OK” on ther error dialog box simply returns the error again after 2-3 seconds. Sigh.

I try safe mode. Same thing. I try over and over. No way I can log in. So I boot off a BartPE/XP custom recovery disk and run a full Disk Check – no errors. I browse the contents of my disk and everything appears fine and dandy. I go hunting for the mysterious log files I’m supposed to consult when Windows is on LSD. Well it appears Vista abandoned .EVT as the system log file extension. XML nowadays and I can’t make much headway there as of yet.

Solution: Boot from the Vista CD – select Repair

If you have a Windows Vista installation disc:

  1. Insert the installation disc.
  2. Restart your computer. Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button , and then click Restart.
  3. If prompted, press any key to start Windows from the installation disc.
    Note

    If your computer is not configured to start from a CD or DVD, check the information that came with your computer. You may need to change your computer’s BIOS settings. For more information, seeBIOS: frequently asked questions.

  4. Choose your language settings, and then click Next.
  5. Click Repair your computer.
  6. Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
  7. On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem, and if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs.

If Startup Repair is a preinstalled recovery option on your computer:

  1. Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from your computer, and then restart your computer.Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Lock button , and then click Restart.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • If your computer has a single operating system installed, press and hold the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you will need to try again by waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, and then shutting down and restarting your computer.
    • If your computer has more than one operating system, use the arrow keys to highlight the operating system you want to repair, and then press and hold F8.
  3. On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight Repair your computer, and then press ENTER. (If Repair your computer is not listed as an option, then your computer does not include Startup Repair as a preinstalled recovery option.)
  4. Select a keyboard layout, and then click Next.
  5. Select a user name and enter the password, and then click OK.
  6. On the System Recovery Options menu, click Startup Repair. Startup Repair might prompt you to make choices as it tries to fix the problem and, if necessary, it might restart your computer as it makes repairs.

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