System Boots, logs in, Cannot launch any programs

ultralame

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Running Windows 8, the system boots into a user account without login.

The launcher seems to work, I can bring up the desktop. From the desktop I cannot launch any programs, other than a non-admin DOS window- but from there I can't launch any other non command.com EXE.

When I try and run any desktop app, the icon comes up and highlights for about 5-10 seconds, then goes back to normal. I can't even ht CTRL-ALT-DEL and run Task Manager. It just never comes up.

Logging out never gets me back to the login screen.

I can swap accounts- but the other account never gets logged in. Just waits forever (or, at least, a long time).

When I launch Metro apps, the splash comes up to the app... and that's it. I can CTRL-F4 it, and that's it.

Hitting F8 on boot doesn't do anything (no safe mode anymore?).

Any ideas? The system is useless.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8
Had to break out the install disk and boot to recovery, used System Restore to go back.

Note: The tool reported an error, but after reboot, all was well.

Would be nice if I could have my F8 back.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8
Have you tried the Delete key ?

If you can get into the bios, enable the boot menu, which should activate the F-12 key to be pressed at startup to get the boot menu.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1.1 Pro with Media Center
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Gateway
    CPU
    AMD K140 Cores 2 Threads 2 Name AMD K140 Package Socket FT1 BGA Technology 40nm
    Motherboard
    Manufacturer Gateway Model SX2110G (P0)
    Memory
    Type DDR3 Size 8192 MBytes DRAM Frequency 532.3 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics
    Sound Card
    AMD High Definition Audio Device Realtek High Definition Audio USB Audio Device
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Name 1950W on AMD Radeon HD 7310 Graphics Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x76
    Screen Resolution
    Current Resolution 1366x768 pixels Work Resolution 1366x768 pixels
    Hard Drives
    AMD K140
    Cores 2
    Threads 2
    Name AMD K140
    Package Socket FT1 BGA
    Technology 40nm
    Specification AMD E1-1200 APU with Radeon HD Graphics
    Family F
    Extended Family 14
    Model 2
    Extended Model 2
    Stepping 0
    Revision ON-C0
    Instruction
    Browser
    Opera 24.0
    Antivirus
    Avast Internet Security
I have this Asus All-in-one... and it's a total pain to get into the bios. I completely forgot how I did it when I set it up, but I recall that I had to do some crazy insane fast key-pressing. Couldn't get it to work again this time!

It's not even in their manual for this model. Otherwise, this thing is great.

Thanks for the suggestion.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8
Sounds like the OS is corrupted, or you may have a Virus that is preventing apps from running. Is your Desktop totally VOID of all icons?

If so, I'll bet they are still there but Hidden. Go to MajorGeeks and find a program called "Unhide" - Try running it from a Dos Box.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Nope... not an icon issue. Everything was there and would start to launch (hourglass, highlighted icon in the Taskbar, or Metro App Splash screen), but nothing would run. Metro apps hung, Desktop apps eventually quit.

I was able to open a CMD prompt, but couldn't even launch EXEs from there (even DOS exes... though COMMAND.COM commands worked).

System Restore did the trick- Avast was uninstalled, as was an Evernote update.

It's possible it was Avast, but I have never seen anything like this before.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8
Avast is not a good AV. You can use ESET NOD32 version 6 for free for 7 days, thats enough to clean out any major infection. You can always download it again later using another email address for trial.

Usually these "Aperture Circle" busy errors are due to the Hard Drive developing Read Element Failure. This can be fixed using Hiren's Boot CD, Downlaod it from my link, burn it and boot to it. Go into DOS Programs, find Hard Drive Tools, and try GWscan, run the first 2 tests and at the end of the 2nd test it will tell you if the filesystem is corrupted, then you can do the full test to fix it.

When Windows 8 crashes or if it is shut down ungracefully, it can affect the hard drive. After you have checked the disk with GWscan, boot to Mini XP and run CHKDSK on all of your disks. Don't let Windows 8 auto detect errors, cos it will get stuck CHKDSKing from the boot screen. Just do it manually from Mini-XP or from a Windows Install Disk in a Command Prompt.

It could have been refusing to run your commands in the Command prompt because you have to insert the full path and the exact name of the executable, you can't just type in "IE" you have to type in "iexplore.exe" and that has to be run from the folder where the program resides, or with the full path in the command prompt.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Thanks for all the good info... it's been a while since I had to run Hirens... in fact, I don't think I ever had a problem like with with W7 (and I have done dozens of installs). Hearing the issues with W8 kinda pisses me off. That's what I get for assuming that they didn't reintroduce that kind of instability.

As for your guesses as to what went wrong... it wasn't path issues (I typed procexp.exe incorrectly at one point and it complained- when I corrected it, the prompt hung). Seriously, strange things were afoot.

Can I run CHKDSK without any of the fix commands from W8? Or will this cause problems too?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win8
You can run it from within Windows 8, and if it thinks anything is wrong with your drive it will tell you to reboot so it can check it more thoroughly. I don't like that there is absolutely NO progress indicator whatsoever while this is running. That's why I prefer to run it from an install disk or from Hiren's in Mini-XP
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
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