Win7 log off/swich user problem

DarkStar · Sep 30, 2010, 20:33:34

I am trying (not very well

) to master Win7 on my new computer.
The problem I have at the moment is that I have set up two accounts - admin and user, and if I log out of whichever account I am using or alternatively try switch user to get to the other account I finish up with the log-in screen but with nothing to log into and no cursor, it,s blue with a pretty pattern and that is all. This doesn't happen every time but most of the time, say 3 out of 4 times.
Any idea's what I am doing wrong?

For what it's worth the other day in the admin account the little circling ring at the side of the cursor when loading was replaced by an hourglass without me doing anything, the user account still has the circle/ring.
Any help gratefully received before I go over to the other side and install Linux

Steve · Sep 30, 2010, 20:35:36

Sorry Darkstar I only use Mac OS X and Linux

pctech · Sep 30, 2010, 20:54:45

I take it you've rebooted to try and sort out the issue?

DarkStar · Sep 30, 2010, 21:49:04

Quote from: pctech on Sep 30, 2010, 20:54:45
I take it you've rebooted to try and sort out the issue?

When I get the blank screen the only way to get out of it is a forced reboot, not really the best thing to do. The computer is shut down each night so no problem there. If I don't log out when I leave the computer and it has gone to sleep when I come back a shake of the mouse and it wakes up at the correct log in screen. Because of this problem I have stopped logging off to avoid the forced reboots.

Glenn · Sep 30, 2010, 21:54:04

I haven't come across it myself, but take a look on http://www.sevenforums.com/ you may find the solution there.

Steve · Sep 30, 2010, 22:16:20

Cant give a better answer , Alt-Ctrl-del x2 or boot safe mode and do a repair install

esh · Oct 01, 2010, 13:28:46

I would first suggest a hard drive scan. When it has hung up at the "login" screen, can you remote desktop into the machine? If so, perhaps you can look at task manager and see if a service in the background has locked the CPU resources up.

pctech · Oct 01, 2010, 13:38:16

Quote from: DarkStar on Sep 30, 2010, 21:49:04
When I get the blank screen the only way to get out of it is a forced reboot, not really the best thing to do. The computer is shut down each night so no problem there. If I don't log out when I leave the computer and it has gone to sleep when I come back a shake of the mouse and it wakes up at the correct log in screen. Because of this problem I have stopped logging off to avoid the forced reboots.

Apologies for my daft initial response.

Sounds a bit like an issue with the fast user switching service.

DarkStar · Oct 01, 2010, 14:44:13

Quote from: esh on Oct 01, 2010, 13:28:46
I would first suggest a hard drive scan. When it has hung up at the "login" screen, can you remote desktop into the machine? If so, perhaps you can look at task manager and see if a service in the background has locked the CPU resources up.

Now going to display my ignorance

A hard drive scan - do you mean to run chkdsk from a cmd prompt?
When the login screen has hung how do I remote desktop into the machine. If this means from another machine I don't have another one

Steve · Oct 01, 2010, 14:46:48

I would have thought that it's time to cut your losses and install an OS from fresh.

DarkStar · Oct 01, 2010, 14:48:54

Quote from: pctech on Oct 01, 2010, 13:38:16
Sounds a bit like an issue with the fast user switching service.

How do I remedy this, any settings to check. Will do a Google for this in a minute

pctech · Oct 01, 2010, 14:50:59

I'm at work at the minute and a Windows 7 system is not in easy reach, I'll try and have a look tomorrow afternon for you before I start work.

DarkStar · Oct 01, 2010, 15:04:22

Quote from: Steve on Oct 01, 2010, 14:46:48
I would have thought that it's time to cut your losses and install an OS from fresh.

Yes, thats the way I'm thinking at the moment. I have only had the computer a week so apart from loading a few photos and documents that I have saved on a memory stick from my old XP machine I haven't really done much tweeking at all.
Would it be best to format the HDD first and then install or install over the top?
Never tried reinstalling an OS so no idea of the best way to go about it.

pctech · Oct 01, 2010, 15:15:09

Personaly I always wipe and clean install a new system as most manufacturers install a lot of gunk.

esh · Oct 04, 2010, 16:22:34

chkdsk/f is what I was talking about yes, you could also try and go back to an early restore point if you have one. As for remote desktop, you have to enable it in control panel, and I suspect it is only in Win 7 Pro and so on... it allows another PC over a network to access it like you were sitting there.

DarkStar · Oct 05, 2010, 12:51:29

I ran chkdsk the other day and it ran of it's own accord when I started the computer this morning

No problems there.
Am going to do a complete wipe and reinstall in a few days, see if that solves the problem

D-Dan · Oct 05, 2010, 14:40:07

If I remember correctly the built in Win 7 Admin account is not available unless you either boot safe mode or perform a registry hack. If I'm correct and you are trying to toggle between your new account and the built in account you would only ever have one account (your user account) to log in to under normal circumstances.

Personally, before doing anything drastic I'd try creating another account and make sure it has administrative priveliges and see if that fixes it.

Steve