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Logon Process Initialization Failure

Anonymous
2009-04-02T19:50:43+00:00

My laptop displays the following message when I turn it on (the screen is black, but this message shows):  Logon Process Initialization Failure

Interactive logon process initialization has failed.

Please consult the event log for more details.

Clicking OK does nothing, the message just continues to reappear.  I tried shutting down and starting Windows back up in Safe Mode.  The message appears in Safe Mode, as well.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

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Anonymous
2009-04-03T11:56:22+00:00

Hello berniesun,

You might give the Startup Repair a try to clear that error. I have included the steps below which are found in the Help section on every version of Windows Vista. If you would like to print these instructions for yourself you can go to Help & Support in the Start Menu and type Startup Repair in the Search box at the top.

Get back with us and let us know if this resolves your problem.

If you have a Windows Vista installation disc, you need to restart (boot) your computer using the installation disc. If you do not restart your computer from the disc, the option to repair your computer will not appear.

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, see BIOS: frequently asked questions.
  1. Choose your language settings, and then click Next.
  2. Click Repair your computer.
  3. Select the operating system you want to repair, and then click Next.
  4. 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.

Judd

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  1. Anonymous
    2009-10-11T01:40:09+00:00

    The solutions you suggest assume that you can logon to the system in the first place, which is what the original poster stated was not possible. I'm helping a friend with their computer and upon starting the system, the ONLY screen that comes up, repeatedly, is a black background with an error message window stating "Interactive logon process initialization has failed. Please consult the even t log for more details." Clicking ok, as the original poster stated, does nothing as the same window just keeps coming up again and again. I've tried starting in safe mode, tried the launch repair startup options, tried starting from a boot disc made previously, all to no avail. During a few safe mode startup attempts I've seen a list of drivers being loaded, and it seems to stop responding when it hits either avgrkx86.sys or crcdisk.sys as the last on the list, then does nothing else & have to hold the power button to get the system to shut down, or again goes to the 'Logon Process Initialization Failure' message.

    It becomes seriously frustrating when most of the suggestions for repairing a startup problem involve inserting the OS or recovery discs that come with a system, when many times these days those discs are NOT included, or get lost. The system I'm trying to repair is an HP Pavillion a6000n with Vista. Can you suggest anything helpful to try that does NOT involve clicking the Start button, since that's not an option?

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  2. Anonymous
    2009-09-18T18:15:44+00:00

    hey all,

    i have the same problem as well.  notMoscow and Thor Lane, or anyone else, how do i find the event log?  it sounds promising.  if not, please post.

    oh btw, i've already tried startup repair and system restore too.

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  3. Anonymous
    2009-09-05T22:24:19+00:00

    Judd:  Did you ever get an answer or resolution to this problem?  I have same exact problem and have looked at the event log.  Not intuitive as to the problem though.

    Thor Lane

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  4. Anonymous
    2009-04-29T04:10:18+00:00

    Judd -

    I have also recently gotten this message and Windows Vista is apparently unable to be fixed using any of your advice above - disappointing at best.  Dell hardware was also unable to help (they could only suggest what you did and also to try restoring an older saved restore point - no joy).  The others on the wider web who have reported this problem and actually solved it recommend booting from the CD or DVD using a program such as Knoppix to get acces to the machine hard drive and then to go to the event log, as mentioned in the "Logon Process Initialization Failure" message box.  Get the event file, go to another Vista computer to read the event log and get the name of the corrupted file.  Then get an uncorrupted copy of the file (from the other Vista computer? or the Restore area of your own?) and replace the corrupted file on your Vista machine.

    Judd - you are Microsoft.  Can't you find out what conditions cause such an error message and let us know how to fix it?  I'm very disappointed in Vista and in the help available.

    Thank you in advance if there is anything you could do to actually help us.  I am still trying to make the Knoppix (or similar) solution work and so would benefit from good advice - especially if it involved a Start Disk, such as used to exist for Windows, and not having to buy 3rd party software to fix Windows (there is lots of it out there - why is there a market for such software?)

    Cheers.

    Jim

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