Interactive logon process initialization has failed.

Question

Recently my Win 7 (pro 64bit) computer does not start-up properly and stops with the following warning on a black screen:

"Interactive logon process initialization has failed.

Please consult the event log for more details."

I have browsed the internet (for days now!) for solutions (including this site) but none will work. Most will not because I cannot get into the system at all to apply them. No Safe boot, no repair possible, cannot apply that hotfix (437977_intl_x64_zip.exe) and so on... Downloading the Apllication.evtx and viewing it on my Win10 laptop does not help me either; the failure refers to a GUID {DBE9B383-7CF3-4331-91CC-A3CB16A3B538} (??)

The only option seems to be a (clean?) (re)install. I've tried upgrading to Win10 from a USB-stick, because I have installed and activated (legitimate) Adobe programs on the win7 system. But I have to do that also from within the installed system.

It  looks like a dead end to me...

So three questions if I may.

1. Is there anything I can do through the command prompt on the recovery disk to solve this issue? Replace files? Anything?
2. Would an upgrade to Win10 overcome the issue?
3. If not, how can I upgrade to Win10 from a USB stick ONLY? Or is a clean install required then?

Thank you!

Dick Bos

Answer 1

Hi,

I understand that the PC is not performing well and you are receiving error "Interactive logon process initialization has failed" and I will be happy to answer your query. Let me ask you;

• When exactly do you receive this error?
• Are you able to boot the PC to desktop?
• Do you repair disc of Windows 7?
• When was the last time it was working fine?
• Do you remember making any specific change in the PC prior to the issue?
• What is the make and model of the PC?
• Are you able to start the PC in safe mode?

We can try the following methods and check.

Method 1: Start the computer in Safe Mode and check if the issue persists. If the issue does not persist in safe mode, place the computer in clean boot state and check.

**Step 1:**Start the computer in Safe Mode

Safe mode is a troubleshooting option for Windows that starts your computer in a limited state. Only the basic files and drivers necessary to run Windows are started. The words Safe Mode appear in the corners of your monitor to identify which Windows mode you're using.

Please refer to: Advanced startup options (including safe mode)

**Step 2:**Place the computer in clean boot state to avoid any third party software conflict.

To help troubleshoot error messages and other issues, you can start Windows by using a minimal set of drivers and startup programs. This kind of startup is known as a "clean boot." A clean boot helps eliminate software conflicts.

Placing your system in Clean Boot state helps in identifying if any third party applications or startup items are causing the issue. You need to follow the steps from the article mentioned below to perform a Clean Boot.

**How to perform a clean boot in Windows**        

Note: Refer "How to reset the computer to start normally after clean boot troubleshooting" to reset the computer to start as normal after troubleshooting.

Method 2: Perform System Restore using Windows 7 recovery CD to a point when it was working fine.

a. Boot from the Windows 7 Disc.

b. Once you get the welcome screen of installation with the option “Install now”

c. Click on Repair your computer

d. On the next page click on Advanced Options

e. Now click on Troubleshoot

f. Click on System Restore and follow the on screen instructions.

---

Important: When you use System Restore to restore the computer to a previous state, programs and updates that you have installed after that date are removed.

Hope this information is helpful. Please feel free to reply in case you face any other issues with Windows in future.

Answer 2

Thanks for your reply Niranjan.

It is a computer I made myself in 2009. All quality components and Win7 from the start. This system has been running without problems, untill the other day this error (above) occured.

To answer your questions:

• I cannot boot to desktop, it stops prior.
• I cannot start in safe mode, so cannot make a clean boot. Starting in safe mode the same error is reported prior to the safe desktop.
• Repair does not want to work saying I made changes to the computer hardware which I did not.
• I stopped making restore points a few years back when the system was running so well, so that is also not an option.
• I have transferred Apllication.evtx and viewing it on my Win10 laptop does not help me either; the failure refers to a GUID {DBE9B383-7CF3-4331-91CC-A3CB16A3B538} (??).
• I did have an image (created with Acronis) but this is on a hard drive that recenty failed because of "click of death"...

So I am lost with options to try.Can you please adress the three questions I posted?

1. Is there anything I can do through the command prompt on the recovery disk to solve this issue? Replace files? Anything?
2. Would an upgrade to Win10 overcome the issue?
3. If not, how can I upgrade to Win10 from a USB stick ONLY? Or is a clean install required then?

Thank you!

Dick Bos

Answer 3

You are seeing this screen, right:

You will not be booting in any mode with that error.

How did you transfer the Application.evtx from the afflicted system that will not boot in any mode to your Windows 10 system for viewing?

That implies that you have some kind of access to the file system on the afflicted system so tell us how you did that.

It that is the case, assuming Windows is installed in the Windows folder on your C drive see if the following file is present or is it missing:

c:\windows\system32\logonui.exe

Or from your System Recovery Options choose Command Prompt to open a Command Prompt window and see if the logonui.exe file is present or is it missing by entering this command:

dir  logonui.exe

Answer 4

Hi ElderN,

That is indeed the screen I get when boot-up is failing. I used the recovery CD to access the disk using the command prompt. I had checked that option already. Both winLogon.exe and LogonUI.exe are present in windows\system32.

Thanks,

Dick Bos

Answer 5

btw, it is a windows 7 sytem, not win10