Windows 7 Pro x64: Blank screen after login, mouse can move
Hi all, I have seen several posts on this subject, but have not found a solution that works for me. My PC has Win7 Pro X64 installed and configured as a domain PC and not all that much else. I have 3 accounts configured as administrative accounts - my own, a workmate, and a domain admin account. My account works fine and has always worked fine. However when I try and log on with my workmates account or the domain admin account, Windows will seem to hang on "Preparing your Desktop..." and after a few minutes, I will be presented with a blank screen. The background colour is blue, but this is not a BSOD. The mouse is free to move, and when I press Ctrl+Alt+Del, I can log off, etc. However, when I attempt to start the task manager, nothing happens. At any time, I can log in with my own account, and it comes good. When I try to use the runas command (or the Run as Different User context menu), I receive the error message "Access Denied". I have tried to view the effective file permissions of various executables in the Windows directory, and as expected of admin accounts, all 3 accounts have the correct level of permission. I have also checked random registry entry permissions and they all seem to be fine as well. When I boot the PC into safe mode, with network I can successfully log in with any of the affected accounts. I have tried to use msconfig to run a clean boot, and this does not help. I have also tried the prevx fix and this also does not help. I have checked the userinit and shell registry entries and these are fine. I have not tried to restore to a previous restore point since I do not know which (if any) will produce any results. I have only just tried to use runas today. I have also not tried to reinstall Windows.
January 9th, 2011 8:31pm

Sounds like we're dealing with the same problem. However, I can login with domain administrator successfully.
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January 12th, 2011 3:07pm

I have solved this it seems... Thanks to article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555332 What happened is we have a Group Policy that rewrited the local "Users" group so that we can control who can log into machines here. While this works fine on WinXP, it seems the behaviour of Win 7 is different in this respect. Therefore anyone who wasn't explicitly in the "Users" group could not log in. Why this worked for safe mode, I have no idea. It doesn't make sense unless Win7 somehow overrides the group configuration in safe mode, or bypasses it... The only other Win7 machine on the site did not subscribe to this group policy due to a manual setup. Edit: Run As now works fine too :)
January 12th, 2011 8:13pm

I have solved this it seems... Thanks to article http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555332 What happened is we have a Group Policy that rewrited the local "Users" group so that we can control who can log into machines here. While this works fine on WinXP, it seems the behaviour of Win 7 is different in this respect. Therefore anyone who wasn't explicitly in the "Users" group could not log in. Why this worked for safe mode, I have no idea. It doesn't make sense unless Win7 somehow overrides the group configuration in safe mode, or bypasses it... The only other Win7 machine on the site did not subscribe to this group policy due to a manual setup.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
January 12th, 2011 8:13pm

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