System info: Windows XP machine, sp3 and fully patched. Newly reimaged and cleaned from default Lenovo load. Issue: After entering username and password and pressing Ok to login, the screen goes to blank blue and nothing else occurs. Pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL again starts the process of completing login and access to the desktop. This is probably not a case of explorer.exe failing to load because the desktop background image doesn't load either. The process stops before the normal status/notification messages "Applying computer settings" "Applying security policy" etc... and pressing CTRL-ALT-DEL starts all these normal status messages up quickly, and then the login completes and access is granted to the desktop. I've checked the even log, there are no errors in the System log, only standard service starting messages. In the application log there is a COM plus error stating it failed to fire the postshell command. But I've seen this is other computers that don't have this issue. There is no virus or malware on the system. I've tried this with the computer joined to the domain and removed from the domain, connected to network and disconnected, new user accounts, deleting old use profiles and logging in again to recreate the profile. It occurs consistently in all cases.1 person needs an answerI do too

Since the same thing happens in all instances, reimage it. Sounds like the image was corrupted or bad. It might be a good idea to test the hardware first, especially if this is an elderly machine. The video card could be failing.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!

What makes you say the videocard is a possible issue? Wouldn't the drivers be loaded by that point? I would assume driver issues would generally be apparently prior to this point. I'm ending up reimaging this particular system (a brand-new one) for other reasons, but I'm finding several computers around the office exhibit similar symptoms and I want to try and find a solution besides reimage.

I mentioned the video card because you said there is no image in regular mode. It is not uncommon for a failing video card to work up until Windows tries to load regular mode. Since you said nothing in your first post about the age of the machine and the scope of the problem, there was no way for me to know that it is a brand-new system and that other machines have the same problem. Wish I could mind-read like that. I'd look to the image you're using instead of the video hardware since you're seeing the same problem on multiple systems. Maybe you've got the wrong drivers. Other than that, I'm afraid I couldn't say without seeing the machines in question. I'm sorry I was unable to help you.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!