Winlogon.exe-Bad image error

go to Start -> Run, type MSCONFIG and click OK, click the button for Expand file.  Type in the name of the file  (sfc.dll) to replace in the File to Restore field, in the Restore From field, choose the option (probably the drive letter for your CD-ROM/DVD where you will place the WinXP installation CD), and type the name of the destination folder (Windows\System32) in the field for Save file in.  Then click the Expand button.

If that doesn't work, try the other methods from this MSKB article:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;888017
How to expand Windows XP files from the installation disk

Then reboot and see if the problem goes away.

is there a certain folder to restore from on my xp cd ?? other wise when I DO THE D DRIVE IT TELLS ME THE 'RESTORE FROM' FILE DOES NOT EXIST

It should be in the folder called i386.  At it would be in compressed form, called sfc.dl_  (That's an underscore at the end, replacing the second letter l of sfc.dll.) But if you're using MSCONFIG, you should just type sfc.dll as the file to restore.

I get an error saying I need to be a administrator .... even though I was logged in as a administrator

Have you tried all the methods described in the MS article?  Have you tried logging in under the built-in account present on most XP computers, named Administrator (which you may have to reach by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del twice at the login screen, in order to be presented with the classic login screen used by Win2k)?

I did try logging in as with the builtin admin ... but I was still have problems .... I had to take the machine back to my client this am ... so i will need to try and tackle this issue later in the week, when I can get the machine for a couple of days.... as my client can just clicl on the okay button and get past the error and continue working normally.. but thanks for now and I appreciate the suggestions....

I'm having issues with all the methods listed in the ms article

Method 1 -- inthe restore from field ... i try to browse to my cd drive but what file ?? if i try to find a sfc.dll file i can't locate one on the cd.... it only gives me the cab file extension files types

I did do a search ans found a file called sfc_OS.dll both on the xp cd and in my i386 folder ..... is that the file i should restore from ?? and if that goes bad for what ever reason ... will that make my system unbootable ?

method 2 ---

In the Restore from field, you don't need to type the name of the file, just the drive letter of your CD.  The file is called sfc.dl_ in compressed form in the i386 folder of your XP install CD.  But if you're using MSCONFIG, then you type in the name of the file you want to restore instead, namely sfc.dll.

I just completed the expand command successfully .... although on reboot the error comes up again

But you're still able to get into Windows?  If so, then try this command at a CMD prompt (type CMD and hit the Enter key in the RUN dialog box off the Start Menu):

sfc /scannow

Make sure you have your XP install CD handy to furnish the replacing of any bad or missing system files.

I ended up doing a reinstall/repair and it seems to be working fine now....

I really appreciate all your ideas.


Can I ask why a reinstall/repair isn't recommended very often.. it seems to have helped me out a couple of times now and it is quicker some times...

when you do a repair and it replaces many of the system files is there some gotta's that I should be aware of ?

I've had repairs fail before.  This page has a good general treatment of it, and a good statement of some of the "gotchas" you mention:

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

In particular, take a look at the links for Warning#1, Warning#2, and Warning#3