Can't get past Ctrl Alt Del

ERD commander is a good option ...

I can't do a remote login but a combination of these helpful comments might work since I can access the disk from another machine.  I will try to copy a new msgina.dll file across unless there are better changes to other files  that would enable me to boot and move to a previous restore point.

I can't write msgina.dll because I get "File in use"

u can do a overwrite the XP installation recommended by David-Howard ... you will still retain ur data nevertheless..

welcome to windows logon screen doesn't appear when start computer

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;817142 
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/pca.nsf/docid/2000022213582912

Slave the disk into another machine and replace the dll

Chris B

JCMB,
msgina.dll is less than 1 MB in size.
If you have a Boot CD, you should be able to copy a new version from Floppy or Thumb Drive to replace the old one.


Vic

JC,
1. Boot the by using a boot disk.
2. Go to the System32 folder where the failed MSGINA.DLL is located.
3. Copy (From your XP CD) the original MSGINA.DLL into the System32 folder.
4. Remove the boot floppy and reboot the system.
If you cannot perform the actions listed above I would suggest that you perform the Repair that I mentioned.
:-)
David

I have tried the repair which seemed the best answer but when I got to the screen which required the product key the keyboad produced nothing which leads me to wonder whether the failure to sctivate ctrl-alt-del is to do with keyboard configuration.  The machine is a Toshiba R200 Portege.  Any ideas?  I have now restored back to the original problem and have remote access from another machine.

Download a Boot CD,create it, use it, copy a new msgina.dll file to your system32 folder.

I did notice that there are references to 'Install SP2' as a fix for this problem.
Were you already running SP2?

BOOT DISK  BOOT CD

http://www.knopper.net/knoppix/index-en.html
There is also 'Barts': http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder/download/

Younghv,
My post @ 7:55AM.

JCMB,
You stated that you have remote access to the pc.
Did you uninstall PC Anywhwere as stated here?
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/pca.nsf/e1aefd06d28fcec6852569e5004cef32/00847aed56ce2f33c1256a01003c2af8?OpenDocument
If not, try that and attempt a normal boot.
From MS. Ignore the Safe Boot portion. You have remote access. Give the registry entry change an attempt.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/817142
Symantecs Awgina.dll writes it's own version of MS's msgina.dll
That file needs to be removed and hopefully that will restore the function of msgina.dll.

We might also try using Knoppix to get around the issue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knoppix
You can download it here:
http://www.knoppix.net/get.php
This should allow you to get into the XP OS in order to delete the awgina.dll and copy a new msgina.dll.
David
 

I have now followed all the suggestions.  I have removed all the evidence I can find of PC anywhere. I can logon from another machine and everything seems fine apart from the fact that ctrl-alt-del has no affect when tried on the affected madhine.  I have failed to successfuly system restore to an earlirt point.

JCMB,
You may be at the point where you grab all of your data (should be simple with remote access) and then do a complete re-load -- then copy the data back.

David-Howard,
I'm not sure what your comment "My post @ 7:55AM" means -- but I do notice that I made the same recommendation about 4 hours before that.

so remote works .... that will be good ...

to check ...

1. reinstall ur keyboard ... after then restart the system to take effect ...

if it does not ... try this

2. Accessibility options - Keyboard

and

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\NoWinKeys.
Set it to 0 to make Windows keys work
If these don't help, you can still use ctrl / win-keys by running osk, on-screen keyboard

Thanks to everyone.  I did persist and have satisfactorily amended the Registry with thge help of those recommendations I accepted.