Win 8.1 does not remember last user after reboot - [Solved]

[JohnCoool]

A few months Win 8.1 does not remember the last user logged in anymore.

I think it happened during the time I changed the Antivirus to AVG but not sure if that was the cause. I don't remember the exact thing I did.

Now it just shows all the user list instead of the last user logged in.

I did also some delete some files that all users use for background so that when I log off it shows the same background for all users.

I checked forums and found a registry entry that suggests to change a value from 1 to 0 but mine is already set to 0.

Does anyone know where I should check to solve this small issue?

[Boggin]

I don't have any experience of Win 8.1 but as this seems to be self inflicted, I would suggest a Refresh which will preserve your personal stuff but not your installed programs.

I had considered a repair install but that preserves your Users files and if they are already corrupt, then that may not reinstate them.

Anyway, the choice is yours.

https://www.eightforums.com/threads/repair-install-windows-8.26095/

You could however see if these cmds will do anything for you.

Open a Command Prompt (Admin) and enter -

dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth

sfc /scannow

shutdown /r /t 00

Then see what happens after the reboot.

[JohnCoool]

I did try sfc /scannow before I opened this ticket and it did not help.

Usually I don't use the dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth unless there is a huge problem. But it could repair the issue and might restore the deleted files that I removed.

They are system protected files and could only be deleted if a person logs in from another O/S that can bypass all locked files.

However, I would like to try a couple of methods 1st and leave this as a last resort.

A solution that does not require running a repair.

I prefer to find the source of the issue before fixing it to be aware of it for future reference.

Are there any tips for checking in the windows registry?

[Boggin]

As you have removed files, then you may need to repair the system.

While a sfc /scannow doesn't check all files, it can repair some corruption, whereas the dism /restorehealth cmd can do much more, but it's best to perform a sfc /scannow after the dism /restorehealth cmd to see that no corruption remains.

This is also the procedure to resolve when a sfc /scannow reports it is unable to repair all corruption in Win 8.1 and Win 10.

What I would suggest is to create Win 8.1 install media if you don't have any and boot up with that.

You can create Win 8.1 install media from https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows8ISO

You will need to do this on the Win 8.1 machine.

Boot up with the media and navigate to the Install screen and click on Repair your computer.

I assume you know how to change the boot order ?

I think Win 8.1 will be similar to Win 10 in that you would click on Troubleshoot to select Command Prompt.

At the prompt enter bcdedit |find "osdevice"

For clarity that is a Pipe symbol before find and is the uppercase of \

Using your partition letter instead of the x I have exampled, enter -

dism /image:x:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth

Disregard what it says about the scratch directory and wait for the cmd to complete.

You can also perform a sfc /scannow with the following cmd, again using your partition letter instead of the X I have exampled.

sfc /scannow /offbootdir=X:\ /offwindir=X:\Windows

Enter exit to close the cmd window, remove the install media and restart to see if they have resolved.

[Boggin]

AVG may be a contributing factor to your other problem in that antivirus programs can be slow in releasing files after it has checked them.

I remember reading that AVG can become bloated which could unnecessarily take up memory.

Use AVG's uninstaller to remove it and see if that improves the situation.

[JohnCoool]

Is there a way to disable AVG for testing for one reboot?

I tried a couple of things but did not work.

I want to try other methods before repairing or restoring to learn about it (the reason is that I was an IT support specialist many years ago and still do it for my systems to keep up.).

It might have happened after an upgrade of AVG because they release a new version each month and a couple of times I had to change setting after AVG upgrades because the settings would be slowing down the system too much.

But before I uninstall it. I want to try to disable it.

I checked the CBD logs and those are the corrupted files in it that did not get repaired. Some of are created from a patch that I installed to use Aero theme on Win 8.
The files that I deleted are the background ones that show up when logging off from all users and you get a common one. I changed it by removing it and adding my own.
I also just remembered that I locked some *.msc files too.
Here are some of them (corrupted in the CBS log)(I think some of them are related to the patch that I installed and they do not affect the system). I did not add the *.msc because I know that they are locked.

C:\WINDOWS\Web\Screen"\[l:20{10}]"img100.jpg" (This is the one I created and added it to that directory)
C:\WINDOWS\Boot\Resources"\[l:22{11}]"bootres.dll

Lets 1st try to disable AVG then we see other options...

[Boggin]

The files that you have attached are not in an openable format, but as they are of your own creation then they would probably be of no use to me.

As some time has probably passed since you made those changes then I doubt your restore points would be of much use, but you could see how far they go back.

This article describes how to disable AVG - http://shockform.com/disable-antivirus/

[JohnCoool]

No the log was created yesterday.

The files are not added. I just pasted them from log to view some details in case you knew about them.

I will update after disabling AVG.

[Boggin]

This article may be more current to disable AVG as the previous one doesn't relate to my Kaspersky.

https://support.avg.com/SupportArticleView?l=en&urlname=Disable-AVG-Antivirus

[JohnCoool]

I am in trouble now............

I disabled AVG and did not change anything then I uninstalled it to be sure. The good news is that I was able to back up setting, it is a feature in the newer versions. Then I reinstalled it and added the settings again. It worked well.

Then I tried to do something that I used to do that I learned from Microsoft forums. I tried a clean boot. It is done from Msconfing and then you hide all the Microsoft services and disable the others then reboot.

However, After the reboot it did not come back. I am on a different PC now to log this.

At the login screen it just flickers with a black background. I waited for an hour and no change. Maybe I turned off Microsoft services but I am sure that I clicked on hide.

So the device is not F*d up.

I have Wondershare which is installed on a USB and boots up into an OS called Wondershare Live boot. to solve issues. It has recovery and other methods.

I tried a repair for boot from here but did not help.

I have access to the registry of my Win8.1. I can turn the services back on from here since I turned off services and that is what messed it up. I just need to turn them back on.

Can you check with you friends which services need to be on for it to work again. I could not find proper info online.

This is an urgent matter now. The repair I did earlier might have fixed the other issue I had here.

[Boggin]

There are about 13 non-MS services but don't know them offhand.

In the past I've found a Hiren's Boot Disk can get Windows back up.

Use the 15.2 download - https://www.techspot.com/downloads/6966-hirens-bootcd.html

If it gets you back into Windows then go into msconfig and check the button for normal start up which should reinstate those services.

It's a pity you didn't create the Win 8.1 install media as you could have booted up with that and used your restore points.

[JohnCoool]

I did create a recent Restore point about 2 days ago. There is a feature in Wondershare live boot to restore using it but it was not compatible.

I am downloading the Hiren program now.

I disabled a service yesterday called App readiness it is for new accounts (it is usually on manual). It might the reason this happened. I tried to turn it back on with the registry but it reverted after re-boot. Could be because I did not take ownership of the registry.

[JohnCoool]

Also a restore point would have been created at the point of installing AVG. Windows would usually create restore points are such changes.

[JohnCoool]

system back up.

Great tip with Hiren boot.
Thanks

Will now try to get the issue solved. maybe hiren boot can fix it too.

[Boggin]

You would have needed to get into Windows to use those restore points and with your machine not able to boot up, this is where install media comes into its own.

I would advise you to create that should you need it in the future.

Did you use the dropdown for that service in Services/Properties to turn it back on and Apply/Save the setting ?

You can add Take Ownership to your right click context menu with this registry hack - https://www.intowindows.com/take-ownership-of-files-and-folders-in-windows-8/

I've never really gone into what a Hiren's Boot Disk can do as I only needed it the once to get back into Windows and then used the dism /restorehealth and sfc /scannow cmds which normally resolve most problems in Win 10, although occasionally I've had to perform a repair install.

[Boggin]

Have you performed the dism /restorehealth and sfc /scannow cmds yet to see if they resolve ?

[JohnCoool]

Yes there is a safer way of doing things. However, I am not too worried because I occasionally take image backup of my drive just in case the disk totally fails.

The solution that I used to solve the issue was to just click on restore registry. I tried the same solution from Wondershare Live boot but did not work as it gave an error. But from Hiren-Boot it gave successfully restored.

As for changing services from settings. You will just need to locate them in the registry (I found them on internet. different for each O/S) then use 0-4 depending on what you need. the values are explained here: https://www.digitalwelt.org/en/tips/software/disable-services-state-through-regedit

I tried the clean boot 2 more times while changing some settings and failed again. This means there is a bigger issue than I expected.

I found a tool a few months ago that repairs the corrupted files because the DISM solution does not work on older systems like Win7. This tool can work on other newer O/S as well (Just needs to be run a few times and it works very quickly). Found here: https://www.sysnative.com/forums/downloads/sfcfix/

I will be trying the DISM solution as a last resort (The reason is that it will be changing back some of features that I need that were created by a patch that I installed). I am now try to find the source of the issue.

[Boggin]

I think it will need the dism /restorehealth to fix that clean boot problem.

Does Event Viewer record anything for when it fails ?

Yes, I've used SFCFix.exe on my Win 7 as well as advising its use for other Win 7 users.

However, it didn't always fix so I then referred them to www.sysnative.com forum.

[JohnCoool]

That tool worked well for me on all the problems I had before. You have to run it over and over until it removes all the errors.

I used the DISM method a few years ago and it worked well but not today.

I could not find a proper solution and I ran it and then I restarted but no changes. I just ran SFC /verifyonly and it found corrupt files. I have a security program that is  probably locking some files. I will try to unlock and test again.

[Boggin]

Run another sfc /scannow and when it reports it is unable to repair all, copy & paste this cmd to the prompt -

findstr /c:"[SR]" %windir%\Logs\CBS\CBS.log > %userprofile%\Desktop\sfcdetails.txt

This will put an icon onto the desktop which when double clicked will show what it has and can't repair.

Which security program do you think is locking those files ?

[JohnCoool]

Thanks for the tip on creating the CBS file on Desktop but I don't need it. I know where to find it and always check it. I sent the info yesterday on the string from that report.

I thought it is Ask Admin.

I did run SFC /scannow now, about 2 times after DISM but still no luck. The same files that were corrupted yesterday are still showing as corrupted today.

Your DISM command did not work. I had to use one with online.

Is there a way to perform it without being logged into windows? Like from Hiren-Boot or another one?

I think last time I downloaded Win8.1 and used it as an image reference. But I do not remember the code for that... On DISM.

[Boggin]

There are two dism cmds - one from within Windows which is dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth and one done after booting up with install media, which is dism /image:x:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth

There is an offline version but you still need to be booted into Windows using an ISO - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-hardware/manufacture/desktop/repair-a-windows-image

As the dism /restorehealth has failed to resolve the clean boot problem, then perhaps it's time to see if a repair install will resolve, unless Event Viewer gave you some clues as to what is failing.

I don't know which code you are referring to as the Win 8.1 ISO download failed to verify on my Win 10 machine, so I assume it has to be downloaded onto a Win 8.1 machine.

You haven't said which security program it is which you think could be locking files.

Using two antivirus programs and each having their own firewall will cause anomalous problems.

[JohnCoool]

I only have one Antivirus program which is AVG.

I did mention the program. it is called Ask Admin. It locks the windows store which showed up as corrupted.

I am little confused with your explanation about how to use to DISM.

Please clarify as much as possible methods for me to try before trying other methods. I am considering a way to be done without being logged having windows active so that it can overwrite any file it needs to while referring to another image of WIN so that it will be clean.

The one you are mentioning is not working "dism /image:x:\ /cleanup-image /restorehealth"

[Boggin]

In which way is it not working ?

That cmd will only perform after you have booted up with install media and selected Repair your computer on the Install screen.

[JohnCoool]

Oh ok,

So then it will do the clean up without being logged in. That is perfect.

I did it online. Which is done while being logged in into windows.

Then I will do it and create it on USB and then test it.

I will download Win 8.1 ISO from a torrent site for this operation.

I will wait for your feedback before commencing.