My family's main computer is having trouble starting. It will go to the windows screen, and allow people to log on, but it'll flash the wallpaper, but then immediately log off. I found an article on how to fix this problem here:

Windows XP Logs In Then Immediately Logs Off - Geeks to Go!

Anyhow, I had tried to fix this problem using the windows disc, and I can't access the recovery console or even try to reformat. If I try, I'll get an error that says that there is no hard disk drive connected. I can still get to the user select screen however, so I figure it must be working. It's starting to sound like in order to fix this problem, I'll need another hard drive attached.

Hey simian,

If it's an older SATA enabled PC, you'll need to download the SATA drivers and then load them during the initial installation of XP.

Simian, have you tried another user account, incase this is a profile problem as apposed to a Windows problem?

Yeah, I've tried all the user profiles there is, and none of them will stay on, they all just log off immediately.

Hey Simian,

Can you try using the Administrator account in Safe Mode?

Restart your PC, pressing F8 during startup until you come to a startup menu. Select Safe Mode. When you come to the logon screen of Safe Mode, type in Administrator as the username, followed by the password (if one was assigned during Windows Setup), otherwise the password will be blank.

It will still log off the user immediately in safe mode, even as the Administrator account. The issue may be fixed soon though. My father started working on it, and I don't know how far he's gone with it.

OK Simian, no problems, come back and let us know how it goes and/or I'll talk you through using the SATA drivers for XP Setup if you need to.