Sorry to post this thread again, It's really getting annoying now, and I thought new week, maybe new ideas for a fix!

My machine now starts up with a log on screen with my name and a password (which is blank, I've never had a pssword, previously it when straight to desktop) and the shutdown window no longer has the three coloured icons, but a drop down menu (with six boxes including the task manager).

Is this due to a windows update I've installed? I'd like the normal XP screens back but I don't know how to get them.

Any ideas?

PS. I have encountered virus and spyware problems recently, but am now clean. Whether this has changed anything I don't know....

Go to Control Panel > Classic View > user Accounts > Change the way users log on or off > check use the welcome screen > Apply options. Also make sure there are no other user accounts stopping it from starting straight into the main account.

Then report back to say if it is fixed or not.