i have a full R-Grille Red theme (bootskin,login, windowblinds, desktopX item, beatnik, objectdock icons, etc.)
xp pro sp2- doing fine.

i was installing a dvd driver program that hung the system.
when i rebooted, i did get the r-grille bootskin with the progress bar moving left to right as normal.
when that finishes, i get a black screen with a movable cursor. cant get past that. clicking all over, ctrl-alt-del, all no effect.

i went to safe mode, but just got a black screen with the white safe mode text in usual positions, and no further.
i went to safe mode command prompt, and just got the black screen with movable cursor. ctrl-alt-del no effect.

i went to recovery console, and renamed logonuiX.exe to something else, then copied logonui.exe to logonuiX.exe. restarted.
this changed nothing- same symptoms.


i checked microsoft site and you cant run system restore from Recovery Console ( duh- great feature!)

so recap- i get normal BOOTSKIN with progress bar left to right as usual, of usual duration.
when it goes to login screen, its black. no way past.

ok - what do i have to hack to get back in. theres GOT to be something!?


thanks
stu