lsass.exe problem

[Shinji]

I have a huge problem.

My computer worked fine yesterday, until I had to restart after a Windows update. After I restarted it didn't work. Right before the account login menu appears the screen turns black and I get this error message: "lsass.exe - Program error" and under that it says "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc00000005). Press OK to end the program" or something like that.

I know there is a virus with a similar name, but I'm almost sure that isn't the problem.

I found this site: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=873155, but the problem is that I can't even login in "Safe Mode".

I'd prefer a solution without having to re-install Windows and loose all my files I have on that harddrive. If that's not possible, is there any way you can retrieve deleted files? I have some pictures I'd really like to keep.

Thank you in advance.

[Chrono Detector]

Hmmm... seems like your screwed. You can do a repair installation without losing your files from your Windows CD though.

[Shinji]

Okay, I wil try that. Although, does that work with any Windows CD? You see, my Windows isn't exactly legal and therefore I don't have a CD.

[Chrono Detector]

Uh, no, you'll need that version of Windows. You can either borrow the Windows CD from a friend or you can download it illegally, your going to have to search for it.

[Shinji]

Of course, I know I need an XP CD but will any XP CD work?

[Chrono Detector]

If you're using the XP Professional disk and your XP operating system happens to be the Pro edition, then yes.

If its the Home Edition, you're going to have to perform a new installation. You don't have to wipe out anything from your hard drive, it will delete the Windows folder and overwrite it with the new files.

[Buuhan1]

The Sasser virus? Hmm, maybe not but I know it used the lsass.exe program.

Besides, I thought Sasser was long gone.

[Shinji]

Okay, I will try that. Thank you for your help.

I'm pretty sure it's not Sasser. Sasser used isass.exe and this is Lsass.exe, a Windows program.

[Buuhan1]

...oh.....I'm an idiot. *walks out*

[Rabid_Wolverine]

It's definitely not Sasser, lsass.exe is a critical system process. You're going to have to either find a repair patch off google or reinstall windows my unlucky friend.

[Shinji]

Re-installing Windows means that all the files will be erased, right? Isn't there a program out there which ables you to recover all lost files?

[MazdaRxEight]

If you reinstalling there is a chance that you will be writing in the areas with saved data. If you want to preserve the data, take your current hard drive and hook it up to another computer to back it up or soemthing then reformat and reinstall windows.

Unless your windows is installed on another partition, then you are good to go.

If you can access System Restore, that will fix the problem also, did you also install the windows update where it checks whether your Windows is legit or not?

One last thing ill try before a reinstall would be tap [F8] when your computer startsup then select "last known good configuration" or something along those lines and give that a try, then do a system restore to a time before the windows patch.

See if any of that works ^^

[Shinji]

Okay, but the main problem is that whatever I do I can't get passed the login menu. I can't access System Restore or anything.

If I take the harddrive with Windows, won't the same thing happen on another computer?

Also, I tried "Last know....." and the same thing happened.

[MazdaRxEight]

Okay, but the main problem is that whatever I do I can't get passed the login menu. I can't access System Restore or anything.

"last known config" should do the trick, give it a try ^^

[dragoneyes001]

if you have more than one HDD you can load OS onto another HDD and retrieve your files from the first then reinstall the OS on it.

[Ichi-Zoro 3]

Oh that's a really big problem.. I was also infected by sasser virus and it sux my computer. I updated my computer and scanned but I can't find any virus, all i can do is to reformat my computer and lose the files....

[Chrono Detector]

Well, you can take out the hard drive and transfer your files to another computer if you want to save your files. After that you can format your hard drive and reinstall your OS.

[Rabid_Wolverine]

Oh that's a really big problem.. I was also infected by sasser virus and it sux my computer. I updated my computer and scanned but I can't find any virus, all i can do is to reformat my computer and lose the files....

It's not the sasser worm. It's a critical system process. The sasser worm usually has a process called sasser.exe

It might just be some corrupted windows files but nonetheless he'll have to either find a fix on the net or format his hard drive.

[Ai]

/pwn

put in your XP instalation disc...

you should be able to do a system repair using it...

[Reebi]

This should help you:

http://www.boredguru.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=466&forum=24

If that fails, then you should try any of the options above. If you had access to your main desktop this would be much easier... there is a specific command you can enter to force Windows to find any malfunctioning files in the Windows directory and replace/repair it.

PS: All of those things on that page can be done through a CLI prompt, or DOS if you will.