Recommended Posts

  • 1 year later...

Hello. I know this thread is super old, but I have not found a solution to this anywhere on the web, and I finally figured out how to solve this problem. Maybe somebody will find this useful.

Open up a command prompt from your recovery options and copy C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\Application.evtx to an external disk. Get on another computer with Vista and open up Application.evtx with the Event Viewer. Find the error where SideBySide is the source in the event log and it should say something about an error in some manifest file. Now go back to your computer and replace that file on your C drive with a copy of that file from your recovery partition or recovery disk. Restart your computer and it should work.

  • 1 month later...
  PJPoon said:
Open up a command prompt from your recovery options and copy C:\Windows\System32\winevt\Logs\Application.evtx to an external disk.

This worked perfectly for me! The one thing I did differently was to build a VistaPE CD abd booted from it. Makes it a little easier to deal with the monstrous file names!

Certainly saves alot of effort and money over Dell's recommendation to have a computer store back up the computer then re-install Vista!

  • 2 months later...
  PJPoon said:
Hello. I know this thread is super old, but I have not found a solution to this anywhere on the web, and I finally figured out how to solve this problem. Maybe somebody will find this useful.

Thanks for the followup, I was googlin' all over for this answer.

-Mindless Automaton

Is there any way to do this without another Vista machine? I've got this semi-old desktop with XP Pro x64 and a new laptop with Vista. I've tried system restore and wot. I really don't want to install windows all over again, but I suppose it's better than spending hundreds of dollars with some tech guy who will do the same.

  • 3 months later...

Many thanks to PJPoon for posting this fix! This problem began after uninstalling Kaspersky, which was blocking my internet access and then installing Avast!. Everything was working great until I rebooted, Interactive Logon Process Initialization Has Failed. I thought no, prob, system restore, copy over old registry hives from backreg folder, no problem. Nope! None of the Windows Repair options worked, tried them all. Typically I would try to look at the logs using Sysinternals ERD 2007, but its not compatible with Vista. There is an "unattach mode" which allows you to copy files, just can't use any of the tools or have access to the registry. So I copied the Application.evtx file to an external drive. I then attached it to another PC running Vista, copied the file to that PC and viewed the log. There were multiple Windows Logon Errors plus SidebySide errors. The SideBySide errors point to a file located in C:\windows\winsxs\manifests\x86_microsoft.windows.common(long string of numbers).manifest. I grabbed a copy of the file from the working Vista machine to the external drive. Went back to the broken machine and copied it, and presto! Logged In! I thought I was looking at a format. Thank you so much!!!!! But I think the machine may still have viruses...

  • 4 months later...

Is there a way someone could give step by step instructions (for running command prompt), as in how to type the commands in DOS, and how to replace the file from the startup disk onto the c drive?

My computer just got this problem, and I am desperate not to have to reformat and loose some important files, I am just not very comfortable doing this process without a little more guidance. Any help is much appreciated.

  • 1 month later...

Hi everyone!!!

I tried to do exactly what was explained by connectthedots. My lastest SideBySide errors (from the day that my computer started to have problems) was located in windows\system32\logonui.exe. I copied this file from a working vista computer... And nothing! I dont have the error msg 'interactive logon process failed' anymore but the boot stops at the same moment and I have a perfect black screen. I spent days trying to understand whats wrong but I have no answers. Can anyone help me please???

I would like to thank you guys for the help u already gave me. I m french and tried to find some help on french websites without succes. U are the only ones who helped me so far so Thanks!!!

Hope to read u soon!

  • 3 months later...
  connectthedots said:
Many thanks to PJPoon for posting this fix! This problem began after uninstalling Kaspersky, which was blocking my internet access and then installing Avast!. Everything was working great until I rebooted, Interactive Logon Process Initialization Has Failed. I thought no, prob, system restore, copy over old registry hives from backreg folder, no problem. Nope! None of the Windows Repair options worked, tried them all. Typically I would try to look at the logs using Sysinternals ERD 2007, but its not compatible with Vista. There is an "unattach mode" which allows you to copy files, just can't use any of the tools or have access to the registry. So I copied the Application.evtx file to an external drive. I then attached it to another PC running Vista, copied the file to that PC and viewed the log. There were multiple Windows Logon Errors plus SidebySide errors. The SideBySide errors point to a file located in C:\windows\winsxs\manifests\x86_microsoft.windows.common(long string of numbers).manifest. I grabbed a copy of the file from the working Vista machine to the external drive. Went back to the broken machine and copied it, and presto! Logged In! I thought I was looking at a format. Thank you so much!!!!! But I think the machine may still have viruses...

Any way you can give step by step instructions on how to do this process?

  • 1 year later...

Though this is a very old topic, I had the same problem today on a computer at work with Windows 7 Pro 64 bits.

I tried applying the solution described by PjPoon with no success as the Event log would not specify any manifest file in particular. I clearly had the SidebySide errors, but no mention of manifest whatsoever.

I still tried copying some x86_microsoft.windows.common* files to the faulty computer but again, not success.

In the end, I managed to simply perform a system restore from the last critical update and the computer runs again. I still don't get what went wrong with the machine :(

  • 1 year later...
  On 24/02/2011 at 00:24, johnsan said:

In the end, I managed to simply perform a system restore from the last critical update and the computer runs again. I still don't get what went wrong with the machine sad.gif

first time i had this problem was because i make a restore form one critical update.

  • 6 months later...

This may be an old thread but:

 

The other day my computer stopped booting up but instead showed a dialog box ("Interactive logon process initialization has failed") but after googleling it on my iphone many others had this same problem. None of the suggested fixes worked.

So I went to repair it with the Windows 7 disc but suddenly my computer could no longer read my disc drive, even though I could hear the disc spinning and see the light flashing. So on the same day I could neither boot up nor repair. I tried F8 for options to repair (it found nothing to repair) and system restore (repeatedly said restore failed).

Luckily, I still had Windows 7 on an old hard drive and am using it to boot up, and with the original drive now as a slave I am back in business with access to all my programs.

Device Manager shows no problems with the disc drive. Googled that too and none of the suggested fixes for this worked either including Microsoft's page to delete upper and lower filters using regedit. Samsung's firmware updates did not work, as well as uninstalling the device and rebooting. The problem seems to be in software as the mechanical part of the drive is working.

Sure seems coincidental that suddenly my startup files and disc drive goes down together leaving me with no way to repair. Still waiting on my new disc drive from Amazon as I've run out of fixes to attempt. At least a basic dvd drive is cheap, but you sure are helpless without it. I'm new to my neighborhood so I can't exactly go next door and ask, "Excuse me, can I borrow a cup of sugar and your disc drive?"

From now on I'm keeping a cloned hard drive handy. Acronis cloner is free and works great.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • Microsoft Edge gets new password feature and security fixes by Taras Buria Microsoft has released a new update for the Edge browser in the Stable Channel. Version 137.0.3296.83 introduces a new password feature and fixes security vulnerabilities to make your browsing experience safer. Starting with new features, Microsoft Edge 137 now supports Secure Password Deployment. Microsoft recently announced this for IT admins, allowing them to share encrypted passwords with user groups. This service lets users log into websites without seeing their passwords, thus enhancing the organization's security. You can read more about Microsoft Edge Secure Password Deployment in our recent article here. Security updates in Microsoft Edge 137.0.3296.83 include two fixes for Chromium vulnerabilities: CVE-2025-5958: Use after free in Media in Google Chrome prior to 137.0.7151.103 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High) CVE-2025-5959: Type Confusion in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 137.0.7151.103 allowed a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code inside a sandbox via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High) You can update Microsoft Edge to the latest version by heading to edge://settings/help. The browser can also update itself automatically in the background and apply updates between restarts. In case you missed it, Microsoft released Edge 137 by the end of May. The update deprecated quite a lot of existing features, including Wallet, Image Editor, Image Hover, Mini menu, and Video Super Resolution. It also introduced Web Content Filtering and enhancements for the picture-in-picture player and Find on Page in Microsoft Edge for Business. The next feature update for Microsoft Edge, version 138, is expected on the week of June 26, 2025, as part of the standard four-week release cadence.
    • Microsoft commits to upskill 1 million UK workers in AI this year by Paul Hill Microsoft has partnered with the UK government in the latter’s ambitious plan to train 7.5 million workers in AI skills over the next five years. Specifically, Microsoft has committed to upskilling 1 million of those workers by the end of this year. This represents a significant portion of the overall target and within a very short timeframe. The education drive by Microsoft builds on its previous “Get On” program, which has given 1.5 million people basic digital skills. The effort to train up 1 million British workers in AI is part of Microsoft’s broader £2.5 billion investment in UK AI infrastructure. Ensuring workers have the skills to leverage AI tools is important. Microsoft CEO UK Darren Hardman said recently that two-thirds of business people wouldn’t hire someone lacking AI skills, showing just how vital it is to get people’s skills up to date. Microsoft's approach to AI skills development Microsoft has several platforms to offer AI training, including Microsoft Learn, AI Skills Navigator, and through partnerships with non-profit organisations such as Catch22 in the UK. Its educational materials cover everything from the basics of generative AI to helping you prepare for advanced roles like being an AI engineer. With Catch22, Microsoft helps to train people who face various challenges to getting tech skills, including gender and ethnicity barriers, homelessness, mental health issues, school exclusion and disability. Microsoft is also trying to get more women into tech fields through programmes like TechHer, where it has trained thousands of women across UK government departments. Many of the courses that Microsoft offers come complete with certificates that you can show off on your CV when applying for a job to impress potential employers and land a job. Who else is partnering with the UK government? While Microsoft is playing a massive role in the government’s plans, it’s not the only big tech giant helping out. The firms that have partnered with the government are: Accenture, Amazon, Barclays, BT, Google, IBM, Intuit, Microsoft, Sage, SAS, and Salesforce. While all of these firms are helping to train workers, Microsoft’s planned efforts are the most notable. This initiative by the government will help the country brace for the changes AI is expected to bring to the economy. In April, the United Nations said that AI will affect 40% of all jobs, so being ready is a must.
    • Microsoft has an update on Exchange Online Basic Auth removal for Office 365 by Sayan Sen Back in 2022, Microsoft announced the retirement of Basic Authentication as it was moving to modern OAuth 2.0 token-based authentication. The reason was simple, to move away from such simple username-password authentication to more secure sign-ins. While Microsoft had previously planned to "permanently remove support for Basic authentication with Client Submission (SMTP AUTH) in September 2025", the company has now updated this timeline, adding a final delay. Perhaps this was on the cards given that Microsoft recently extended Basic Auth support for High Volume Email to 2028. On the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, a new message has been posted that details the changes regarding SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) AUTH Client Submission. The message says: Thus, starting March 1, 2026, Exchange Online will begin phasing out Basic authentication for sending emails via SMTP AUTH. At first, fewer attempts will be blocked, but by April 30, 2026, this older method will be fully disabled. After that, any apps or devices that want to send email this way will need to use OAuth. The message further adds how admins can proceed with the changes in case OAuth is not supported: Users who have access to the M365 Admin Center can view the message under ID MC786329.
    • Weekend PC Game Deals: Total War grabs, management freebies, demos to try, and more by Pulasthi Ariyasinghe Weekend PC Game Deals is where the hottest gaming deals from all over the internet are gathered into one place every week for your consumption. So kick back, relax, and hold on to your wallets. The Humble Store brought out a couple of fresh bundles this week, and up first is the Narrative Arc collection. This comes with Mutazione, Venba, and Frank and Drake in the starting tier with an $8 price tag. Going up a rung will cost you $14, and this adds on Season: A Letter to the Future and Dustborn. Lastly, paying $20 gets you Harold Halibut and Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out. Next, the Case and Consequences Collection landed. This bundle comes with Heavy Rain, Song of Farca, Lacuna, and Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments in the starting tier for $6. The second and final tier of this bundle costs $10, adding on Murders on the Yangtze River, BROK the InvestiGator, and Between Horizons. Both bundles will come to an end two weeks from now, so you have plenty of time to decide. The Epic Games Store's mystery giveaways came to an end this week, but the standard promotion has already returned, touting a freebie from Sega. The Two Point Studios-developed construction and sim experience Two Point Hospital is now yours to claim. Arriving as a spiritual successor to the classic title Theme Hospital, this also offers a humorous take on hospital management and patient treatment. You'll be creating treatment rooms, hiring doctors, and taking care of financials, all the while patients with the wildest illnesses pass through looking for cures. The Two Point Hospital giveaway will last until Thursday, June 19. This is also when The Operator will become the next free game on the platform. Free Events The demo festival that Valve hosts three times a year, Steam Next Fest, is back with a brand-new selection of games to try out. This promotion is slated to last until June 16, giving you just a few more days to try out gameplay slices from upcoming games. Several standard free events are currently active too. This includes the colony sim Stardeus, the dungeon-crawler roguelite Barony, the WW2-set hardcore first-person shooter Hell Let Loose, the building and management sim Construction Simulator, as well as the side-scrolling looter brawler Towerborne. Big Deals The Steam Summer Sale is just days away, but plenty of publishers already having big promotions on their games. This includes a Total War historical sale, Konami classics, 505's early summer promotions, and others. With those and more, here's our hand-picked big deals list for this weekend: SILENT HILL 2 – $41.99 on Steam Forza Horizon 5 – $29.99 on Steam Hell Let Loose – $24.99 on Steam Wasteland 3 – $19.99 on Steam Resident Evil 4 – $19.99 on Steam Metro Awakening – $19.99 on Steam Halo Infinite (Campaign) – $19.79 on Steam Mind Over Magic – $18.74 on Steam Castlevania Dominus Collection – $17.49 on Steam DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT – $15.99 on Steam Blasphemous 2 – $14.99 on Steam Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced – $14.99 on Steam Total War: THREE KINGDOMS – $14.99 on Steam Total War: ROME II - Emperor Edition – $14.99 on Steam DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT – $12.99 on Gamesplanet DREDGE – $12.49 on Steam Fable Anniversary – $12.24 on Steam METAL GEAR SOLID V: The Definitive Experience – $11.99 on Steam Total War: ROME REMASTERED – $10.19 on Steam Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire – $9.99 on Steam Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night – $9.99 on Steam Ghostrunner 2 – $9.99 on Steam METAL GEAR SOLID 3: Snake Eater - Master Collection Version – $9.99 on Steam METAL GEAR SOLID 2: Sons of Liberty - Master Collection Version – $9.99 on Steam Barony – $9.99 on Steam Total War: PHARAOH – $9.99 on Steam DRAGON BALL FighterZ – $9.59 on Steam Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor – $9.09 on Steam The Callisto Protocol – $8.99 on Steam Quantum Break – $7.99 on Steam Oxygen Not Included – $7.49 on Steam The Ascent – $7.49 on Steam Ghostrunner – $7.49 on Steam Total War: SHOGUN 2 – $7.49 on Steam Overcooked! 2 – $6.24 on Steam Human Fall Flat – $5.99 on Steam Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition – $5.99 on Steam Don't Starve Together – $5.09 on Steam Last Day of June – $4.99 on Steam ABZU – $4.99 on Steam Super Meat Boy Forever – $4.99 on Steam Total War: MEDIEVAL II – Definitive Edition – $4.99 on Steam Legend of Grimrock 2 – $4.79 on Steam Golf With Your Friends – $4.49 on Steam Rise of the Tomb Raider – $4.49 on Steam Golf It! – $4.49 on Steam Sunset Overdrive – $3.99 on Steam Super Meat Boy – $3.74 on Steam Tomb Raider – $2.24 on Steam Crime Boss: Rockay City – $1.99 on Steam Mortal Shell – $1.49 on Steam Crypt of the NecroDancer – $1.49 on Steam This War of Mine – $0.99 on Steam Two Point Hospital – $0 on Epic Store DRM-free Specials The DRM-free discounts from the GOG store this weekend include open-world adventures, story-rich titles, indies, publisher sales, and more. Here are some highlights: No Man's Sky - $23.99 on GOG The Thaumaturge - $19.24 on GOG INDIKA - $16.24 on GOG Against the Storm - $14.99 on GOG Shadows of Doubt - $14.99 on GOG EVERSPACE 2 - $14.99 on GOG Core Keeper - $13.99 on GOG art of rally - $12.49 on GOG Shadowrun Trilogy - $10.07 on GOG Cold Waters - $9.99 on GOG Disco Elysium - The Final Cut - $9.99 on GOG Streets of Rage 4 - $9.99 on GOG Dying Light: The Following – Enhanced Edition - $8.99 on GOG Potion Craft: Alchemist Simulator - $7.99 on GOG Little Nightmares - $4.99 on GOG Edge Of Eternity - $4.49 on GOG Epistory - Typing Chronicles - $4.49 on GOG This War of Mine: Complete Edition - $4.07 on GOG Graveyard Keeper - $3.99 on GOG Alba: A Wildlife Adventure - $3.39 on GOG Chroma Squad - $2.24 on GOG EVERSPACE - $0.99 on GOG Keep in mind that availability and pricing for some deals could vary depending on the region. That's it for our pick of this weekend's PC game deals, and hopefully, some of you have enough self-restraint not to keep adding to your ever-growing backlogs. As always, there are an enormous number of other deals ready and waiting all over the interwebs, as well as on services you may already subscribe to if you comb through them, so keep your eyes open for those, and have a great weekend.
    • I've had the opposite honestly Linux always just works except for games with drm/anti cheat Windows is sometimes corrupted on first install Windows update downloading wrong drivers ...
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Month Later
      5i3zi1 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      5i3zi1 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Week One Done
      julien02 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • One Year In
      Drewidian1 earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Explorer
      Case_f went up a rank
      Explorer
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      539
    2. 2
      ATLien_0
      226
    3. 3
      +FloatingFatMan
      157
    4. 4
      Michael Scrip
      112
    5. 5
      +Edouard
      95
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!