Windows XP doesn't display login prompt even after hitting Ctrl-Alt-Del twice

"Somehow windows seems to be broken. This could happen at several levels.
Lowest is the hard disk. Since it boots somewhat the disk functions mechanically.

Next is the surface of the hard disk. This is my best guess where the problem is. The densities modern HD are so high they depend on features of the disk controller to do a lot of error correction. There is a level of degradation of the surface that is less than total failure but not consistently readable. Tools that correct this must boot from another device to run (USB stick, CD, floppy). The one I use is Spinrite (www.grc.com). Yes it cost money, no there is no demo, but there is a money back guarantee.

Drives at this level can be brought back into useful service depending on the number of errors. Considering how cheap hard drives are, if it does bring it back and you don't trust the drive change it.

Next level is window NTFS and OS themselves. NTFS could be detecting the errors of the level below but not fix it. Once Spinrite has forced drive to move the ""bad"" sector NTFS may just fix the rest.

If not there are several tools that work once you have bootable OS going. I rarely use them
because I have had so much success at the levels below. Get the opinion of those people that us them."

"Okay, this might be noobish but: Change the keyboard. Maybe Ctrl or Alt or Del is broken! ;)

Good luck!"