Pi won't boot beyond password screen

[Alexander Pi]

I'm using Raspbain with a 8GB micro SD card.
After working for a while my pi won't boot beyond the password screen, although I never gave it a password.
When I tried the default password it acted like it was going to finish booting, the screen would go black but then it would just
show the password screen again. This has happened to me three times now and I was wondering if I could prevent it in the future. I would greatly appreciate any input anybody has to offer. Thank You.

[gsh]

Did you install from an image or NOOBS?

If an image did you expand the filesystem after installing?

If Jessie full (boot to GUI) click on the raspberry pi settings in the start menu and click the expand filesystem before doing anything else

If Jessie lite then type "sudo raspi-config"

Gordon

[rpdom]

Did you at any time type "sudo startx" instead of just "startx"?

[Alexander Pi]

I'm Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner.
I installed raspbain using NOOBS. And don't remember if I entered Sudo startX instead of just startX. What's the difference?
Thanks Again.

[rpdom]

"sudo startx" (which you should not do) will try starting the X session as the "root" user (administrator) and changes the permissions on some files.

If you then try "startx" without the sudo (which is the correct way to start it), it will fail because it can no longer access those files properly.

[Alexander Pi]

OK, I will try to remember that. Thanks. But I have a few other questions.
A. would typing Sudo starX prevent my Pi from booting properly.
B. This has happened four times, and I,m sure I haven't done it (Sudo starX) that many times.
This is kind of a different subject, but perhaps yo have an idea.
C. In the raspberry Pi books I have, they say I should have more than just the wastebasket, on the desktop.
Thanks Again. I really appreciate the help.

[Alexander Pi]

Ok, so it's happened again. Is there nothing I can do to prevent this from happing in the future? Would chaining the SD card help? Hopefully somebody can help because this is getting kind or OLD.

[klricks]

Ok, so it's happened again. Is there nothing I can do to prevent this from happing in the future? Would chaining the SD card help? Hopefully somebody can help because this is getting kind or OLD.

Do you shut down the RPi properly by entering command.... sudo shutdown -h now.... or by using the shutdown menu and then waiting until the RPi is completely shutdown before removing power? Note the Green LED will flash 10 times .......... at that time you can remove power.

What does "chaining the SD card" mean?

[DirkS]

What size is your SD card?

[d.dandurand]

Cant be for sure but it sounds like your sdcard may have been corrupted. if you haven't got a lot of time into your current project i would just reformat the card and do a fresh install. It is easy to corrupt a card it only takes one time of shutting a pi down improperly to corrupt one.

[Alexander Pi]

I always shutdown using the shutdown menu. I did't know the green light did that, but I always wait for the screen to display (no signal input). By changing the SD card I mean change it out for anther 8GB SD card. (with the idea it the original was permanently corrupted). It could be that I corrupted it but I cant believe I did it 5 times.