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When I try to logon to my user account, I get the message The user profile failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded.
When I try to logon to my user account, I get the message The user profile failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded.
- I tried system restore and fixing corrupted password, but it won't accept my password to manage accounts.1 person got this answerI do too
Answers
- This error can usually be fixed by following the steps below. Doing all this requires a certain level of computer skills. You know yourself best and whether taking the machine to a competent local computer tech (not a BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place) is the better solution for you.
This is the general answer - you've already done part of it. I'm giving you the whole answer for thoroughness but you will probably want to just enable the built-in Administrator as in 3a. and then, since you've already tried a System Restore, go to Step 5.
1. Log into another user account with administrative privileges. If you neglected to make an extra administrative account do Steps 2-3. Otherwise continue at Step 4. Also see the general information about setting up user accounts in Vista at the end of this post.
2. Boot into Safe Mode. Do this by repeatedly tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to the right menu where you can use your arrow key to select Safe Mode [enter]. The built-in Administrator account is disabled by default in Vista. However, if no other administrative accounts exist on the system it may be enabled. If it is, you will see an icon for Administrator on the Welcome Screen in Safe Mode. Log into Administrator.
3. If If you don't see the icon for the Administrator account in Safe Mode, then the built-in Administrator account is still disabled and you'll need to do some more work.
a. If you have a Vista installation DVD (not a recovery DVD) you can boot the system with it. Select the default language, then choose "Repair your computer". Then select "Command Prompt". At the command prompt type:
net user administrator /active:yes
[Note: Do not type the brackets!]
If you don't have a Vista installation DVD you can either make a bootable Vista Repair DVD from the file at this link:
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/
Note: All the Neosmart recovery disc downloads are torrent files. There is a good explanation of torrent files at the Neosmart website. You will need a torrent client such as muTorrent to get the files. The torrent client will download the .iso file with which to create the bootable DVD.
b. Or you can use NTpassword to enable the built-in Administrator. In both cases you will need third-party burning software such as Nero, Roxio, or the free ImgBurn (www.imgburn.com ) to burn the .iso as an image, not as data.
http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/
Now remove the rescue CD/DVD you made, reboot the system into Windows, and log into the built-in Administrator account you enabled.
4. Try a System Restore to when things were working. If you can log into your own user account, you're finished. Otherwise continue at Step 5.
5. The critical files are under %systemdrive%\users\user-account\ntuser. The ntuser.dat file is actually a registry hive. Run Regedit elevated and select HKEY_USERS and "load hive" from the menu. Now navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
There is one line for each profile. If a profile is bad, check:
a) That the key name doesn't end in ".bak" (remove .bak if there)
b) That the RefCount value is 0 (change it if different)
c) That the State value is 0 (change if different)
Make any necessary changes, close Regedit and try to log in as that user.
6. If that doesn't fix your profile, it is corrupted. At that point you can either make a new user account and copy your data to it or simply make a new user account and delete the old corrupted one. Do not delete the old account until you have retrieved data you need! Post back if you need help in creating a new user account and copying data to it.
You absolutely do not want to have only one user account. Like XP and all other modern operating systems, Vista is a multi-user operating system with built-in system accounts such as Administrator, Default, All Users, and Guest. These accounts should be left alone as they are part of the operating system structure.
You particularly don't want only one user account with administrative privileges on Vista because the built-in Administrator account (normally only used in emergencies) is disabled by default. If you're running as Administrator for your daily work and that account gets corrupted, things will be Difficult. It isn't impossible to activate the built-in Administrator to rescue things, but it will require third-party tools and working outside the operating system.
The user account that is for your daily work should be a Standard user, with the extra administrative user (call it something like "CompAdmin" or "Tech" or the like) only there for elevation purposes. After you create "CompAdmin", log into it and change your regular user account to Standard. Then log back into your regular account.
If you want to go directly to the Desktop and skip the Welcome Screen with the icons of user accounts, you can do this:
Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]
Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by UAC
Uncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on the desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct password for that user account (if there is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if there is no password (null).
MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!- Marked As Answer byKeith-Support EngineerMSFT, ModeratorFriday, November 20, 2009 10:00 PM
All Replies
- This error can usually be fixed by following the steps below. Doing all this requires a certain level of computer skills. You know yourself best and whether taking the machine to a competent local computer tech (not a BigComputerStore/GeekSquad type of place) is the better solution for you.
This is the general answer - you've already done part of it. I'm giving you the whole answer for thoroughness but you will probably want to just enable the built-in Administrator as in 3a. and then, since you've already tried a System Restore, go to Step 5.
1. Log into another user account with administrative privileges. If you neglected to make an extra administrative account do Steps 2-3. Otherwise continue at Step 4. Also see the general information about setting up user accounts in Vista at the end of this post.
2. Boot into Safe Mode. Do this by repeatedly tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to the right menu where you can use your arrow key to select Safe Mode [enter]. The built-in Administrator account is disabled by default in Vista. However, if no other administrative accounts exist on the system it may be enabled. If it is, you will see an icon for Administrator on the Welcome Screen in Safe Mode. Log into Administrator.
3. If If you don't see the icon for the Administrator account in Safe Mode, then the built-in Administrator account is still disabled and you'll need to do some more work.
a. If you have a Vista installation DVD (not a recovery DVD) you can boot the system with it. Select the default language, then choose "Repair your computer". Then select "Command Prompt". At the command prompt type:
net user administrator /active:yes
[Note: Do not type the brackets!]
If you don't have a Vista installation DVD you can either make a bootable Vista Repair DVD from the file at this link:
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/
Note: All the Neosmart recovery disc downloads are torrent files. There is a good explanation of torrent files at the Neosmart website. You will need a torrent client such as muTorrent to get the files. The torrent client will download the .iso file with which to create the bootable DVD.
b. Or you can use NTpassword to enable the built-in Administrator. In both cases you will need third-party burning software such as Nero, Roxio, or the free ImgBurn (www.imgburn.com ) to burn the .iso as an image, not as data.
http://home.eunet.no/pnordahl/ntpasswd/
Now remove the rescue CD/DVD you made, reboot the system into Windows, and log into the built-in Administrator account you enabled.
4. Try a System Restore to when things were working. If you can log into your own user account, you're finished. Otherwise continue at Step 5.
5. The critical files are under %systemdrive%\users\user-account\ntuser. The ntuser.dat file is actually a registry hive. Run Regedit elevated and select HKEY_USERS and "load hive" from the menu. Now navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
There is one line for each profile. If a profile is bad, check:
a) That the key name doesn't end in ".bak" (remove .bak if there)
b) That the RefCount value is 0 (change it if different)
c) That the State value is 0 (change if different)
Make any necessary changes, close Regedit and try to log in as that user.
6. If that doesn't fix your profile, it is corrupted. At that point you can either make a new user account and copy your data to it or simply make a new user account and delete the old corrupted one. Do not delete the old account until you have retrieved data you need! Post back if you need help in creating a new user account and copying data to it.
You absolutely do not want to have only one user account. Like XP and all other modern operating systems, Vista is a multi-user operating system with built-in system accounts such as Administrator, Default, All Users, and Guest. These accounts should be left alone as they are part of the operating system structure.
You particularly don't want only one user account with administrative privileges on Vista because the built-in Administrator account (normally only used in emergencies) is disabled by default. If you're running as Administrator for your daily work and that account gets corrupted, things will be Difficult. It isn't impossible to activate the built-in Administrator to rescue things, but it will require third-party tools and working outside the operating system.
The user account that is for your daily work should be a Standard user, with the extra administrative user (call it something like "CompAdmin" or "Tech" or the like) only there for elevation purposes. After you create "CompAdmin", log into it and change your regular user account to Standard. Then log back into your regular account.
If you want to go directly to the Desktop and skip the Welcome Screen with the icons of user accounts, you can do this:
Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]
Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by UAC
Uncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on the desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct password for that user account (if there is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if there is no password (null).
MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!- Marked As Answer byKeith-Support EngineerMSFT, ModeratorFriday, November 20, 2009 10:00 PM
- Hi,
You can try to fix with Safe Mode - repeatedly tap F8 as you bootup.
Some programs like the Google Updater (if you added the Google Toolbar, Chrome or Google Earth) has been
known to cause this issue.
How to Fix the Error "The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded."
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/130095-user-profile-service-failed-logon-user-profile-cannot-loaded.html
How to Fix the Error "Your user profile was not loaded correctly! You have been logged on with a temporary
profile." in Vista
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/135858-user-profile-error-logged-temporary-profile.html
BE VERY CAREFUL IF USING THIS ONE :
DO NOT USE THE HIDDEN ACCOUNT ON A DAILY BASIS! If it corrrups you are TOAST.
How to Enable or Disable the Real Built-in Administrator Account in Vista
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67567-administrator-account.html
Use the Hidden Admin Account to lower your account to user APPLY / OK then raise it back to ADMIN.
This helps clear corruption. Do same for other accounts if needed after following the above message.
You can use the Hidden Admin Account - Make another account as ADMIN with your same password (or
two with same password) use one to test or fix the other.
You can run the Hidden Admin Account command from the Command Prompt from here if needed.
This tells you how to access the System Recovery Options and/or from a Vista DVD
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/326b756b-1601-435e-99d0-1585439470351033.mspx
If you can't access your old account you can still use an Admin to migrate to a new one (remember to always
leave an Admin Account that is unused except to test and fix).
Fix a corrupted user profile
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-AU/help/769495bf-035c-4764-a538-c9b05c22001e1033.mspx
Hope this helps.
Rob - Bicycle - Mark Twain said it right. - And this is different from what I already wrote how? It's great to add information but just repeating the same steps as someone else isn't useful.
MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
