Windows 7: User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded.

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User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be
loaded.

Fix "The User Profi le Servi ce fail ed the logon. User profi le cannot be loaded." Error in Wi ndows 7
Published by Brink
11 Sep 2011
Fix "The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile
cannot be loaded." Error in Windows 7






In Preparation:
Log On to an Administrator Account

NOTE: You must be logged on to another administrator account using either step below before you will be able to
move on to either OPTI ON ONE or OPTI ON TWO below.
1. To Log on to another Administrator account.
NOTE: If you do not have another Administrator account, then proceed to step 2.
A) Log off, and log on to an available administrator account that doesn't have this error.

B) Go to either OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO below for what you would like to do.
OR

2. To Boot into "Safe Mode" and Use the built-in Administrator account
A) Using your "retail" Windows 7 installation disc or a created system repair disc, boot into Safe Mode.

Published by

Brink


Information

This will show you how to fix when you log on to Windows 7 using a temporary profile, and get the
following error message:

The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded.

This tutorial was updated from our Vista Forums tutorial created 02-10-2008:
The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded. - Vista Forums

For additional details on this user profile error, see also:
Error message: "The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded


Note

Known Causes:
The C:\Users\(user-name) user profile folder was manually deleted instead of properly deleting
the user account through User Accounts in the Control Panel. A user profile that is manually
deleted does not remove the security identifier (SID) from the profile list in the registry. Since the
SID is still present, Windows 7 will still try to load the profile by using the ProfileImagePath that
points to a nonexistent path. Therefore, the profile cannot be loaded.
The C:\Users\(user-name) user profile folder itself was manually renamed, instead of using the
proper method in this tutorial.
An unknown issue with the user profile entering into a backup state occurred.
Corrupted user profile.
Occasionally, Windows 7 might not read your user profile correctly, for example, if your antivirus
software is scanning your computer while you try to log on. Try restarting your computer and logging
on with your user account again to resolve the issue before following the options below.
Submit Query
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B) Do either step C or D below depending if Safe Mode booted into the built-in Administrator account by default or
not.
NOTE: If this user account with the user profile error was the only administrator account you had created or
enabled, then Safe Mode may automatically boot into the built-in Administrator account.

C) If Safe Mode did not boot into the built-in Administrator account by default, then enable the built-in
Administrator account, log off in Safe Mode, and log on to the built-in Administrator account to logon to that
account in Safe Mode.

D) If Safe Mode did boot into the built-in Administrator account by default, then go to either OPTION ONE or
OPTION TWO below for what you would like to do.
OR

3. To Enable the Built-in Administrator account at Boot
A) For how, see: How to Enable the Built-in Elevated "Administrator" Account from WinRE

B) When enabled, log in to the built-in Administrator account, and go to either OPTION ONE or OPTION TWO
below for what you would like to do




OPTION ONE
To Fix the User Account Profile
1. Before starting, it is highly recommended that you create a system restore point in case you make a mistake while in the
registry. This way you will easily be able to do a system restore to use the created restore point to undo the mistake.

2. Open the Start Menu, type regedit in the search box, and press Enter.

3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

4. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below step 5A)
Code:
5. In the left pane, click on a S-1-5 (SID) key with a long number.
A) In the right pane of the selected S-1-5 (SID) key, look at the Data value of ProfileImagePath to see if it is the
user account (ex: Moderator) with the error.

B) If not, then repeat steps 5 and 5A until you have the correct S-1-5 (SID) key with a long number selected.

C) If it is, then continue on to step 6 or step 7 depending on if you have either one or two S-1-5 (SID) keys listed
with the exact same long number. One without .bak, and one with .bak at the end.
6. If you have Two S-1-5 (SID) keys with the Same Long Numbers
NOTE: This is if you have two S-1- 5 folders (SI D key) with the exact same long numbers, but the second one has .bak at the
end of the long numbers and the first one doesn't.
A) In the left pane, right click on the first (top) S-1-5..... folder (SID key) that does not have .bak at the end of
the numbers and click Rename. (see screenshot below)
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHI NE\ SOFTWARE\ Mi cr osof t \ Wi ndows NT\ Cur r ent Ver si on\ Pr of i l eLi st
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B) Add .bk to the end of the numbers. (see screenshot below)

C) In the left pane, right click on the second S-1-5..... folder (SID key) with .bak at the end of the numbers and
click Rename. (see screenshot below step 6B)

D) Remove only .bak from the end of the numbers and press Enter. (see screenshot below step 6B)

E) Now go back and Rename the first one with .bk to .bak now at the end of the numbers and press Enter. (see
screenshot below)

F) Go to step 8.
7. If you have Only One S-1-5 (SID) key with .bak
NOTE: This is if you have only one S-1- 5 folder (SI D key) with long numbers and ended with .bak.
A) In the left pane, right click on the S-1-5..... folder (SID key) with .bak at the end of the numbers and click
Rename. (see screenshot below step 7B)

B) Remove only .bak at the end of the numbers and press Enter. (see screenshot below and below step 10)

8. In the right pane of the one without .bak now, right click on RefCount and click on Modify. (see screenshot below step 10)
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NOTE: If you do not have RefCount, then right click on a empty space in the right pane and click New and DWORD ( 32 bit)
Value, then type RefCount and press Enter. This value for this entry will reset and return back to the original value after you
have restarted the computer and logged on to the account.
A) Type 0 (number) and click on OK. (see screenshot below)

9. In the right pane of the one without .bak now, right click on State and click on Modify. (see screenshot below step 10)
NOTE: This value for this entry will reset and return back to the original value after you have restarted the computer and
logged on to the account.
A) Type 0 (number) and click on OK. (see screenshot below)

10. The registry will now look like this for the one without .bak now. (see screenshot below)

11. Close regedit, and restart the computer.

12. See if you are able to log on to the use account now without getting this error.
NOTE: If this still does not help, then either try OPTION TWO below or try doing a system restore at boot using a restore
point dated before you got this error.



OPTION TWO
To Delete the User Account and Create a New User Account

NOTE: This option is only if you do not care about losing the user account with this error and possibly all contents of it's C:\ Users\ ( user-
name) user profile folder. Your programs will still be installed and unaffected.
1. Before starting, it is highly recommended that you create a system restore point in case you make a mistake while in the
registry. This way you will easily be able to do a system restore to use the created restore point to undo the mistake.

2. Create a new user account that is the same type (standard or administrator) as the user account with this error.

3. If you are able to, you could copy the contents of the user folders from the old user account's C:\Users\(user-name) user
profile folder with the error into the new account's (step 2) C:\Users\(user-name) user profile folder. Be sure to also copy
any shortcuts in the Start Menu from the old user account into the new user account as well.

4. In User Accounts from the Control Panel, delete the user account with the error.

5. Open the Start Menu, type regedit in the search box, and press Enter.

6. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

7. In regedit, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below step 8A)
Code:
8. In the left pane, click on a S-1-5 (SID) key with a long number.
Name:
Modify_RefCount.jpg
Views: 163215
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHI NE\ SOFTWARE\ Mi cr osof t \ Wi ndows NT\ Cur r ent Ver si on\ Pr of i l eLi st
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A) In the right pane of the selected S-1-5 (SID) key, look at the Data value of ProfileImagePath to see if it is the
user account (ex: Moderator) with the error.

B) If not, then repeat steps 8 and 8A until you have the correct S-1-5 (SID) key with a long number selected.

C) If it is, then continue on to step 9.
9. Right click on the selected SID key with the long number, and click on Delete.

10. Click on Yes to confirm deletion. (see screenshot below)

11. If there is another SID key directly below the selected SID key (step 9) with the exact same long number with .bak at the
end, then right click on this same SID key with .bak on it, and click on Delete. (see screenshot below)


A) Click on Yes to confirm deletion. (see screenshot below)

12. When finished, close regedit.

13. Restart the computer, and log on to your new account.
That's it,
Shawn








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How to Open and Use "Troubleshooting" in Windows 7
.

07 May 2012 #1

Parslip


Windows 7
Enterprise x64
1 posts
Optional cause
I work in an IT department in a school district, and we've run across this error message in conjunction with a full
hard drive. We have software we didn't realize was dumping 300 megs of data into each new user profile, and after
hundreds of students had logged in, the machines completely ran out of space.

I don't know how common this issue would be for home users, but for all those school districts out there this could
be handy to know.

Tip: Download Windows Repair Tool

My System Specs
.

07 May 2012 #2

Brink



64-bit Windows 8.1
Enterprise
52,645 posts
Texas
Hello Parslip, and welcome to Seven Forums. Thank you for the addition.

My System Specs
15 May 2012 #3

Batroo


Windows 7 Home
Premium 32bit SP1
20 posts
I get this message when I only have one Admin account and I go into the User creation under the control panel and
create a new one and try to log into it, any help?

My System Specs
15 May 2012 #4

Brink



64-bit Windows 8.1
Enterprise
52,645 posts
Texas
Hello Batroo,

If this just started to happen recently, then you might see if doing a system restore at boot using a restore point
(if available) dated before this started may help.

My System Specs
16 May 2012 #5

Batroo


Windows 7 Home
Premium 32bit SP1
20 posts
Before I do the System restore, I do have a question. Could what Parslip said be what's happening, I have a 1.5TB
HDD with about 800gigs of that filled, and if I'm understanding what he's saying, when I open the new account, I'm

Quote:OriginallyPostedby Brink

Hello Batroo,

If this just started to happen recently, then you might see if doing a system restore at boot using a
restore point (if available) dated before this started may help.
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basically doubling that to 1.6TB's which I do not have enough space for.

Also this is the first time I've tried creating a new User account, so I don't know of a restore point that would help.
My System Specs
16 May 2012 #6

Brink



64-bit Windows 8.1
Enterprise
52,645 posts
Texas
Simply creating a new user account wouldn't double your HDD space at all. A new user account may add around 50
MB plus whatever you save in it's C:\Users\(user-name) folders.

My System Specs
16 May 2012 #7

Batroo


Windows 7 Home
Premium 32bit SP1
20 posts
Ah ok, I was looking through the Event Viewer to see if it had anything that could help and the error it gave me was
Event ID 1500

"Windows cannot log you on because your profile cannot be loaded. Check that you are connected to the network,
and that your network is functioning correctly.

DETAIL - The system cannot find the file specified."

And Event ID 1511

"Windows cannot find the local profile and is logging you on with a temporary profile. Changes you make to this
profile will be lost when you log off."

Quote:OriginallyPostedby Brink

Simply creating a new user account wouldn't double your HDD space at all. A new user account may add
around 50 MB plus whatever you save in it's C:\Users\(user-name) folders.
My System Specs
24 May 2012 #8

Janhar


vista 32
2 posts
Simple solution for me hope it works for you
After 48 hours struggling with this probem of the new user profile failing to load and visiting forums for vista
everywhere and fiddling with my registry as described above, which led me to hell and back, I finally found a little
paragraph somewhere in a blog. It said switch off windows defender - restart computer and then switch off every bit
of Norton Security...then create the new user profile and load it, then put your Norton and Windows defender back
on. IT WORKED.

My System Specs
15 J un 2012 #9

Bobbio0913


Windows 7
1 posts
I've tried the registry fix shown with no luck. System won't allow me change the entries. Plus, I've got 4 long S-1-5
strings. One ends in .ba, one in .bak, the other two just a number. Any ideas?? This is my 2nd registry fix on a 6
month old computer. Little frustrated. The store that sold it says $200 to replace OS.

My System Specs


Windows 7 Installation Failure - Overcome | Icon - Make from Image




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