We have a brand new Dell computer (stationary) with Windows Vista on it. On Friday everything still worked perfectly, both Windows and internet. We have both firewall and virusscan programmes updates with the latest issues. Shut down of the computer worked as normal on Friday evening. On Saturday morning when we wanted to start up the computer it refused to accept our password to enter Windows. The message is "User Profile Service failed to log on. The User Profile can not be read." (Translated from Swedish). After pressing "OK" the computer says "You are being logged out" and the goes back to the log in page. We hve not typed in the wrong password. If I press enter without typing a password then the computer first tells that this is the worng password and then goes back to log in page with addition of the "hint for password". Once again, if I type in the correct password (also corresponding to the "password hint"), it still refuses with the same message. Can anyone help how we can enter our own computer and get rid of this password problem. We have a lot of private files on the computer which we have not had the chance to back up, as the computer is brand new. An external hard drive is available. Can everything on the hard drive be saved or have we lost everything due to this, i.e. the computer needs to be completely re-installed?

Hi Cengelen, Thank you for the post. This issue can occur if the profile of the account is corrupted. I would like to confirm if there is another account that is member of the administrators group on the Windows Vista. If so, please try to logon the Windows Vista with this account. If not, please check the following points: 1. Reboot your computer and start pressing the F8 key on your keyboard. 2. When the Windows Advanced Options menu appears, select Safe Mode, and then press Enter. 3. Try to log onto the system. 4. If the issue persists, please reboot the computer and select Safe Mode with Command Prompt in the Windows Advanced Options menu (F8). 5. Try to log onto the system. Please let me know the result. In addition, we may backup the critical data to the external hard drive first. To do this, please refer to the following suggestions: ================================ 1. If you can log onto Save Mode, insert the external hard drive to the computers USB port directly to backup data.Ive included the following link for your reference:Which drivers get loaded in safe mode?http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/Help/09a45f1f-c30c-4014-ba19-3818bfb2ebd91033.mspx 2. If you cannot log onto Save Mode, please backup the data in Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE): 2.1 The Windows Recovery Environment can be launched in various ways depending on what kind of system being used. Retail Windows Vista Start WinRE from the Install Media (CD/DVD): The setup CD presents the user with a menu of setup tasks to perform. This menu will include: Install Now What to know before installing Windows Repair Windows If the user chooses Repair Windows, the Recovery Environment will be launched. The behavior of the recovery environment from the install CD/DVD will be the same as any other install media, unless OEMs or System Builders have configured and customized WinRE with their own tools. Windows Vista from an OEM Start WinRE from the Hard Disk (OEM Only) or if you have installed WinRE on the local Hard Disk: The recovery environment can be launched in two ways: Loader will launch it automatically if the target OS fails to start properly. The user can launch it from the F8 boot menu. Start WinRE from the Recovery Media (OEM Only, CD/DVD): The user may insert the recovery media into the machine and reboot the machine off the recovery media. The recovery media will automatically launch the Recovery Environment. Note that the users machine needs to be configured to boot from the recovery media device. For example, if the recovery media is on a CD, the machine needs to be configured to boot from CD. This requires that OEMs ship the media. Note: If you cannot launch WinRE, please confirm with Dell. 2.2. After launching WinRE, you will see the System Recovery Option dialog box. Please select Command Prompt. 2.3. Insert the external hard disk to the USB port. The external hard disk will be assigned a drive letter automatically. 2.4. In the Command Prompt, please type the following command (I assume that the drive letter of the external hard disk is H: ):Copy source H:For more information, please type copy /? Hope it helps. Sincerely, Joson Zhou Microsoft Online Community Support

I am having the same issue. Each of our 2 kids can log onto their profiles, however, we, the parents, cannot log on to our profile. We get the same error > "User Profile Service failed to log on." I appreciate the direction to go into safe mode (f8 upon logon). This allows us to logon to get our files. However, it will not fix the problem, so we can log on going forward. How can this be fixed so we can get back to normal and log on to our profile that my wife and I share? I believe we are the Administrator Profile as well... Please advise of a resolution. Thank you! Joe Iona

I am having the same problem. Fortunately iI set up a secondaccount some weeks ago and this has allowed me past the problem. God help anyone who doesn't have a back door. Where is the old "Administrator" account Windows XP contained? What is the solution to this problem? I can log in with Safe Mode and with the alternate User account, but no amount of back-and-forth allows me access to my data, setup and settings? Is there a way to "uncorrupt" a profile settings file?

This problem has now affected my computer, and as I do not have a spare external hard drive how am I supposed to save the data on the computer if I want to fix the present problem or what way can I access all my files in the profile that it will not let me log onto.Is this a fault in Vista that needs fixing.

i too have the same problem ! i'm guessing by the lack of a solution so far that there may not be one ? so once again vista is giving me greif . personally i can access my files by a second logon so i have every intension of wiping vista and going back to XP , it didnt give me half the problems that vista has .

What about this solution? http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947215

I am also experiencing the same problem. I can not log into my account. The message appear everytime i tried logging is THE USER PROFILE SERVICE service failed to log on. User profile cannot be loaded. I am the administrator and I have lts of files in that account. Please advice me on how to fix this and how can this be avoided. Thanks

This solution says it's for an error message rec'd by using a temporary profile. I was trying to log on using an administrator account and received the error message "User profile services failed to log on. User profile cannot be loaded." Should I modify the registry using these instruction ?

Sorry for the delayed response I was not following the forum! I had the probllem on a laptop with a single account with admin rights. I booted the machine in safe mode then copied the contents of the users documents (and desktop)to a seperate location outside of the "users" directory. I could have done their favourites but didn't. I then followed the instructions to wipe out their profile. I will say that I didn't have to do the Reg hack as when I checked the operating system had done it for me. After this I reset the machine. Vista logged in fine and re-created their profile. I then coppied their desktop/documents/(favourites) back unto their profile. You can obviously avoid the copying stage if you don't save your documents within you userprofile.

I am using Vista home premium and one and only profile is corrupted, i have to start up my computer in safe mode (which i am using now) but do not know how to fix the problem. Microsoft support says to add a new account then transfer files over however when i try to add a new account in safe mode nothing happens, can you help me?

Hi there, The laptop I was fixing had the same thing where I coundn't create another account when logged in in safe mode(!??!???) If you open Windows Explorer and go to the folder c:\users\<your username> you will see a list of folders and then you can follow the instructions above. Just to stress that deleitng your own profile will delete all of your documents if they are stored in your profile unless you copy them somewhere else first. On the laptop I was fixing I copied the "documents" and "desktop" folders to a folder I created called "c:\ProfTemp" then deleted the users profile. When I logged back in I coppied these files back. You may want to copy the "Favorites"folder to keep your internet favorites it's up to you. You'll probably loose a few application settings but nothing serious.

I had the same problem and found a much easier fix. I logged on in safe mode as describe, then ran a system restore which fixed everything.

Hi Cengelen, My name is Venita. This happened to me tonight for the first time. I have a relatively new computer which came installed withWindows Vista Home. After spending a couple hours reading the forums and trying things, but mostly just not believing all these complicated procedures were necessary; it dawned on me about the Windows Restore Point, which was a new feature with XP and naturally is on Vista. Then viola! As I saw one person say on a very complicated procedure, which I did not believe. Here is how simple it was for me! Just go to Start Menu or wherever you go to find Windows Help and Support. For me, I just click on Start, there I see among all the other items, a link for "Help and Support". From there, click on the link for "Security and Maintenance". Inside there, you should see a link, (mine is on the right-hand side), for "Backup and Restore". Underneath Backup and Restore,you willclick thelink to "Backup Files". Then finally when you do this, you should see an option for "System Restore". This will allow you to restore your system to an earlier point (before the problem started). In my case, there had beenan update installed for one of those Shock Wave or Flash or something like that. System Restore just restored my computer to the time prior to the new update for that program, and I went right back to normal. I think many of us, I know I do, forget how easy things can be with "System Restore", and so we spend all this time trying to fix our system by taking the advice of persons who really don't care about what is best for us. In the end, they probably want to mess us up, so we will have to buy something else. But this fix is SO easy! If you do not know how to find System Restore on your computer, just type in System Restore in your search bar. I am confident there will be a link somewhere to get you there. And this is as easy as it gets... you won't have to do anything. Windows will simply restore your computer to the point before your problem started. One last note: I had set up other User Accounts, so I was able to sign on and go to the internet or my Start Menu. I didn't notice if you have another account you can sign into or not. I surely hope you do. I was so thankful that I did. If I had not been able to correct this problem, I was going to lose all my business files and that would have been a catastrophy for me. It happened to me about a year ago. but for a different reason. I am not a computer technology whiz and have taught myself everything I know; but if I can help you, you may write to me at gladvn@comcast.net Hope it helps!

Hello, 07-03-08 12:46 A.M. (CST) Here is the SOLUTION! I sent this reply to the post by Cengelen, and I am going to send it to many of the people having this same problem; because it gave me fits until I found the SIMPLE fix. In my case, Windows had automatically installed an update to Shockwave Flash Player or something like that. I went to the Windows "Restore Point", and it restored me to prior to the update, and I was back to normal. So it was the new update that caused my problem. HOPE this helps everyone! QUOTED from my reply to Cengelen: My name is Venita. This happened to me tonight for the first time. I have a relatively new computer which came installed withWindows Vista Home. After spending a couple hours reading the forums and trying things, but mostly just not believing all these complicated procedures were necessary; it dawned on me about the Windows Restore Point, which was a new feature with XP and naturally is on Vista. Then viola! As I saw one person say on a very complicated procedure, which I did not believe. Here is how simple it was for me! Just go to Start Menu or wherever you go to find Windows Help and Support. For me, I just click on Start, there I see among all the other items, a link for "Help and Support". From there, click on the link for "Security and Maintenance". Inside there, you should see a link, (mine is on the right-hand side), for "Backup and Restore". Underneath Backup and Restore,you willclick thelink to "Backup Files". Then finally when you do this, you should see an option for "System Restore". This will allow you to restore your system to an earlier point (before the problem started). In my case, there had beenan update installed for one of those Shock Wave or Flash or something like that. System Restore just restored my computer to the time prior to the new update for that program, and I went right back to normal. I think many of us, I know I do, forget how easy things can be with "System Restore", and so we spend all this time trying to fix our system by taking the advice of persons who really don't care about what is best for us. In the end, they probably want to mess us up, so we will have to buy something else. But this fix is SO easy! If you do not know how to find System Restore on your computer, just type in System Restore in your search bar. I am confident there will be a link somewhere to get you there. And this is as easy as it gets... you won't have to do anything. Windows will simply restore your computer to the point before your problem started. One last note: I had set up other User Accounts, so I was able to sign on and go to the internet or my Start Menu. I didn't notice if you have another account you can sign into or not. I surely hope you do. I was so thankful that I did. If I had not been able to correct this problem, I was going to lose all my business files and that would have been a catastrophy for me. It happened to me about a year ago. but for a different reason. I am not a computer technology whiz and have taught myself everything I know; but if I can help you, you may write to me at gladvn@comcast.net Hope it helps!

Hello, 07-03-08 12:46 A.M. (CST) Here is the SOLUTION! I sent this reply to the post by Cengelen, and I am going to send it to many of the people having this same problem; because it gave me fits until I found the SIMPLE fix. In my case, Windows had automatically installed an update to Shockwave Flash Player or something like that. I went to the Windows "Restore Point", and it restored me to prior to the update, and I was back to normal. So it was the new update that caused my problem. HOPE this helps everyone! QUOTED from Cengelen: My name is Venita. This happened to me tonight for the first time. I have a relatively new computer which came installed withWindows Vista Home. After spending a couple hours reading the forums and trying things, but mostly just not believing all these complicated procedures were necessary; it dawned on me about the Windows Restore Point, which was a new feature with XP and naturally is on Vista. Then viola! As I saw one person say on a very complicated procedure, which I did not believe. Here is how simple it was for me! Just go to Start Menu or wherever you go to find Windows Help and Support. For me, I just click on Start, there I see among all the other items, a link for "Help and Support". From there, click on the link for "Security and Maintenance". Inside there, you should see a link, (mine is on the right-hand side), for "Backup and Restore". Underneath Backup and Restore,you willclick thelink to "Backup Files". Then finally when you do this, you should see an option for "System Restore". This will allow you to restore your system to an earlier point (before the problem started). In my case, there had beenan update installed for one of those Shock Wave or Flash or something like that. System Restore just restored my computer to the time prior to the new update for that program, and I went right back to normal. I think many of us, I know I do, forget how easy things can be with "System Restore", and so we spend all this time trying to fix our system by taking the advice of persons who really don't care about what is best for us. In the end, they probably want to mess us up, so we will have to buy something else. But this fix is SO easy! If you do not know how to find System Restore on your computer, just type in System Restore in your search bar. I am confident there will be a link somewhere to get you there. And this is as easy as it gets... you won't have to do anything. Windows will simply restore your computer to the point before your problem started. One last note: I had set up other User Accounts, so I was able to sign on and go to the internet or my Start Menu. I didn't notice if you have another account you can sign into or not. I surely hope you do. I was so thankful that I did. If I had not been able to correct this problem, I was going to lose all my business files and that would have been a catastrophy for me. It happened to me about a year ago. but for a different reason. I am not a computer technology whiz and have taught myself everything I know; but if I can help you, you may write to me at gladvn@comcast.net Hope it helps!

Hello, 07-03-08 12:46 A.M. (CST) Here is the SOLUTION! I sent this reply to the post by Cengelen, and I am going to send it to many of the people having this same problem; because it gave me fits until I found the SIMPLE fix. In my case, Windows had automatically installed an update to Shockwave Flash Player or something like that. I went to the Windows "Restore Point", and it restored me to prior to the update, and I was back to normal. So it was the new update that caused my problem. HOPE this helps everyone! QUOTED from Cengelen: My name is Venita. This happened to me tonight for the first time. I have a relatively new computer which came installed withWindows Vista Home. After spending a couple hours reading the forums and trying things, but mostly just not believing all these complicated procedures were necessary; it dawned on me about the Windows Restore Point, which was a new feature with XP and naturally is on Vista. Then viola! As I saw one person say on a very complicated procedure, which I did not believe. Here is how simple it was for me! Just go to Start Menu or wherever you go to find Windows Help and Support. For me, I just click on Start, there I see among all the other items, a link for "Help and Support". From there, click on the link for "Security and Maintenance". Inside there, you should see a link, (mine is on the right-hand side), for "Backup and Restore". Underneath Backup and Restore,you willclick thelink to "Backup Files". Then finally when you do this, you should see an option for "System Restore". This will allow you to restore your system to an earlier point (before the problem started). In my case, there had beenan update installed for one of those Shock Wave or Flash or something like that. System Restore just restored my computer to the time prior to the new update for that program, and I went right back to normal. I think many of us, I know I do, forget how easy things can be with "System Restore", and so we spend all this time trying to fix our system by taking the advice of persons who really don't care about what is best for us. In the end, they probably want to mess us up, so we will have to buy something else. But this fix is SO easy! If you do not know how to find System Restore on your computer, just type in System Restore in your search bar. I am confident there will be a link somewhere to get you there. And this is as easy as it gets... you won't have to do anything. Windows will simply restore your computer to the point before your problem started. One last note: I had set up other User Accounts, so I was able to sign on and go to the internet or my Start Menu. I didn't notice if you have another account you can sign into or not. I surely hope you do. I was so thankful that I did. If I had not been able to correct this problem, I was going to lose all my business files and that would have been a catastrophy for me. It happened to me about a year ago. but for a different reason. I am not a computer technology whiz and have taught myself everything I know; but if I can help you, you may write to me at gladvn@comcast.net Hope it helps!

Please see my reply to Cengelen. It has the very SIMPLE fix for this problem; which is to visit Windows "Restore Point" which has been a wonderful addition to both XP and naturally to follow, Vista. If you cannot find your Restore Point one way, then try another; all starting with going to your Start Menu and going to Help and Support, then Security and Maintenance, then Backup Files, then finally your Restore Point. I believe you will be glad you did. If you have automatic updates installed on your computer, as I do, something has updated and causing your problem. In my case, it was ShockWave Flash Player, or something similar. We all need to remember our "Restore Point" from Windows. It saves us being required to fix things ourselves anymore. Hope this helps! gvagal (Vee)

Cengelen wrote: We have a brand new Dell computer (stationary) with Windows Vista on it. On Friday everything still worked perfectly, both Windows and internet. We have both firewall and virusscan programmes updates with the latest issues. Shut down of the computer worked as normal on Friday evening. On Saturday morning when we wanted to start up the computer it refused to accept our password to enter Windows. The message is "User Profile Service failed to log on. The User Profile can not be read." (Translated from Swedish). After pressing "OK" the computer says "You are being logged out" and the goes back to the log in page. We hve not typed in the wrong password. If I press enter without typing a password then the computer first tells that this is the worng password and then goes back to log in page with addition of the "hint for password". Once again, if I type in the correct password (also corresponding to the "password hint"), it still refuses with the same message. Can anyone help how we can enter our own computer and get rid of this password problem. We have a lot of private files on the computer which we have not had the chance to back up, as the computer is brand new. An external hard drive is available. Can everything on the hard drive be saved or have we lost everything due to this, i.e. the computer needs to be completely re-installed? Posts 8 USER PROFILE SERVICES: Service failed to Logon THE SOLUTION!! It is so simple! Microsoft or Windows "System Restore Point". Just go there and restore your system to any date when your system was working right. In my case, an automatic update for Shockwave Flash Player caused my problem. I just went to the Restore Point and set the restore point for prior to the update and everything was A-okay again. You don't have to try any of allthat terrible advice that is being given for solving this problem.System Restore: a simple, trustworthy and quick fix by Windows itself! Hope this helps all those people out there having this same problem as I did. Which is how I figured it out. After reviewing, out of disbelief, all the bad advice being given; I came up with the solution from my own brain power. It is so simple, but since we neverhad System Restore Point in the versions prior to XP, I rarely think of it. I hope this helps a lot of people! Cengelen, I wrote a long reply to your problem, more descriptive, but because I have never done this before I created a new thread rather than quote then your reply. So please look for the reply addressed to you. I will post it again if the system allows me to. Signed: Vee gvagal

Posts 8 USER PROFILE SERVICES: Service failed to Logon THE SOLUTION!! It is so simple! Microsoft or Windows "System Restore Point". Just go there and restore your system to any date when your system was working right. In my case, an automatic update for Shockwave Flash Player caused my problem. I just went to the Restore Point and set the restore point for prior to the update and everything was A-okay again. You don't have to try any of allthat terrible advice that is being given for solving this problem.System Restore: a simple, trustworthy and quick fix by Windows itself! Hope this helps all those people out there having this same problem as I did. Which is how I figured it out. After reviewing, out of disbelief, all the bad advice being given; I came up with the solution from my own brain power. It is so simple, but since we neverhad System Restore Point in the versions prior to XP, I rarely think of it. I hope this helps a lot of people! Signed: Vee gvagal

dickit wrote: I am also experiencing the same problem. I can not log into my account. The message appear everytime i tried logging is THE USER PROFILE SERVICE service failed to log on. User profile cannot be loaded. I am the administrator and I have lts of files in that account. Please advice me on how to fix this and how can this be avoided. Thanks USER PROFILE SERVICES: Service failed to Logon THE SOLUTION!! It is so simple! Microsoft or Windows "System Restore Point". Just go there and restore your system to any date when your system was working right. In my case, an automatic update for Shockwave Flash Player caused my problem. I just went to the Restore Point and set the restore point for prior to the update and everything was A-okay again. You don't have to try any of allthat terrible advice that is being given for solving this problem.System Restore: a simple, trustworthy and quick fix by Windows itself! Hope this helps all those people out there having this same problem as I did. Which is how I figured it out. After reviewing, out of disbelief, all the bad advice being given; I came up with the solution from my own brain power. It is so simple, but since we neverhad System Restore Point in the versions prior to XP, I rarely think of it. I hope this helps a lot of people! Signed: Vee gladvn@comcast.net

I too have had the same problem on my stand alone dell with the user account which carries administrator rights. Tried to go back to a restore point in safe mode as advised. Didn't fix the problem. Now can't load any new programs, update windows etc. Anyone got any advice ?

Hi B.Green, I have the same problem as you. I called Acer which is the company that made my computer and we both tried to go back to the restore point in safe mode and it wouldn't work. I still cannot log on to my laptop to retrieve my files or anything. The only way that I can use my laptop is in the administrator mode but I don't have any programs or anything, I am always getting error messages that there was a problem and windows had to close the program. I can however log on to the internet and that takes forever to do. If this is an ongoing problem with vists , windows need to fix it. I am afraid that if I don't find a way to get back into my profile that I will lose all of my data and I am have a lot to lose. I was told by Acer to get an external harddrive to be safe but what is the point when you can't get any of your other work back after backing it up on your computer from the start. I was told to reboot the computer and start over. So if anyone comes up with some advise on this please let me know.

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but this is not 'THE' solution. If your restore points don't go back far enough to before the problem, you are still stuck. I'm having the problem for all new accounts, I don't have a registry key with the .bak extension, my profile is not corrupted or a temporary profile. When I try to create a new account it doesn't create a user profile, anything in the registry or a directory in c:\users. Microsoft, this is a big issue you haven't addressed. Many people are seeing it. Please get a solution out there!!

This does not fix the issue

Hi Does System Restore get rid of the new User I set up after this problem arose???

If you can access another administrative profile (you may have to boot to safe mode as files like ntuser.dat may be in use even when logged out of the problem profile) go into the Users folder or Documents and Settings folder, instead of deleting the user's profile, simply rename it to something else. Reboot and log back in as that profile, it will create an entirely new profile and you can go back to the profile folder you renamed to access any data that you are missing. This will save you from deleting any important info (Outlook's PST files are generally under a profile name).