Windows Easy Transfer says I am logged into a temporary profile
When trying to run Windows Easy Transfer I get an message box that says I am logged into a temporary profile and to restart computer and try again. This happens with every user account on my computer. Even if I create a new user, the problem is still there. I am using Windows 7 RTM.
September 25th, 2009 11:14pm

Hi Mploc, Could you please let me know when you receive this error message?In addition, could you please offer a screenshot for the issue?Thank you for your cooperation.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
September 28th, 2009 8:57am

I have multiple problems with this installation. I will just do a clean install instead of an upgrade. I am also having a problem here http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7itproui/thread/30ec7dc5-a31a-4897-a18f-20a51dde05d5
September 28th, 2009 11:07pm

Hi Mploc, Thank you for your update. I understand that you will do a clean install since there are several problems on the system. If you encounter any other problem on the new system, please let us know. We will continue to troubleshoot the issue. Thanks.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
September 29th, 2009 7:04am

I have the same problem. After installing Windows 7 (RTM, already released to a university system), I had no trouble restoring all my USER files to my initial logon profile on the new clean install of Win7 I did. By importing all my user files, original new user profile gained my previous profile identity from my old Win7 RC release. Just about everything worked. The problem is that I didn't import my System settings (Public, etc). Figured I'd do that later. Now when I go back, I get the message that I am logged in with a temporary profile, please log off and log in again. I think basically importing your old settings changes your user profile so it's a one shot deal. Microsoft ought to provide a fix so you can say "THis profile is taking command" - if you can take ownership of whole file systems and override permissions, there ought to be some way of overriding the lowest level of permission settings for the Easy Transfer store (I do have mine password-protected). Thanks for any suggestions. Jim Lewis
October 10th, 2009 5:44pm

Same problem - running Win7RC, I'm preparing to migrate to the production version. I think the problem is that the error message is misleading. I created a new account and still saw the message ''You're currently logged on using a temporary profile. Restart your computer and try again.'' On checking with Regedit, I found that there was an entry in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList for a temporary profile that had been created some time back. See KB947215 and KB947242. It then dawned on me that EasyTransfer will not want to run if there are _any_ temporary profiles in use as this might result in lost data. Removing the ProfileList key with the .bak suffix enabled Easy Transfer to run. If you find a key with a .bak suffix, check the ProfileImagePath subkey and make sure you have a backup copy of everything within that path unless it is in your "temp" path. I hope this helps someone. Philip
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
October 28th, 2009 4:25pm

Thank you. I found the .bak entry and removed it. Easy Transfer is now working correctly.
December 4th, 2009 6:16pm

I am having this same problem and I don't quite understand the instructions listed here. I have the easy transfer cable and want to move files from my old XP machine to my new Windows 7 machine. It says I must install and run the Windows Easy Transfer program on both machines. I can install it on my XP machine but when I try to run it, I get the "logged in as temporary user" error message. I have never attempted to use regedit before and I'm not sure I know exactly how to delete this .bak entry even if I find it.Is there any other solution to this problem other than changing the registration file? This is a home computer and has only two users on it. I probably created this problem when I once got the message my profile was corrupted and so I made a new one and moved my files to it then deleted my old one. However, I know that the old directory still exits under documents and settings. There is also a folder there named Temp which I renamed to oldtemp. I don't have an external hard drive that I can copy my files to so I was really hoping to just transfer them via this cable, but so far no luck.Thanks.Linda
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
December 18th, 2009 12:31am

Thanks very much - this also helped me! Note that the offending entry in ProfileImagePath did not end in .bak iun my case, it was .MachineName. Deleting the ProfileList key solved the problem: EasyTransfer is now working just fine!Andy
December 20th, 2009 7:58pm

Philip thank you. Your recommendation worked!! I located the *.bak key, deleted it and my easy transfer application immediately came up.Armando.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
February 15th, 2010 1:40am

Thank you. You saved me a lot of time. I don't store anything useful in profiles so I just deleted all of the .BAKs and it worked perfectly without even having to logoff. ASP.NET 1.1 Developer
March 31st, 2010 6:39am

Thanks from me, too, Philip. My key was under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. I deleted the Temp and all other users that have logged onto my computer, and EasyTransfer then ran!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 5th, 2010 11:06pm

Philip, Thank you for this solution. It resolved my issue perfectly. Joi
April 8th, 2010 3:39am

Same problem - running Win7RC, I'm preparing to migrate to the production version. I think the problem is that the error message is misleading. I created a new account and still saw the message ''You're currently logged on using a temporary profile. Restart your computer and try again.'' On checking with Regedit, I found that there was an entry in HKLM\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList for a temporary profile that had been created some time back. See KB947215 and KB947242. It then dawned on me that EasyTransfer will not want to run if there are _any_ temporary profiles in use as this might result in lost data. Removing the ProfileList key with the .bak suffix enabled Easy Transfer to run. If you find a key with a .bak suffix, check the ProfileImagePath subkey and make sure you have a backup copy of everything within that path unless it is in your "temp" path. I hope this helps someone. Philip
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
April 24th, 2010 6:39pm

Philip is the man! Thanks for the solution!
May 2nd, 2010 9:21pm

Thanks Phil, this help me resolve the very same issue on my XP Pro SP3 OS. I am just now looking into the possible upgrae path for Win 7 and am unknowledgeable of the RC/RTM versions as some people speak of in this thread. I found the following key at the loation you specified: 5-1-5-21-57989841-1935655697-1343024091-1009.bak. I removed it and the Easy Xfer started up. Thanks for the insight. . . Tom J. Tom Johnson
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
June 5th, 2010 1:03am

This did help, but it needs a bit more. Can you please post clearer instructions on how to access the profile list? I would do it, but I barely understand it. The only reason I managed to get there is because I had issues accessing my profile about a year ago and had to take a similar path to fix it, and I just happened to still have a text file of the instructions. Also, for the moderators to think about: can you please put something about this error in the standard Windows help? I searched the Help on my computer and on the Windows Web site [which the Help on my computer redirected me to], and that made it appear that an issue with a temporary profile was unheard of. I had to do a seperate Google search to get here.
June 30th, 2010 7:58pm

I have tried this, but for whatever reason I cannot delete the *.bak file (I get a message saying that this can not be deleted). Anyone have any suggestions as to what to try next? I'm trying to transfer from Windows XP to Windows 7 using a Belkin Easy Transfer Cable for Windows 7. ottokell
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
August 30th, 2010 5:11pm

I would really like to be able to implement this solution. I'm not certain that this explanation is sufficiently detailed to permit me to follow along, though. Would anybody mind filling in some of the details? I have a 32bit HP desktop running Windows XP Pro sp 3.
September 2nd, 2010 6:03am

I hope this helps someone.Philip Yes very much helped. thanks a million.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
October 5th, 2010 7:04pm

If you find a key with a .bak suffix, check the ProfileImagePath subkey and make sure you have a backup copy of everything within that path unless it is in your "temp" path. I hope this helps someone. Philip Hi philip! thanks for the post, i'm working on similar issue but i did not find .bak :( CESabarre Free Tech Support Bad News: There really is no such thing as Free Tech Support. Good News: Oftentimes a simple thank you is the best form of payment!
October 6th, 2010 1:14am

Beautiful Philip! I found a .bak profile for another user, deleted it and Easy Transfer started up properly; did not even have to reboot.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
January 18th, 2011 11:30am

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics