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

Thanks Shawn - I was able to get onto the temporary account BEFORE I did option one - now whenever I try to log on, I get the error, and can only get into safe mode - where the screen is all squishy. Yesterday afternoon, before I did the renaming thing I could log on with my password, but it would say 'preparing your desktop' and it would be temporary. Can't even get to that point now. Tried doing the system restore from safe mode - that's when I get the message there is no system restore point...create one, and I can't.

If I do a reinstall - will I be able to find / locate files that were on there before, since according to the hard drive space they are still there somewhere?

Is this a Vista problem, or hard drive problem, or both?

Should I even do a reinstall with Vista? Should I wait and upgrade to 7, or downgrade to XP?

I also use Firefox as my primary internet browser - after having the screens of death and browsing for fixes, I've read where Firefox and Vista aren't buddies...your thoughts...

I also had not downloaded anything new on my computer, before it locked up and I just had to hard shut it down. I did have iTunes open, and had just put a burned CD into iTunes, when it locked up...

Again, thanks so much for your help. VERY much appreciated!!

Since you are still able to boot into Safe Mode, I would recommend that you back up anything that you did not want to lose first. You may still have the C:\Users\(user-name) folder to copy any files from also. After backing up your data, you can do a clean reinstall of Vista if you like.

If you wanted to try Windows 7 now, you can download the release candidate version if your like or just wait until it the RTM version is out for sale on October 22nd.

I've never had a problem with Firefox, but there are some that had problems with some Firefox add-ons.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

So, if while logged into safe mode, and the only user file that comes up is my temporary one - does that mean my normal one is completely gone? Or, I'm just not enough of a computer guru to find it...

I may look at the new 7 version - this deal with Vista has just put a big damper on me wanting to continue to run this OS. I mean, for no apparent reason it has just wiped out my user, and seemingly all my files associated with it.

Again, I do appreciate your help and advice!!

If the old user account's C:\Users\(user-name) folder is not there, then it is gone.

Thanks Shawn... I've restore my computer and... It's works!!!! Nothing to worry about losing my personal doc... Thanks bro for your help... Thanks to the Vista Forums....

You're welcome 50nny. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted.

so ... i've looked in the registry and found the profiles but nothing has a .bak at the end. I'm in a domain enviroment so the user profiles are created automaticly but Vista isn't creating anything new ... it seems that way at least. The primary user can log on just fine but anyone else just gets the error msg. also ... i'd rather avoid doing a system restore if possible. Thanks for the help in advance

my profile was NOT deleted by anyone.
it was working fine yesterday
I turned it off. no problem
next morning
"The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded."
yet again i tried the steps.
I am on the guest profile. because my ADMINISTRATIVE profile cannot be loaded.
so i have no authority.
But i DO know my password and such

another step-by-step i tried was to regedit! I couldn't rename the file SID .bk/.bak
how do i change the registry key without deleting my ADMINISTRATIVE profile?

I DO NOT WANT to delete my ADMINISTRATIVE profile.

Will someone. PLEASE help.

Hello Chelsea, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You might see if doing STEP ONE to log on to the built-in Administrator account will allow you to do the tutorial instead though.

If not, then you a System Restore using a restore point dated before you got this error may be able to fix it for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Shawn,
I tried safe mode. It comes with a black screen (administrative) thingy . i dont know what to type...
I'm super bummed.....
I tried to restore. i even tried to restore from the 27th! still no luck.

and I'm on GUEST. I typed in the admin. password. It's not showing ANYTHING
(i tried changing my account type)
I can't add or remove.. anything.

and it's said my computer has possibly been infected.
i ran my stop sign
it wont let me remove ANY infections unless I'm on the admin...

I need to do something soon.... I'm worried... and my college paper is in my Admin... i don't know what to do Shawn...