Have tried to create user account using the method you outline. When I try to log on I get the message "User profile service failed the logon" What do you suggest?
John

Thanks for your reply. It is of no help because there is only one user key with a long number, ie my own administrator user and this is ok because it works and has no .bak on the end. It seems the profile service does not set up a new key entry.
John

Alright, Recently I have gotton the error message at logon that the logon failed. I do know for a fact that somehow the folder in C:\Users\(Name) got removed/deleted and I just deleted the account SID in registry. Now that I go back to the Built in Admin and try to create a new account, the link/button won't work!

I've been trying for over an hour at least to fix this problem, but so far nothing .

Any suggestions??

I have a very similar problem, and I have been attempting to fix this for the last three hours. I cannot create a new account. My current accounts are all fine, but any new account I create will not login due to "user profile service could not work" or something related to that. Vista is refusing to create a new user profile, I proved this because nothing new is showing up in the registry. I have already tried system restore, but this failed to fix the problem. It will not work with the default Administrator account nor in safe mode. I really need this fixed, if you can help, please do. Thank you.

I am running a very capable Toshiba M305D laptop, one month old with Norton 360 anti-virus.