Losing Windows XP Profile Association

[John]

Windows XP Pro SP2 + post SP2 patches up to April 2008. User logs on to
Windows Server 2003 AD domain.

A user (janedoe) has been using her PC for years without any problem. Today,
this user loses her profile association for no reason. After asking her to
login to AD domain, I checked her PC. Here's what I found:

- Folder C:\Documents and Settings\janedoe including files and subfolders
are all intact

- Right click "My Document", click Properties - Target points to
C:\Documents and Settings\Temp\My Documents (so there's a new folder created
today for janedoe while the old folder is still there)

- I checked event logs. No errors, no warnings

- Scan for viruses. Found 0 virus.

Instead of using the existing user folder, WinXP creates another folder
called TEMP. This is puzzling. What is happening here?

 

[John]

Correction.

There were errors in the logs. I didn't look careful enough. It looks like
there was a problem loading the profile. Perhaps the profile gets corrupted
or something. I've fixed the problem.

Here are the error logs:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Userenv
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1508
Date: 4/15/2008
Time: 9:47:16 AM
User: NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM
Computer: THINKCENTER
Description:
Windows was unable to load the registry. This is often caused by
insufficient memory or insufficient security rights.
DETAIL - The process cannot access the file because it is being used by
another process. for C:\Documents and
Settings\janedoe\ntuser.dat

--------------------------

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Userenv
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1502
Date: 4/15/2008
Time: 9:47:25 AM
User: Win2003AD\janedoe
Computer: THINKCENTER
Description:
Windows cannot load the locally stored profile. Possible causes of this
error include insufficient security rights or a corrupt local profile. If
this problem persists, contact your network administrator.
DETAIL - The process cannot access the file because it is being used by
another process.

--------------------------

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Userenv
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1515
Date: 4/15/2008
Time: 9:47:25 AM
User: Win2003AD\janedoe
Computer: THINKCENTER
Description:
Windows has backed up this user's profile. Windows will automatically try to
use the backed up profile the next time this user logs on.

--------------------------

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Userenv
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1511
Date: 4/15/2008
Time: 9:47:26 AM
User: Win2003AD\janedoe
Computer: THINKCENTER
Description:
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.

 

[Anteaus]

I would be inclined to run chkdsk, and look for reports of bad sectors. Then
get a SMART checking tool to see if you are looking at a failing HD. This is
often the underlying cause when profiles get corrupted.

http://www.panterasoft.com/

 

[vtflair]

How did you solve the problem John? I'm experiencing the same errors
below, but the My Documents profile path is correct.

Thanks,
Phil

 

[John]

If I recall correctly, I think I logged on as Administrator then deleted the
TEMP folder and restarted the PC. Sorry I can't remember exactly what I did.

Anyway, I just had a similar problem last night with my home PC (WinXP Pro).
Logged on to the PC (it's a standalone PC) and a new folder TEMP gets
created under C:\Documents and Settings\.

Not knowing what is going on, I restarted the PC. The problem went away
after rebooting PC. I'm beginning to suspect recent (April 2008) WinXP
update(s) might've caused this problem. I've never seen this problem before.


How did you solve the problem John? I'm experiencing the same errors
below, but the My Documents profile path is correct.

Thanks,
Phil

 

[vtflair]

Thanks for the reply John. The current TEMP folder located in the root
only contains one familiar folder. I can try removing that when I'm on
the client's site again. There isn't a TEMP folder under C:\Documents
and Settings\, so nothing there to remove.

The machine is joined to a Small Business Server domain (along with 14
other XP workstations), with only one user profile on the machine. It
is the only machine out of 15 similarly configured XP workstations
that is experiencing this. As stated in other forums, and in your
experience, a reboot takes care of it.

Your April update theory is interesting, as the computer has been
running fine since October 2007. This issue happened 3 times in April
- yet hasn't happened again so far. The only twist is that none of the
other XP machines in the domain are experiencing this problem.

I'll keep digging and post a fix - if I find one. Just wanted to have
something concrete to tell our client.

Thanks again,
Phil

Also, a Check Disk scan came up empty. So, the hard drive seems to be
OK.

 

[garylarimer]

Thanks for the reply John. The current TEMP folder located in the root
only contains one familiar folder. I can try removing that when I'm on
the client's site again. There isn't a TEMP folder under C:\Documents
and Settings\, so nothing there to remove.

The machine is joined to a Small Business Server domain (along with 14
other XP workstations), with only one user profile on the machine. It
is the only machine out of 15 similarly configured XP workstations
that is experiencing this. As stated in other forums, and in your
experience, a reboot takes care of it.

Your April update theory is interesting, as the computer has been
running fine since October 2007. This issue happened 3 times in April
- yet hasn't happened again so far. The only twist is that none of the
other XP machines in the domain are experiencing this problem.

I'll keep digging and post a fix - if I find one. Just wanted to have
something concrete to tell our client.

Thanks again,
Phil

Also, a Check Disk scan came up empty. So, the hard drive seems to be
OK.








- Show quoted text -

I have had same problem since about mid April 08: userenv 1508, 1505.
WinXP Home computer was operating flawlessly for the last year. HD
checked out Ok and could find no viruses. MS update appears to be a
prime suspect. Temporarily solved problem by deleting other user
accounts on machine, leaving only 1 admin account. Machine then
bypasses LogIn screen and goes directly to the desktop without any
problems. However, If I logOff from the admin account then try to
LogIn again get userenv 1508 error, and OS creates a default user
profile. Any info on permanent solution would be appreciated.