User cannot be generated

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

I booted up today, tried to log into my usual user and I got a little notice
(with no options but to click OK as it was timing down 15 or 30 seconds)
that said "User cannot be generated". So I clicked OK and it booted up like
a fresh user with half of my desktop icons missing and my background picture
missing. I tried to start Firefox and all my bookmarks were gone and it was
running like I had opened it for the first time. Oh no! So I hit System
Restore for the day before and it sorta rebooted and said System Restore
point could not be generated. I waited extra time and I got my old desktop
back from the day before.

Now I don't even wanna shut my machine down for fear I'll lose this user!
What should I do? I'm on a Dell Vostro 400. I haven't made any Linux Discs
or slipstreamed anything. I have 5 Users already, but 3 of those I don't
really use. Can I delete one of those users somehow to allow space to make a
copy of my current user so if my profile doesn't come up right next time,
I'll have a copy of my profile somewhere else?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I booted up today, tried to log into my usual user and I got a little
notice
(with no options but to click OK as it was timing down 15 or 30 seconds)
that said "User cannot be generated". So I clicked OK and it booted up
like
a fresh user with half of my desktop icons missing and my background
picture
missing. I tried to start Firefox and all my bookmarks were gone and it
was
running like I had opened it for the first time. Oh no! So I hit System
Restore for the day before and it sorta rebooted and said System Restore
point could not be generated. I waited extra time and I got my old desktop
back from the day before.

Now I don't even wanna shut my machine down for fear I'll lose this user!
What should I do? I'm on a Dell Vostro 400. I haven't made any Linux Discs
or slipstreamed anything. I have 5 Users already, but 3 of those I don't
really use. Can I delete one of those users somehow to allow space to make
a
copy of my current user so if my profile doesn't come up right next time,
I'll have a copy of my profile somewhere else?

Let's get a few facts straight:
- User data is kept in profile folders.
- Profile folders are NOT deleted, even if you cannot log on.
- AFAIK, there is no limit on the number of users you can create.

About your post: I'm a little confused.
- What exactly is this 15 or 30 second time-out?
- I have never seen a message "User cannot be generated". Are you
sure it is correct?
- You say that you performed a System Restore, and then you say
"System Restore point could not be generated". This is exactly
the opposite of System Restore!

Have you tried booting into Safe Mode?
Have you recently checked your system for viruses and malware?

 

[Kelly]

Are you sure that is the exact error message?

In the meantime:

Corrupt Hive
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_sys32.htm

How to Recover from a Corrupted Registry
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q307545

Error Message: Windows Cannot Load Your Profile Because It May Be Corrupted
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q318011

Create a New User or Restore the User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q318011


--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Happy Birthday if today is your birthday!

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

Let's get a few facts straight:
- User data is kept in profile folders.
- Profile folders are NOT deleted, even if you cannot log on.
- AFAIK, there is no limit on the number of users you can create.

About your post: I'm a little confused.
- What exactly is this 15 or 30 second time-out?
- I have never seen a message "User cannot be generated". Are you
sure it is correct?
- You say that you performed a System Restore, and then you say
"System Restore point could not be generated". This is exactly
the opposite of System Restore!

Have you tried booting into Safe Mode?
Have you recently checked your system for viruses and malware?

Yes, "User cannot be generated" was the message, with a timer and OK button
involved.
Yes, "System Restore point could not be generated" (although it was).
No, I'm not rebooting until I do something meaningful, like a full virus
scan (Windows Live One Care & full backup (Seagate program to USB drive).

I'm following KB 811151 and attempting to copy everything from the user I'm
having trouble with into an relatively unused user.

 

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

Thanks, I'll print these up. My printer may not work next time in a user
that's been reset without some crazy reinstallation of programs.

 

[Kelly]

I haven't made any Linux Discs

Which operating system are you running?

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Happy Birthday if today is your birthday!

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

Which operating system are you running?

Windows XP Professional.
I've been to the download links for Linux and I don't understand the link
system at all.

 

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

I did a virus scan and found a few items that were removed:

Spyware: Win32/Aureate

Program: Win32/Comscore.C

Adware: Win32/NewDotNet

Adware: Win32/WhenU.B --- Quarantined

Adware: Win32/QuickSearchBar

Adware: Win32/Ezula.F

TrojanDownloader: Win32/Agent.GN

Trojan: Win32/Meredrop



I rebooted and was able to login correctly. But in a few minutes it will be
midnight, so I'd better reboot again just to be sure and then get on with my
backup.

 

[Ken Blake]

I did a virus scan and found a few items that were removed:

That's not a "few," that's a *lot*. Good luck, but in my view whenever you
have so many infections, removing them is often insufficient, and the only
thing to do is to start over again with a clean reinstallation.