User cannot be loaded

[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?

 

[Leonard Grey]

Malicious software ("malware") could be installed on your computer.

Make sure that your anti-malware software is running, then download the
latest signatures and run a full scan.

If you don't have comprehensive anti-malware software, that's like
driving a car without seats belts or air bags. Either way, you're
eventually going to get hammered. Install comprehensive anti-malware
software and learn how to use its features. A 'comprehensive' solution
scans for all types of malicious software in the background, on demand
and on schedule.

For now try scanning your system with /several/ of the better online
scanners, such as:
Kaspersky Antivirus (http://www.kaspersky.com/virusscanner)
Panda ActiveScan (http://www.pandasoftware.com/activescan)

Download HijackThis from www.trendsecure.com. Run it, save a log, and
post the log at one of the many sites that support HJT, such as
spywarewarrior.com, bleepingcomputer.com, and temerc.com -- but not
here. Within a day, sometimes within an hour, you'll have one-on-one
step-by-step advice from a security expert on cleaning up any
infestations—or you'll have a clean bill of health from the volunteer
expert.

Even the best detection and removal software can't fix every malware
infection. If none of the above remove the infection, you may want to
show the computer to a professional.

 

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

I've got Windows Live One Care. I'll run a virus scan.

 

[John Wunderlich]

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?

It sounds like your user profile was damaged. It happens sometimes.

Should it happen again, this article might be of help:

"How to recover the damaged user profile in Windows XP"
<http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555473>

HTH,
John

 

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

I copied the contents of My Documents to another User.
Using the procedure outlined in the KB article here, I didn't want to delete
my current stuff, so I just did a simple copy and paste of My Documents to a
near empty profile.

 

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

I'm also reading KB 811151 (March 26, 2008), How to copy data from a
corrupted user profile to a new profile in Windows XP.

 

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

I've got Windows Live One Care. I'll run a virus scan.

Items removed during scan:

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

 

[Cymbal Man Freq.]

I was able to reboot and login. I guess the problem is over for now.