User Profile Failed At Logon

[Guest]

I also have this problem.

I am the only user of a standalone PC running Vista Home Premium.
There is only one account set up (mine). I am Administrator. I have turned
off Guest Account long ago.
I attempted to set up a Standard account for my wife so that she can
download and view her digital photos without fear of her changing any other
settings. I used Control Panel / User Accounts / Manage Other Accounts / Add
Account
Although the account appears to be set up OK at this point, when I log off
as myself and try to logon as my wife, or reboot and attempt to sign in as my
wife, I get the message "User Profile Service Failed at Logon" - "Logon
Denied".
I can still log on OK as myself - Administator.

I have deleted my wife's account and added it again a couple of times, still
no good. I have turned Guest account on & off, this doesn't affect it either.

I have turned User Account Control On & Off; again still no luck.

I really do need your helpful ideas please.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Andrew McLaren]

Hi Ian,

I'm not sure exactly how to fix your problem. But here are some things to
check ... might fix it, or at least give you some ideas ...

The user profile is stored in some files under C:\Users\<username>. These
files need to be present in order for the User Profile Service to make the
logon; if they are missing, you will see the "failed the logon" error
message. Log in as Admininistrator and go to a Command prompt. Change
directory to your wife's home directory; eg:

C:\Users\Ian>cd \Users\Wife <enter>
C:\Users\Wife

Now ro a "dir /a" command to see the hidden files in the directory. The most
important Profile file is called NTUSER.DAT.

Next, make sure the Profile entry in the Registry is pointing towards this
directory.
- run Regedit
- navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\Software
\Windows NT
\CurrentVersion
ProfileList
There are Profile entries for each user account, identified by the SID
("Security Identifier"), a long number beginning S-1-5-nn-xxxxx- etc. For
interactive (human) users, nn will be 21, ie, S-1-5-21-xxx etc.

The built-in Administrator account's SID ends in -500. Other accounts will
end in random four digit numbers. There will probably be 2 or 3 Profiles
listed - one for your own account, one for your wife, and the old account
your wife used to have. See if you can work out which Profile belongs to
your wife.

Now examine the ProfileImagePath value, under your wife's Profile key. This
should be pointing towards her Home directory, where the NTUSER.DAT file
lives; eg C:\Users\Wife. If it is set to some other location, such as a
temporary directory or strange path, change it back to the default
C:\Users\Wife value. Then exit Regedit, logoff, and try to logon as your
wife.

You might also want to go to Computer, Properties, Advanced System Settings,
User Profiles, and delete any "(unknown)" user profiles, in case there is
left-over crud from unsuccessful attempts to create a user.

Hope this helps a bit; let us know how you get on.

 

[Guest]

Andrew
Thanks.
I think that we're heading in the right direction....

As I stated before, mine is the only account on the PC ( I deleted Public
completely some months ago because I could see no need for it).
When I create a new Standard account (eg "Karen"), although it appears to
create properly (ie creates an icon on the sign on screen), there are no
entries created in C:\Users; only C:\Users\Ian exists.
Therefore there is no NTUSER.DAT file for my wife.

How do I create a new file (or can I copy and amend the one in my profile?
If so, what is the best way?)

Is therte any way to copy and amend my Profile entry in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \
Software \Windows NT \CurrentVersion\ ProfileList to add a user that way? I
am not very clued up on Registry manipulation, and will need to be given a
step - by - step guide.

Any ideas anyone?

 

[Andrew McLaren]

When I create a new Standard account (eg "Karen"), although it appears to

create properly (ie creates an icon on the sign on screen), there are no
entries created in C:\Users; only C:\Users\Ian exists.
Therefore there is no NTUSER.DAT file for my wife.

Gee. That's weird. Okay well, that would certainly explain the "User Profile
Failed for logon" error! When a user is created, Windows *should automically
create a User directory for them and install a blank NTUSER.DAT. If the
directory didn't get created then there can be no user profile for that
user.

The new user's home directory get's created based on the template of the
"Default" user; C:\Users\Default. This directory is normally hidden. If you
go to a command prompt and run the command:

C:\Users>dir /a

do you see a Default directory listed, as well as the Ian directory?

How do I create a new file (or can I copy and amend the one in my profile?
If so, what is the best way?)

It is a pretty complex operation. If Windows cannot create it automatically,
it would be difficult (and error-prone) to craft one by hand. But let's make
sure Default exists, first.

 

[Guest]

Andrew

Profile list as shown below:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\>cd users
C:\Users>dir /a
Volume in drive C is SYSTEM
Volume Serial Number is 74B7-6F38
Directory of C:\Users
10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> .
10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> ..
02/11/2006 14:02 <SYMLINKD> All Users [C:\ProgramData]
02/11/2006 14:02 <JUNCTION> Default User [C:\Users\Default]
02/11/2006 13:50 174 desktop.ini
09/08/2007 18:09 <DIR> IanC
1 File(s) 174 bytes
5 Dir(s) 134,548,062,208 bytes free

However, if I attempt to look into the "Default" sub-directory, the system
cannot find it. See below (from a command prompt)
C:\Users>
C:\Users>cd default
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Users>cd Default
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Users>cd Default User
The system cannot find the file specified.

Any ideas are appreciated.
Thanks

Ian

 

[Peter Foldes]

ianc

Did you leave a empty space between >and dir when typing in the command. It should look like this. The _ signifies an empty space. Do not put the _ in when typing in the command.

C:\Users>_dir /a


--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

Andrew

Profile list as shown below:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.0.6000]
Copyright (c) 2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\>cd users
C:\Users>dir /a
Volume in drive C is SYSTEM
Volume Serial Number is 74B7-6F38
Directory of C:\Users
10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> .
10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> ..
02/11/2006 14:02 <SYMLINKD> All Users [C:\ProgramData]
02/11/2006 14:02 <JUNCTION> Default User [C:\Users\Default]
02/11/2006 13:50 174 desktop.ini
09/08/2007 18:09 <DIR> IanC
1 File(s) 174 bytes
5 Dir(s) 134,548,062,208 bytes free

However, if I attempt to look into the "Default" sub-directory, the system
cannot find it. See below (from a command prompt)
C:\Users>
C:\Users>cd default
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Users>cd Default
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Users>cd Default User
The system cannot find the file specified.

Any ideas are appreciated.
Thanks

Ian

Gee. That's weird. Okay well, that would certainly explain the "User Profile
Failed for logon" error! When a user is created, Windows *should automically
create a User directory for them and install a blank NTUSER.DAT. If the
directory didn't get created then there can be no user profile for that
user.

The new user's home directory get's created based on the template of the
"Default" user; C:\Users\Default. This directory is normally hidden. If you
go to a command prompt and run the command:

C:\Users>dir /a

do you see a Default directory listed, as well as the Ian directory?


It is a pretty complex operation. If Windows cannot create it automatically,
it would be difficult (and error-prone) to craft one by hand. But let's make
sure Default exists, first.

 

[Andrew McLaren]

C:\Users>dir /a

Volume in drive C is SYSTEM
Volume Serial Number is 74B7-6F38
Directory of C:\Users
10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> .
10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> ..
02/11/2006 14:02 <SYMLINKD> All Users [C:\ProgramData]
02/11/2006 14:02 <JUNCTION> Default User [C:\Users\Default]
02/11/2006 13:50 174 desktop.ini
09/08/2007 18:09 <DIR> IanC
1 File(s) 174 bytes
5 Dir(s) 134,548,062,208 bytes free

Hi Ian,

That explains it (sort of ...). You have no Default users' directory. This
"Default" is the skeleton which is used to create new home directory
structures and profiles, for newly created users. When you created Karen as
a user, there was no Default user directory, so no home directory or new
profile could be created for the her account. So when she logs in, she gets
the "User Profile Failed for logon" error message.

Why you don't have a "Default" user directory, I do not know. Without
pointing the bone prematurely, the most likely cause of a missing directory
would be that it was deleted, possibly inadvertently, by a user. Maybe you
deleted it accidently, at the same time you deleted the Public directory?
The system still has a Junction point "Default User" pointing towards the
C:\Users\Default directory, so we know the Default directory did exist, at
some time in the past. Anyway, it's gone now ...

As to how you fix this problem ... hmm, that's hard. The Default user
directory is quite complex, it has a bunch of junction points to other
directories, so it's not as simple as copying across a copy from another
machine (well, you could; but to do it correctly would be a complex, fiddly
operation).

I'd be inclined to try an inplace "upgrade" of Vista, over the top of your
existing Vista installation. This is the equivalent of a Repair Install,
under XP - you make a new installation of Vista on top of your existing
Vista; because it is an "upgrade", all your douments and seetings, and
installed applications will be preserved. Basically it fills in all the
missing pieces in the old installation. Just boot from your Vista DVD, and
choose "Upgrade" from the installation options.

If you don't feel like trying an inplace up-grade (although, it should be
fairly safe) you could, I guess, just resign yourself to having a single
user machine :-(

Anyway ... hope this helps a bit. Let me know if you have questions.

 

[Guest]

Looks like I'm stuck with a single user machine....
I don't have the Vista install discs as the PC came with Vista pre-installed
by the OEM. The files are hidden somewhere inaccesible on the hard drive.

I contacted the OEM (Novatech) Technical Support, who tell me that there is
no way to do a Repair Install, only a Clean Install. This would involve
re-installing all of my applications afterward.
Unless.............. if I were to backup all files, do a clean install and
then restore the files, would that work? Or would the restore re-create the
problem again? I don't know.!

C:\Users>dir /a
Volume in drive C is SYSTEM
Volume Serial Number is 74B7-6F38
Directory of C:\Users
10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> .
10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> ..
02/11/2006 14:02 <SYMLINKD> All Users [C:\ProgramData]
02/11/2006 14:02 <JUNCTION> Default User [C:\Users\Default]
02/11/2006 13:50 174 desktop.ini
09/08/2007 18:09 <DIR> IanC
1 File(s) 174 bytes
5 Dir(s) 134,548,062,208 bytes free

Hi Ian,

That explains it (sort of ...). You have no Default users' directory. This
"Default" is the skeleton which is used to create new home directory
structures and profiles, for newly created users. When you created Karen as
a user, there was no Default user directory, so no home directory or new
profile could be created for the her account. So when she logs in, she gets
the "User Profile Failed for logon" error message.

Why you don't have a "Default" user directory, I do not know. Without
pointing the bone prematurely, the most likely cause of a missing directory
would be that it was deleted, possibly inadvertently, by a user. Maybe you
deleted it accidently, at the same time you deleted the Public directory?
The system still has a Junction point "Default User" pointing towards the
C:\Users\Default directory, so we know the Default directory did exist, at
some time in the past. Anyway, it's gone now ...

As to how you fix this problem ... hmm, that's hard. The Default user
directory is quite complex, it has a bunch of junction points to other
directories, so it's not as simple as copying across a copy from another
machine (well, you could; but to do it correctly would be a complex, fiddly
operation).

I'd be inclined to try an inplace "upgrade" of Vista, over the top of your
existing Vista installation. This is the equivalent of a Repair Install,
under XP - you make a new installation of Vista on top of your existing
Vista; because it is an "upgrade", all your douments and seetings, and
installed applications will be preserved. Basically it fills in all the
missing pieces in the old installation. Just boot from your Vista DVD, and
choose "Upgrade" from the installation options.

If you don't feel like trying an inplace up-grade (although, it should be
fairly safe) you could, I guess, just resign yourself to having a single
user machine :-(

Anyway ... hope this helps a bit. Let me know if you have questions.

 

[Andrew McLaren]

Looks like I'm stuck with a single user machine....

I don't have the Vista install discs as the PC came with Vista
pre-installed
by the OEM. The files are hidden somewhere inaccesible on the hard drive.

I hate the way OEMs no longer supply installation media; it sucks. But, it
seems to be a fait accompli ...

I contacted the OEM (Novatech) Technical Support, who tell me that there
is
no way to do a Repair Install, only a Clean Install. This would involve
re-installing all of my applications afterward.
Unless.............. if I were to backup all files, do a clean install and
then restore the files, would that work? Or would the restore re-create
the
problem again? I don't know.!

If you do a clean install you would still need to reinstall your
applications. Personally, I think a Saturday afternoon re-installing all my
apps sounds just dandy; but ... I know not everyone feels the same way

You could back up your user data (documents etc); then do a clean install,
re-install your apps, then restore the user data. Trying to backup and
restore the whole system could leave you stranded in the same place you are
today :-( So, maybe you'll need to live with it.

Sorry I didn't have a better solution for you, but I hope the explanation
was of some use.

Cheers,

 

[Guest]

Hi Andrew,

I had the same problem creating User Accounts. And also the same
message:"User Profile Service Failed at Logon" - "Logon Denied". I checked
for the default user directory as you suggested, and like Ian I could not
find one. Then I followed your suggestion to do an inplace "upgrade" of
Vista. Bingo!!! It worked like a charm. Thanks a lot Andrew.

--
Jerry

C:\Users>dir /a
Volume in drive C is SYSTEM
Volume Serial Number is 74B7-6F38
Directory of C:\Users
10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> .
10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> ..
02/11/2006 14:02 <SYMLINKD> All Users [C:\ProgramData]
02/11/2006 14:02 <JUNCTION> Default User [C:\Users\Default]
02/11/2006 13:50 174 desktop.ini
09/08/2007 18:09 <DIR> IanC
1 File(s) 174 bytes
5 Dir(s) 134,548,062,208 bytes free

Hi Ian,

That explains it (sort of ...). You have no Default users' directory. This
"Default" is the skeleton which is used to create new home directory
structures and profiles, for newly created users. When you created Karen as
a user, there was no Default user directory, so no home directory or new
profile could be created for the her account. So when she logs in, she gets
the "User Profile Failed for logon" error message.

Why you don't have a "Default" user directory, I do not know. Without
pointing the bone prematurely, the most likely cause of a missing directory
would be that it was deleted, possibly inadvertently, by a user. Maybe you
deleted it accidently, at the same time you deleted the Public directory?
The system still has a Junction point "Default User" pointing towards the
C:\Users\Default directory, so we know the Default directory did exist, at
some time in the past. Anyway, it's gone now ...

As to how you fix this problem ... hmm, that's hard. The Default user
directory is quite complex, it has a bunch of junction points to other
directories, so it's not as simple as copying across a copy from another
machine (well, you could; but to do it correctly would be a complex, fiddly
operation).

I'd be inclined to try an inplace "upgrade" of Vista, over the top of your
existing Vista installation. This is the equivalent of a Repair Install,
under XP - you make a new installation of Vista on top of your existing
Vista; because it is an "upgrade", all your douments and seetings, and
installed applications will be preserved. Basically it fills in all the
missing pieces in the old installation. Just boot from your Vista DVD, and
choose "Upgrade" from the installation options.

If you don't feel like trying an inplace up-grade (although, it should be
fairly safe) you could, I guess, just resign yourself to having a single
user machine :-(

Anyway ... hope this helps a bit. Let me know if you have questions.

 

[Andrew McLaren]

I had the same problem creating User Accounts. And also the same
message:"User Profile Service Failed at Logon" - "Logon Denied". I checked
for the default user directory as you suggested, and like Ian I could not
find one. Then I followed your suggestion to do an inplace "upgrade" of
Vista. Bingo!!! It worked like a charm.

Hi Jerry,

Thanks for the feedback, that's quite interesting. So here's 2 totally
separate users, who somehow both seem to have no Default user directory. I'm
guessing there must be some kind of bad WAIK automated installation of Vista
floating around out there, which is not creating the Default user directory;
or something (3rd party app? Vista bug?) is silently causing the Default
directory to be deleted. Weird. Anyways I'll keep an eye out for more
instances of the issue. Thanks again for the update!!

Cheers,