EXAMPLE: Error Message in Windows 7
STEP ONE
Log On to the Computer as an Administrator
WarningYou must be logged on to an administrator account using either step 1 or 2 below before you can move on to do the STEP TWO section below.
NOTE: If you do not have another Administrator account, then proceed to step 2.
A) Go to the STEP TWO section below.OR
2. To Boot into Safe Mode for the built-in Administrator account
NOTE: You may not need to enable the built-in Administrator account. If this was the only normal administrator account you had, then Safe Mode should automatically boot into the built-in Administrator account.
A) Boot into Safe Mode (in Vista) or Safe Mode (in Windows 7).Tip
If you cannot boot into Windows and do not have a Windows installation DVD, then you can create and use the boot disc below to boot into Safe Mode with instead.
Windows 7: (Option Two at link)
How to Create a Windows 7 System Repair Disc
Vista: (Option One at link)
How to Create a Vista Recovery Disc
B) If Safe Mode did not boot into the built-in Administrator
account, then enable the built-in Administrator account. If it did , then go to step 2C.
C) Log off in Safe Mode, and then log on to the built-in Administrator account to logon with that account in Safe Mode.
D) Go to the STEP TWO section below.
STEP TWO
Delete the User Account Profle SID Key
WarningYou should backup anything you do not want to lose in this user account's user folders first. (See note in step 11) They will be located in the C:\Users\(username) folder.
2. Open the Start menu.
3. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
4. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7).
5. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below step 7)
Code:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
NOTE: It should have .bak at the end of it.
A) In the right pane, look at the ProfileImagePath to see if this is the same user account that you deleted in step 1 above.7. To Backup the Registry SID Key
B) Repeat step 6 until you find the one that you deleted in step 1 above.
WARNING: You should backup this SID key to be safe in case you delete the wrong one in step 8 below.
A) Right click on the SID key, and click on Export.8. Right click on the SID key, from step 6 with bak at the end, and click on Delete. (See screenshot above)
B) Type in a name and save the REG file to a safe location.
NOTE: This is your backup. To Restore the Backup, right click on the REG backup file and click on Merge.
C) Continue on to step 8.
9. Click on Yes to confirm deletion. (See screenshot below)
10. Close regedit.
11. Log off and log on.
NOTE: After you logon to the computer, the profile folder you are having problems with is re-created. If not, then try a System Restore using a restore point dated before you got this error. If this still dows not help, then you will need to create a new account and restore the user folder files afterwards from the warning in step 1.
