"Windows cannot load your profile because it may be corrupt"

douglas598 · 04-12-2005, 05:06 PM

Hi, douglas598 here. This is a Win 2000 Pro system. After a power outage (found out the UPS had gone south), the computer was restarted and this screen pops up, "Windows cannot load your profile because it may be corrupt." This screen has a count down timer. If allowed to count down or OK is selected, the next screen says "Windows cannot load your profile and is logging you on with a tempoary profile. Changes you make to this profile will be lost when you log off." After all this, the screen is like your using the computer for the first time except for a few, not all of your previous icons are on the new desktop. A new folder can now be found in C:\ Documents and Settings named "user name.bak". Each time the PC is restarted, it's like the first time. And as promised by the second pop up window nothing is saved. Is there a way to restore the profile using the .bak folder. The .bak folder appears to have all the old user settings and folders. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
douglas598

johnwill · 04-13-2005, 07:27 AM

First off, I'd be doing an image backup with something like Acronis True Image, so any mistakes you make won't be fatal.

The normal way to repair a profile is to move the good stuff from the broken profile to a new profile for the user. I've never had this happen to me that way, I've had a profile become damaged and just crash trying to logon. I fixed it by recreating the user account and then moving over any items I needed. Most applications will just re-initialize for a new user account, Microsoft Office comes to mind.

douglas598 · 04-14-2005, 07:46 AM

Thanks for the reply johnwill. I think I'm the only person this has ever happened to and this makes the second time. After the first time I formatted and started over. I created the new user and moved all important files over to it and everything seems to be fine. I appreciate your help. One more thing, am I in any danger of screwing things up if I delete the old corrupt user account? Thanks again for your help.

douglas598 · 04-15-2005, 10:13 AM

Found my second question answered by johnwill in another post (http://www.techsupportforum.com/show...+user+account). Thanks again johnwill.

04-12-2005, 05:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
douglas598 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 15 OS: Win 2000 Pro	"Windows cannot load your profile because it may be corrupt" Hi, douglas598 here. This is a Win 2000 Pro system. After a power outage (found out the UPS had gone south), the computer was restarted and this screen pops up, "Windows cannot load your profile because it may be corrupt." This screen has a count down timer. If allowed to count down or OK is selected, the next screen says "Windows cannot load your profile and is logging you on with a tempoary profile. Changes you make to this profile will be lost when you log off." After all this, the screen is like your using the computer for the first time except for a few, not all of your previous icons are on the new desktop. A new folder can now be found in C:\ Documents and Settings named "user name.bak". Each time the PC is restarted, it's like the first time. And as promised by the second pop up window nothing is saved. Is there a way to restore the profile using the .bak folder. The .bak folder appears to have all the old user settings and folders. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, douglas598

04-13-2005, 07:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
johnwill Manager, Networking Forums Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania, US Posts: 31,329 OS: XP-Pro, Vista, Linux Blog Entries: 1	First off, I'd be doing an image backup with something like Acronis True Image, so any mistakes you make won't be fatal. The normal way to repair a profile is to move the good stuff from the broken profile to a new profile for the user. I've never had this happen to me that way, I've had a profile become damaged and just crash trying to logon. I fixed it by recreating the user account and then moving over any items I needed. Most applications will just re-initialize for a new user account, Microsoft Office comes to mind. __________________ If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience

04-14-2005, 07:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
douglas598 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 15 OS: Win 2000 Pro	"Windows cannot load your profile... Thanks for the reply johnwill. I think I'm the only person this has ever happened to and this makes the second time. After the first time I formatted and started over. I created the new user and moved all important files over to it and everything seems to be fine. I appreciate your help. One more thing, am I in any danger of screwing things up if I delete the old corrupt user account? Thanks again for your help.

04-15-2005, 10:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
douglas598 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 15 OS: Win 2000 Pro	Just delete user account? Answered Found my second question answered by johnwill in another post (http://www.techsupportforum.com/show...+user+account). Thanks again johnwill.