Windows cannot find the local profile

user-profileswindows xp

My computer was infected and the damage was almost completely removed. The only problem that persists is that my local profile on Windows XP is corrupted. When I try to log on, I get the following message:

Windows cannot find the local profile and is logging you on with a
temporary profile. Changes you make to this profile will be lost when
you log off.

My desktop icons still exist at C:\Documents and Settings\USER\desktop but I don't know how to restore them.

Best Answer

Usually the SID of the user gets a .bak in the registry to restore to a working version, but it may not. Either go into another user that works with administrator privilege, or reboot the machine into safe mode (press F8 as the machine boots, choose Start Windows in safe mode).

From there:

  1. Go to Start -> Run
  2. Type regedit
  3. Find the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
  4. Look on the list on the left for your SID's SIDs Windows 10 but the same process in XP
  5. You will likely have one (or more) SIDs that have a .bak)

Example:

S-1-5-21-2810719073-3206633882-1157864446-1002

S-1-5-21-2810719073-3206633882-1157864446-1002.bak

  1. Export the SID WITHOUT .bak somewhere on your machine in case you need it again
  2. Delete the key WITHOUT .bak
  3. Rename the key WITH .bak, removing the .bak
  4. Reboot your machine and try your user account again
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