Vista Prob, user profile services failed

Basicaly, I cannot logon to my laptop. It boots up to the logon screen, I type in the PW and get the EM... "the user profile service service failed the login. User profile cannot be loaded.

I'm away on vacation right now so have no back up discs, so I can't change the pw. There is no start button, F8 does nothing, I can't get to the safe mode, and I'm tethering on hubby's laptop and phone and I can't even enjoy my email and face book on his laptop, his settings are all wrong...LOL.

Please help!
It's a Dell Laptop, Studio 1515 with (friggin) Vista
can anyone tell me how to get into safe mode in Vista and how to maybe change the pw in the registry or do something to get rid of the start up problem.
Thanks all!

 

Welcome to Major Geeks!

Here is Microsoft's solution to the problem, but it involves being able to successfully boot the computer with another profile or safemode, which you aren't able to do according to the post. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947215.

Resetting the password is the quickest thing that I can think of, and may or may not work in this case.

These are two applications that I've used with great success in resetting passwords. http://www.techno360.in/kon-boot-access-any-pc-without-knowing-password/ and http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/. Both of these will be ISO format and will need to be burned to CD using a capable burning program that recognizes ISO formats. I recommend this application, http://www.majorgeeks.com/ImgBurn_d4870.html. After burning either of the first two apps that I mentioned to disk, you will need to go into your computer's BIOS and make certain that it is set to boot from CD/DVD first. Then insert the burned CD and reboot the computer.

As I can't guarantee this will fix your problem, you may wish to wait for other members help with this! I hope this helps!

 

I am not sure this is the answer for me... My password has always worked until last.

It is saying that my user profile can't be loaded. I'd like to get into the safe mode and try to get into the registry, but I don't know how to get there in Windows Vista. Once in the registry is there a key that will bypass the need to sign in with a pw?

I am now on my husbands laptop on a limited internet access.

Thanks!

 

Everything that you inquired about and mentioned was discussed in the first link in my message. In order to do anything, you have to be able to boot the computer in safe mode, which you aren't able to do. Tapping F8 repeatedly at power on is the only way that I'm aware of to get into safe mode. The registry modifications necessary are discussed in the first link.

Sorry that my advice didn't help you! Maybe other members will reply with something that works for you!

 

The user profile is corrupt . . . there's a tool to clean corrupt user profile hives for XP, but for some reason I can't find it, nor can I find out if it works for Vista (my Googling isn't finding that particular fix). However, I did find numerous helpful articles online:
http://cherrybyte.blogspot.com/2007/07/fixing-user-profiles-in-vista.html
http://forum.soft32.com/windows/Vista-Corrupt-profile-ftopict347233.html
http://rantingsofatech.wordpress.co...e-corrupted-when-logging-in-to-windows-vista/ (I think this provides the same info as the first link?)

Of course, this all assumes that you can get in to safe mode.... if repeatedly pressing F8 immediately after the DELL logo disappears doesn't bring up a "Boot Options" menu, then -unfortunately- I can't offer much help. If you hold down the power button for 8-10sec while Vista is booting (before the error occurs), the PC will shut off (don't make this a regular practice). The next time you power up, the "Boot Options" menu should be automatically presented to you.....

EDIT - I found the 'profile cleanup tool' and it's not applicable to Vista. Nor does there seem to be a Vista version since this tool is a built-in service in Vista. (but apparently didn't work for you)

EDIT #2 - @ Novice: you have PMs turned off so I can't reply to you directly. :confused

 

Hello,
If you are not comfortable editing the registry, do this at your own risk.

That being said, you can edit the registry offline using PC Regedit, a freeware registry editor using a linux live CD.

http://www.pcregedit.com/

 

Thanks for the input everyone!
I got home back from Montauk last night and with my desk top infront of me and NO cocKtails next to me I was finally able to to get into safemode this morning. (you know how vacation is, out fishing at 7AM, that DOS prompt looked mighty small at 8PM)

I used the Micsrosoft support instructions that somone posted, walked me right throught the reg-edit and booted the stubborn laptop right up.

It IS POSSIBLE to last a week with only minor forays into cyber space! BUT, the first few days wer tough! LOL

Thanks again!
Peace

 

Glad to hear that you got it fixed!

 

:celebrate :dancer :dood :drink