Windows 8 keeps loading with temporary profile

Anonymous
2012-11-22T02:28:10+00:00

I upgraded my Windows 7 to Win 8 Pro. Today my power cable got unplugged and the computer restarted but cannot open my default profile. It keeps logging me to a temporary profile and states that the default profile could not be loaded. I check through the error logs and it states that the Registry may have gotten corrupted. How would a restart of the computer corrupt my registry. The problem is that everytime I restart it keeps taking me to the temporary profile which is new everytime I log in. None of the settings are saved. How do I get back to my original profile. I tried Refreshing the PC and it failed. Is this fixable?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2012-11-22T16:59:04+00:00

Hi

We are glad to get your query on Windows Community.

As far as your query is concerned, It seem that you are having a tough time logging to your default account.

I will surely help you with issue. But I still require certain information to get the right resolution:

May I know whether the default account is an Admin account or a standard user account?

I would recommend you to follow the methods below to resolve the issue:

Method 1:

Enable Built Admin account.

a) Press Windows and x key together on your desktop screen.

b) Click on Command Prompt (admin).

c) Type: net user administrator /active: yes

Note: Please follow the same steps and type net user administrator /active: no to disable admin account after the troubleshooting is done

After enabling Built-in admin, please try with the steps below:

Step 1:

Perform SFC Scan

Please follow the steps to perform SFC Scan:

a. Press “Windows Key + Q” to open Charms Bar.

b. Type “cmd” without quotes in the search box.

c. On the left pane, right click on the “cmd” option and select “Run as Administrator”.

d. Type ‘sfc /scannow’ without quotes and hit enter.

Note: It may ask for windows installation DVD to fix and to enable SFC to make more than minor repairs. Some files saved on your computer might get deleted when fixing corrupted files.

Step 2:

Please perform Microsoft Safety Scanner to scan your computer for infections.

To download and run the Microsoft Safety Scanner, follow these steps:

a) Go to the Microsoft Safety Scanner site at: Microsoft Safety Scanner

(http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx)

b) Click Download Now.

c) If prompted, click Run. Follow the on-screen instructions to download and install the Microsoft Safety Scanner. When prompted, add a shortcut to the Microsoft Safety Scanner to your desktop.

d) From your desktop, double click the Microsoft Safety Scanner icon. When the Microsoft Safety Scanner program launches, click Scan Type, then click Full Scan, then click Next.

e) After the scan is complete, remove all detected malware entries

Note: Any data files that are infected may only be cleaned by deleting the file entirely, which means there is a potential for data loss.

For more information refer:

Microsoft resources and guidance for removal of malware and viruses (Microsoft Safety Scanner).

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2671662

Step 3:

Please restart your PC and check if you are able to log in to your Default Profile.

Method 2:

From Built in administrator account create a new user account and transfer the profile data.

Please follow the steps below to do that:

a) Press Windows and x together and select Windows Explorer.

b) Click on View tab and Click on Options at the top right corner.

c) Click the View tab, and then click Show hidden files, folders, and drives.

d) Uncheck the box which states **Hide protected operating system files.**e) Click Yes to confirm, and then click OK.

f) Locate the C:\Users\Old_Username folder, where C is the drive that Windows is installed on, and Old Username is the name of the profile you want to copy files from.

g) Select all of the files and folders in this folder, except the following files:

•Ntuser.dat•Ntuser.dat.log•Ntuser.ini

h) Right click and Select Copy.

i) Locate the C:\Users\New_Username folder, where C is the drive that Windows is installed on, and New Username is the name of the new user profile you created.

j) Right click inside the folder and select Paste.

k) Restart your PC and check if you are able to log in to default profile.

Please reply us back if the issue still persists.

Was this answer helpful?

200+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments No comments

192 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2013-07-01T19:50:22+00:00

    Hi,

    This is how the same problem with a standard account got resolved:

    1. copied the ntuser* files to a backup folder
    2. in the original account folder, renamed the ntuser.dat file, renamed the LOG1 file to ntuser.dat
    3. restarted the computer and logged in - still nothing
    4. moved(!) the ntuser* files from the account folder
    5. copied the ntuser* files from the backup folder (step 1) to the original account folder
    6. logged in again to the account - everything's there

    * Copying/moving files was done from an admin account.

    Maybe there was a restart between steps 4-5. not sure.

    I don't understand why this process solved this issue for me (and i don't think step 2 is necessary) - maybe trying to log in without ntuser* and then with the originals again did the trick.

    Hope this will help you too.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2013-07-01T17:17:56+00:00

    The old profile does not show up, so i cant copy, this is on a domain account.  I tried everything else.  I can log in as a domain admin, but the user cannot, it sets them up as a temporary profile.  

    In windows 7 always had an old profile you could do this with.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2013-06-22T23:05:10+00:00

    So far it has taken me 5 hours and counting to fix this mess Microsoft has created.

    My Windows 8 laptop was working perfectly up until today when I restarted it after an update and it logged me into a temporary account.

    After searching and trying everything I eventually resorted to building a new account but as I NEVER BUY anything from Windows $tore its not been $ painfull but I can really see how people would feel if they had bought stuff from Windows $tore.

    I did track down what I think to be the problem with the profile.

    In AppData.local.Packages.Win$tore_xxxxxxxxxxxxx.AC.Micro$oft.Windows $tore.Cache.0 there was a file that was too long for the filing system. I could not delete it, rename it or do anything else with it.

    I have change the file directory to Win$tore_xxxxxxxxxxxxx because it might be different on everyone's machines and if not Micro$oft can pay me for my 5 hours effort if it turns out to be the cause.

    Windows 8 - you've got to be joking Micro$oft - stop copying other vendors and do what you did well. I don't want stuff in the cloud.

    Windows 8 a bad experience, a U-turn to 8.1, a U-turn on xbox, how many more U-turns - when will you learn.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2013-06-12T23:08:21+00:00

    b) Yes, unfortunately the paid apps won’t be there and you have to buy them again.

    Profile corruption isn't anything new to Windows.   Designing a system that will force users to re-purchase paid apps in the event of a profile corruption has got to be the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.  I would expect more from the "talented" Microsoft engineers,   but apparently they aren't as talented as people may think.

    One thing I know,  I will definitely refrain from purchasing any apps from the app store.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments