Please Help! Windows Vista logon problem

[Trailrider1951]

I am running Windows Vista for home pc. I now cannot log on to my account. I typed in my password and the screen said "User profile service failed the logon". So it did not recognize my password. I went back to the logon screen and was able to get access by way of the Guest account, but when I try to change things, again my password is not recognized. Can someone give me some direction as to how to handle this? As Guest, I no longer have access to my files. God, sometimes I hate windows!

The problem started after I shut the computer down with a disc with music videos downloaded from you tube in the CD drive. I started the computer back up sometime later with the DVD still in the drive, and that's when the password problems began. This problem was also posted in the DU lounge. Thanks for any help you can give me.

[blogslut]

1. Try this

If the computer is on, turn it off.

Then, turn it on again and immediately press and hold down the F8 key for a few seconds.

You should then see a black screen with white text giving you options on what to do.

Press the Down Arrow key to highlight: "Last Known Good Configuration". Then press the Enter key.

See if that works.

[Trailrider1951]

3. That did not work

I'm back as guest

[blogslut]

6. Try what ucrdem suggested

Also, do you have a Windows install or recovery disk?

[Trailrider1951]

9. Yes, I've now located the disc

That came with the computer. Re-installation DVD, Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit SP1. What can I do with it?

[blogslut]

11. Insert it in the drive then reboot

When the computer restarts, you'll get a screen that give syou the option to Repair Windows.

Try that.

I've been up all night and am going to bed now. Good luck.

If repair doesn't work, I'll see you later.

[Trailrider1951]

2. OK, I'll try that

Hope it works!

[ucrdem]

4. Have you tried starting in safe mode?

Same routine as above but choose safe mode from the first screen. You might be able to get to your control panel, and then go to user accounts and turn off password checking, or if you can't do that, reset your password to something simple.

[blogslut]

5. Good point

I never know which one to choose, Safe Mode or Last Good. If I'm at the point where I'm pressing F8, I'm probably too freaked out think straight.

Of course, the only time I've ever been shut out of a Windows logon was when the CMOS battery on my laptop died.

[ucrdem]

7. Sounds like it might be some kind of virus

in which case a good scan with an up-to-date antivirus should do the trick. The post just below this one has some good links to free antivirus apps.

[Trailrider1951]

8. OK, I tried the safe mode

I can logon as myself/admin now, but I cannot create another user account. I went into control panel, manage accounts, and tried to create, but nothing happened when I clicked the link. Also, in safe mode, I have no internet connection, so I'm back as guest.

Also, when this first happened, I immediately did a virus scan with my AVG program (paid, not free). It found nothing.

[ucrdem]

10. Hmm. Here's what I'd try next:

Shut down normally, unplug or power off, wait 30 seconds, power on and boot up normally. Then repeat (shut down normally, etc.) 2 or 3 times, and see if Windows repairs itself, which is something it happens to be good at.

If that doesn't do it, and you can download and install apps, I'd try either installing Microsoft Security Essentials, from the MS website, and/or Spybot Search and Destroy, free home edition, link here: http://www.safer-networking.org/spybot2-own-mirror-3/

Let them update before scanning, then do a full scan. MSE will be quicker than Spybot which can take awhile. Follow the prompts to fix any issues, shut down, cross your fingers, and more than likely your PC will start up again normally if it hasn't already. If it doesn't, you might have to go to plan B, a repair-reinstall using the DVD. But let's hope not. Good luck!

[PrestonLocke]

12. This is unlikely a virus

sounds like your user account is corrupted. If I recall the quickest way to rectify is to backup and reinstall windows.

Not sure if anyone posted this yet, but m$ has a kb article on this problem. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947215

[gvstn]

13. A couple of things to try

It is odd that you could sign in by way of safe mode if the user profile service failed, that is usually a fairly bad error requiring a new account be created.

I would try to enable the Administrator account with the following command from your personal account in Safe Mode (you could also try it as Guest if you have trouble signing into your personal account): http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/enable-the-hidden-administrator-account-on-windows-vista/

net user administrator /active:yes

This would give you a more powerful account than Guest. Administrator should now show up on the Welcome screen.

Then try again to create a new account working from the Administrator account to be used as a backup.

If you have a blank CD, you could also create a repair disc by typing Create into the Start/Search box the selecting Create a Repair Disc. This would give you access to basic functions if something goes wrong with chkdsk.

Then I would run a chkdsk on the C: drive to see if it is a fileystem error. Right-click the C: drive in Computer and select Properties. Under the Tools tab hit Check Now. Tick both boxes and hit the Start button, it will schedule for next boot so reboot and let it run (about 1/2 an hour for stage 4, so do it when you have time to wait). See if it you can log in normally.

If you are still having problems you could try a System Restore form either the new account or the Repair Disc.

[Trailrider1951]

14. Wow, thanks for that information!

I moved most of my files over to the guest account for now. If I can create a new admin account, I'll move all those files to it. Thanks again, my DUers!

[blogslut]

15. How are things now?

I see you were able to retrieve your files. That's great.

Since you have a physical Windows install disk, you're free to just re-install Vista.

[hareay]

16. Reset Windows Vista password

Don't worry, I suggest you can some Windows password recovery tool to fix this issue insteading of cracking tools, the cracking tools will send data in your computer to remote, so you need care

[hobbit709]

17. Try the steps suggested here. Option 1 is Vista, option 2 is 7.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/130095-user-profile-service-failed-logon-user-profile-cannot-loaded.html