possible causes:-
1. This issue may occur if the user profile was manually deleted by using the command prompt or Windows Explorer by a user or by some program. A profile that is manually deleted does not remove the security identifier (SID) from the user profile list in the registry. Since the SID is still present, Vista will still try to load the profile by using the ProfileImagePath that points to a nonexistent path. Therefore, the profile cannot be loaded.
2. This can also be a issue with the user profile entering into a backup state.
3. Manually renaming the C:\Users\(User Name) user profile folder.
Fixes:
1. Open the Start menu.
2. In the white line (Start Search) area, type regedit and press Enter.
3. If prompted by UAC, either click on Continue (Vista) or Yes (Windows 7).
4. In regedit, go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
5. In the left pane, look for the S-1-5..... folder (SID key) with the long number that has .bak at the end of the numbers.
6. If you have Two S-1-5..... folders (SID key) with the same Number
NOTE: This is if you have two S-1-5..... folders (SID key) with the exact same numbers, but the second (below) one has the .bak at the end of the numbers.
A) In the left pane, right click on the first (top) S-1-5..... folder (SID key) that does not have .bak at the end of the numbers and click Rename.
B) Add .bk to the end of the numbers.
C) In the left pane, right click on the second S-1-5..... folder (SID key) with .bak at the end of the numbers and click Rename.
D) Remove only .bak from the end of the numbers and press Enter.
E) Now go back and Rename the first one with .bk to .bak now at the end of the numbers and press Enter.
7. In the right pane of the one without .bak now, right click on RefCount and click on Modify.
NOTE: If you do not have RefCount, then right click on a empty space in the right pane and click New and DWORD (32 bit) Value, then type RefCount and press Enter. This value for this entry will reset and return back to the original value after you have restarted the computer and logged on to the account.
A) Type 0 (number) and click on OK.
8. In the right pane of the one without .bak now, right click on State and click on Modify.
A) Type 0 (number) and click on OK.
NOTE: This value for this entry will reset and return back to the original value after you have restarted the computer and logged on to the account.
9. Close regedit.
10. Restart the computer.
if u only Only One S-1-5 instead of 2:
skip step 6, and do this:
A) In the left pane, right click on the S-1-5..... folder (SID key) with .bak at the end of the numbers and click Rename. (See screenshot below)
B) Remove only .bak at the end of the numbers and press Enter. (See screenshot below and below step 10)
then follow steps 7-10 as normal.
if u have any questions, shoot me up here.
