Windows Vista Error: User Profile Cannot Be Loaded

Windows Vista has an anomaly (that's marketing-speak for bug) that prevents users from logging in. One day you attempt to log in, and Vista responds with 'The user profile service failed the log on. User profile cannot be loaded.'

Here's how to fix it:

• Work in Windows Safe Mode
1. reboot the computer
2. during the boot process - at exactly the right moment before Windows opens - press
   
   • the way to get the 'right moment' is to tap once each second until the Safe Mode screen appears - it is a screen with a black background and a lot of white text
   • if Windows delivers a standard Windows login screen , you missed the moment in which you can start Safe Mode
   • if so, reboot and try again (and again and again) until you enter the Safe Mode screen
3. when in the Safe Mode screen, left-click on Safe Mode (it is usually at the top of the screen); you will jump to the Safe Mode desktop, which looks like a very plain Windows desktop
   
• Perform a System Restore
  1. left-click on
  2. left-click on Accessories
  3. left-click on System Tools
  4. left-click on System Restore; you will jump to a screen that resembles a calendar and lists several Restore Points
     
  5. select the most recent Restore Point
  6. follow the on-screen instructions to restore your computer's system to the last known good configuration
     
  7. do not interfere with the process - allow it to complete and to automatically reboot;
• After the reboot, Windows will (or at least, should) let you log in.

How and Why (first reason) to use Safe Mode

News Flash! Sometimes things go wrong with computers. Yesterday we discussed how to invoke Windows' Safe Mode. Safe Mode is one of the tools you can use to diagnose and repair Windows' problems. Our first problem (and its fix)is things going wrong after you added / changed hardware or changed a "driver." Note: you'll have to print these instructions because they will not be available on-screen while you perform these steps.

1. How: There are two ways to get where you need to be for out first possible fix:
   
   • If you have NOT added the safe boot option to your startup menu
     • At the right moment, press the F8 key. Be alert: your window of opportunity is small
     • If you miss that opportunity, Windows will start normally.
     • You should let Windows finish its startup process.
     • Then re-boot and try again.
     • Keep trying until you get it right.
     Now you know why I recommend adding the Safe Mode option to Windows.
   • If you have added the safe boot option to your startup menu
     • Start the computer.
     • When the Options menu appears,rather than selecting an operating system, press the F8 key
   
   Either method will open the Safe Mode Options Menu.
   
   The first thing to try when using Safe Mode to recover from a system problem is invoking the Last Known Good Configuration option.At the Safe Mode Options Menu,
   
   
   • Use the arrow keys to highlight Last Known Good Configuration
   • press the ENTER key. NOTE: NUM LOCK must be off before the arrow keys on the numeric keypad will function.
   • Follow the screen prompts. When instructed,
   • reboot the system
   • test to see if the original problem is fixed.


2. WHY: Choosing Last Known Good Configuration provides a way to recover from problems such as a newly added driver that may be incorrect for your hardware. It does not solve problems caused by corrupted or missing drivers or files.

   You should use the Last Known Good Configuration as soon as you discover a problem which occurred right after you changed a driver or added/changed hardware.

Tomorrow: More ways to use Safe Mode.

Recover From Windows Problems (Add Safe Mode To The Boot Menu)

News Flash! Sometimes things go wrong with computers. One of the tools you can use to diagnose and repair some problems is Windows' Safe Mode. To use Safe Mode, restart the computer. During the start up you have a brief moment in which you can press the F8 key. Pressing F8 allows you to use Safe Mode. Catching the correct moment is a challenge. However, you can force Windows to present a menu from which you can select Safe Mode. Hint: print these instructions - they are not available while you are performing the listed tasks.

1. Right-click My Computer
2. Left-click Properties.
3. Left-click the Advanced tab.
   Under Startup and Recovery,
4. Left-click the Settings button.
5. Left-click Edit.
   The boot.ini file will open in Notepad. In the boot.ini file,
6. Copy the line that reads as follows:
   multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=”Microsoft Windows XP Professional” /fastdetect.
7. Paste the line you just copied after the original one.
8. Change the second line - the one you just pasted -
   from “Microsoft Windows XP Professional”
   to “Windows XP Safe Mode” or something similar (the exact text of this step is not important).
9. At the end of this line add the following: /safeboot:minimal /sos /bootlog.
10. Save the boot.ini file
    • Left-click File.
    • Left-click Save.
    • Left-click OK.
    • Left-click OK.
11. Restart your computer.

Safe Mode should be available at the boot menu.

Tomorrow: How and Why to use Safe Mode