Windows Vista Profile Logon Failure

I have Windows Vista Premium. I keep getting "The User Profile Service failed this logon. User profile cannot be loaded." I've tried rebooting and the other troubleshooting suggestions with no luck. I can't get to the start menu because I can't log onto the machine at all. I'm guessing I need a recovery disc?? Old machine and I can't find any of the discs that came with it!! Help!

Hi,

You do not say what the "other" steps you took were

Use these methods to fix your problem;

1. Do a System Restore in Safe Mode to before the problem:

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

Getting into Windows Safe Mode. Use Arrow Keys to Navigate and ENTER Key to select Mode (which is where you have already gone to) 

http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm#03

2. Error message: "The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded”, when logging on to Windows 7 or Windows Vista

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947215/en-us

How to Fix the Error "The User Profile Service failed the logon. User profile cannot be loaded."

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

And this is when a Temp Profile is loaded;

"A temporary profile is loaded after you log on to a Windows Vista-based system"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947242

And how to fix a corrupted User Profile:

"Fix a corrupted user profile"

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/fix-a-corrupted-user-profile

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There are various methods to reinstall Vista.

This may assist you (download the files and make your own DVD):

http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/57-windows-vista-direct-download-links

And here are instructions on how to burn ISO images to disk:

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/ISORecorder.html

The above download links and information on how to make the ISO file and then creat the Installation DVD are at this link:

"How to Download a Vista ISO and Create an Installation DVD or USB"

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/301852-vista-iso-download-create-installation-dvd-usb.html

"How to Create a Vista Installation USB Key"

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/181538-usb-bootable-vista-installation-flash-thumb-drive.html

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You can contact your Computer Manufacturer and ask them to send you a set of Recovery Disks.

They should do that for a small cost.

To reinstall Vista using their Recovery Disk/s, you Boot from the 1st Recovery Disk they supply and follow the Manufacturer's instructions to reinstall:

You will have to change the Boot Order to make the DVD/CD Drive 1st in the Boot Order:

How to change the Boot Order in BIOS:

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/fixtheproblem/ss/bootorderchange.htm

"How to replace Microsoft software or hardware, order service packs, and replace product manuals"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246

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And if you do have a Manufacturer's Recovery Partition on your Hard Drive, you should be able to make your own Recovery Disks from it to reinstall the Operating System.

Look under Programs > your Computer Manufacturer's name > then their System Tools or Recovery Software Headings for them, depending how it is worded.

If you can not find any reference to it, contact the Manufacturer for advice on how to make those Recovery Disks.

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Some manufacturers no longer have Vista Recovery Disks available.

If that happens, you may have to try this instead:

You can also borrow and use a Microsoft Vista DVD, that contains the files for the various Vista Editions (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate) to be installed. The Product Key on your Computer / Laptop case determines which Edition is installed.

Other Manufacturers' Recovery DVDs are not to be used for the above purpose.

And you need to know the "bit" version for Vista, as 32bit and 64bit Editions come on different DVDs

Here is how to do a clean install of Vista, using a Microsoft Vista DVD:

"How to Do a Clean Install and Setup with a Full Version of Vista"

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-vista.html

And once the Operating System is installed, go to your Computer Manufacturer's website and obtain the latest Drivers for your particular Model Computer or Laptop.

And phone Activation may be required when using the above clean install Method.

"How to Activate Vista Normally and by Phone Activation"

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/84488-activate-vista-phone.html

Cheers.

Thanks, Bill Smithers. And my apologies for being so vague! My issue is when I power the laptop up, it goes to a sign-in screen where I would normally enter my password and it would open to my desktop screen. I've tried the safe mode on start up and it only goes to the same sign-in screen. 

It looks like I'm going to have to do re-install. Thanks again for your input. Very helpful!

You are welcome.

And how to save your Data before you reinstall, if you wish to.