After typing the login password, if you see ‘you have been logged on with a temporary profile’ in Windows 7 (or sometimes in Windows 8.1), it clearly indicates a temporary profile in Windows 7.
Sometimes Windows 7 or Win 8 OS will not read the user profile properly. Therefore, it will load with a temporary profile that looks like a new user profile. In that case, you will be surprised to see the brand new desktop without your files, folders, program shortcut icons, and personalized settings.
This step-by-step guide shows you how to fix the temporary profile issue in Windows 7/8.1/10 and Windows Vista.
This guide has been updated with several methods, more information, inputs, related links and my experience on this issue in a domain and workgroup environment.
Why Does Windows 7/8.1 (& Vista) Load with a Temporary Profile?
- Your profile (the files and folders located under C:\Users\user_name) is corrupted.
- Another chance is a delay in reading your profile files due to an Antivirus scan or something else during boot up. Usually, after typing your username and password, Windows tries to read and load your profile. If it gets corrupted or delayed in reading, Windows will load with a temp profile to give temporary access to the computer.
Temporary Profile Issue in Windows 10 and 8.1
Windows 10 or 8.1 computers rarely load with the temporary profile. These Operating Systems handle this issue better than older Windows 7. If you face the same temp profile issue on Windows 10 or 8.1, you can follow the steps below. The registry modification should fix the problem easily.
How to Temporary Profile in Windows 7- Workgroup & Domain
The below screenshots are taken from several Operating Systems but are still valid for all desktop Windows OS.
1) Restart the Computer
Before doing anything, restart the computer 2 or 3 times to see whether it’s returning to your old correct profile. Go to the next step if this doesn’t work.
2) Registry Modification
Rename the temp profile registry and revert to the old registry settings for the correct profile. Most probably, this method will fix the problem.
- Log in to the computer with the temp profile.
- Start the registry editor by typing regedit in the search box of Windows 7/8.1 or Windows 10.
- Navigate to the following location.
- You will see similar keys under the profile list, but one with .bak, as shown below.
- The key with .bak is your correct old user profile. Your Windows 7 computer is currently logged in with a fresh (temporary) profile with the same key. So, rename the new profile key (not having .bak) and remove .bak from the correct profile key.
After modifying the registry correctly, log off and log in (or restart) with your user name and password. If you are lucky enough, you must get your correct profile with icons and settings back in Windows 7.
Still, if the Windows 7 laptop or desktop loads with the temporary profile and creates a registry key with .bak, that means the user profile is corrupted badly, and the Operating System is not reading it properly.
3) Scan and Repair Disk in Windows 7/8.1
A few times, repairing the corrupted files worked for me. Usually, the corrupted ‘Ntuser’ files cause the temporary profile issue. So, run the check disk for the partition with the user profile.
After restarting the computer to continue the check disk tool, you can hope for recovery if you see corrupted entries and the repairing process inside your user profile folder.
If it finds and repairs files, especially the Ntuser files, you may get your old Windows 7 profile back.
Even though Windows 8 and 8.1 does the disk error checking automatically as part of ‘Automatic Maintenance’, you can still run it manually when you face this temp profile issue. If any system files corruption is found, that will be fixed during the scan.
a) Right-click on C drive, Tools and Error checking.
b) The recommended way to find and replace corrupted files in Windows 8 and 8.1 is by running the ‘SFC’ scan.
Start the command prompt as administrator like shown below (search for cmd, right-click and select ‘Run as administrator‘)
Type sfc /scannow and press enter to start the process.
You may need to have Windows installation DVD with you for this process; it is required to replace corrupted files from the original installation medium.
Restart the PC after repairing/replacing corrupted files (if found). Possibly, this could fix the issue.
4) Try System Restore
System restore is another solution you can try before going to the next step. System restore does not affect the user file. It will revert the system state to a certain date.
Few users reported this method as a solution for temporary profile loading issues in Windows 8.1/10 and 7 computers.
Also, you can try a system restore or re-installation (repair) of the Windows 8 Operating System if none of the steps works for you.
If the above steps do not help you out, then you need to create a new profile with the new username.
5) Create a New User Account
We need to create a new user account, log in with it and transfer the data from the old user profile to the new user profile. It is easy in a workgroup (home and individual PCs) environment as you can create a new username locally, but it is tricky in the domain environment.
Because the existing user account is already there on the domain server, and there is nothing wrong with it. Also, creating a new different domain user account will cause issues with corporate emails, domain group membership and shared permissions.
So, we need to treat both cases separately.
1) Create a new username in the non-domain (workgroup) environment from the control panel or computer management. Make sure to add the new user to the administrators’ group.
Login with the new user name and start copying your old data from the old profile. I normally copy the below data,
a) My Documents (Music, videos and downloads)
b) Desktop
c) Favorites
d) Any outlook PST files (find more information about the location of PST files here)
But Microsoft suggests copying the entire old user profile (except 3 files) as shown in this official site link.
2) New user profile in the domain environment.
Since we can’t delete and create the new domain user account for this purpose, we will only play around with the client’s computer. Let’s completely remove the user profile and recreate it again.
Copy the important user data (a to d in step 1) or entire folders from the corrupted profile to a new location (like D drive or a different folder in C drive). Ensure you copied all required folders and files from the old profile before deleting the original folder.
Go to Advanced settings of System as shown below, click on Settings (user profiles), select the corrupted user profile not loading properly in Windows 7, and then press the Delete button.
The delete button will be enabled only if you log in with a different user account.
This step will remove the entire user profile data and related user SID from the computer, including the registry keys we discussed earlier. You can cross-check the proper removal of a user account (SID) by checking the C:\Users folder.
Once it is removed properly, restart the computer and log in with the same username (which was not loading earlier). The computer should create a new user profile like the first time the user logs on.
You need to copy back your old important data to the new profile and set email outlook clients etc..if required.
I’m sure one of the above steps will fix the temporary profile issue on the Windows computer. Do let us know which one worked for you.
Did exactly this, however the system simply created a third profile at logon and renamed the correct one to .bak again, now I have a *.new, a *.bak, and the new temporary one. I have tried everything, still cant get out of this temporary logon. Strange thing is, here is no apparent reason for it, computer has been fine till I switched it on this Morning, and Ive been in a temporary profile ever since…aaaaarggghh!!!!
Gary, same thing is happening to me. What was your solution?
Johnathan, I eventually bit the bullet, and accessed all the information from the original profile through the temp one, backed it all up to an external drive, then formatted and did a full clean install. At least I didnt lose anything, but it was a royal pain in the ass.
I was able to fix this problem recently with a domain joined computer. I simply deleted that registry entry (had his documents backed up to an external drive). Logged off from the admin account, logged in as his user, voila no temp profile message. For verification I saved a few files, ran some stuff and shutdown the machine. Logged back in and everything was fine.
Reformatting should be a last resort to these issues, sorry you had to go through it 🙁
My problem is a little differnet, now when you logon as some users we get a temp profile issue, but when we get to the registry there is no .bak profile, has someone there encountered this issue? Do you have a solution?
Tks for your help!
in my first profile i dont have any pw and now it is necesary a user name and pw …what i have to write …i dont know it i dont had any pw pls help me ty
I’m having d same problem but I don’t know to get my informations at d original profile through the temp. One can u help plz ?
Instead of renaming the *.bak, simply delete it. Then logoff & login again. It should be fine. I have done it on two diff occasions. Worked fine for me.
this worked for me, thank you for posting this! and thanks to the original uploader also.
thanks all 😛
This does not permanently solve the problem. My system continues to log into temporary profile. This occurs regularly when switching users.
The user name should be the same with your user folder. In “non .bak” one, you should correct the “ProfileImagePath”.
For example if your username is “Jack”, “ProfileImagePath” Should be “C:\Users\Jack”.
Add Step
7) There is a “State” and “RefCount” value set both to “0” (zero).
dont work
I belive I figured this out. I wish Microsoft would add this info the their KB about this issue. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947215
The fix is:
1. Login using another local administrator account. (Make one if there isnt another).
2. Remove the corrupted user from Users in control panel.
3. Move the corresponding folder from the Documents and Settings (XP) or Users folder (Vista and Windows7) to the desktop of the newly created admin user’s desktop.
4. Open regedit and navigate to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList Find the key on the left that corresponds to the corrupted profile. Note the value of the string on the right called GUID. Delete all keys that list the corrupt user profile (.bak versions and regular).
5. THIS IS THE STEP THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDED TO KB:
Go up a few lines in regedit to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileGuid.
6. Delete the key (keys?) within this ProfileGuid folder that match the value of the GUID string that you noted above.
7. Restart PC
8. Login as the temporarily created admin profile. Go to control panel and recreate the corrupted profile. (Make it an administrator at least temporarily so you’ll be able to access the files we moved to the other admin’s desktop if needed).
9. Logout and login as fixed user.
10. Copy any files from the temp admin’s desktop where we copied the corrupted profiles data, into the appropriate places in the fixed profile. This includes My Documents,Favorites, Outlook data, and any other user data you need.
11. Once everything is working properly, you can remove the temp admin from control panel> Users and delete its folder.
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL OF THE DATA YOU NEED BEFORE REMOVING THE TEMP ADMIN.
GL!
9. Logout and login as recreated user.
10.
@Michael Belsky,
Thanks for the good information.
ProfileGuid is new to me and I think it will fix the issue permanently since several users reported this method did not work for them. I will check your steps and update this post accordingly. Thanks again for your valuable information. I don’t think Microsoft will change their KB, but I will.
Thank you for this tutorial.
I just would like to know why my regedit doesnt have this HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileGuid folder… and same way GUID string in …..\CurrentVersion\ProfileList folder is missing.. so I cant complete all the procedure in this guide.
I attach a image where you can see it: http://i55.tinypic.com/8zifr8.jpg
Thank you so much in advance.
Joe
Thanks Michael,
Your tutorial helps fixing the issue. This is much simplier under the client/domain user since i do not have to save my client doc. All I have to do is to delete the client’s profile and then go to the registry keys and follow your tutorial.
Regards,
I removed all the ProfileList Users and logged back in. I can recreate a local user profile but not one for my domain. So now I can at least log into the workstation without the error message but I still have the same problem when logging into the network. I am running SBS2008R2 on the backend with ADDS. HELP!!!!
Yes, this is what did it for me as well, but since my client is in a domain, removing from Control Panel wasn’t necessary, just deleting the keys with the problem user’s SID under ProfileList key.
Glad to share!
I have this issue but i cannot delete the registry keys. It just says cannot delete them, unable to do this is safe mode either.
Any ideas? I think i may just reinstall from scratch….
@Stuart,
Can you log in with other administrative user account and delete?
It should work.
When logged in with the temporary profile it will not let you create another profile. So while MBs fix may work I can’t get there from here.
This does work.
If you create a new account with admin rights you should be able to then use that account to delete the one that has the temporary profile. On this website you can find an image of the full error message to see if it matches your error message – http://www.mypchealth.co.uk/Win7Profile.php
Thanks a lot! This does the trick.
My PC created a Locked Temp folder in the Users Folder. I went to the registry to try some of your suggestions. What solve the problem for me is…. Navigate to HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList and change the profileimagepath in your profile key to the desired folder.
Worked for me – thank you!
This only worked for me when I removed all references to the GUID from the registry, but thanks for this information as it pointed me in the right direction.
,-) Lovely Thank you for the information beautifully made! Just do not reveal ones own hassles to your collegues…20% tend not to care at all plus the additional 80% are generally glad you suffer from them.
Thank you Michael Belsky!
You saved my machine… I was just about to re-image the machine, because I was getting frustrated with the temporary profile thingy.
I seem to not have profile list because owner is the only one on my computer
Simply detele the profile keys from the registry and then re login
How do I create a new .bak key. I deleted .bak from the key name and deleted the corrupt key. However, now there is no .bak key. I would be in serious trouble if this happens again.
Thank you for this tutorial.
I just would like to know why my regedit doesnt have this HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileGuid folder… and same way GUID string in …..\CurrentVersion\ProfileList folder is missing.. so I cant complete all the procedure in this guide.
I attach a image where you can see it: http://i55.tinypic.com/8zifr8.jpg
Thank you so much in advance.
Joe
Like Joe, I also do not have the ProfileGuid folder
This does’nt work at all.
As u dont have the permission to change ur own profile, and gives some error.
It is better to take the backup of the profile and then login through admin and delete the profile form the path given and then login.
this will create a new profile.
(BUT DATA BACKUP IS COMPALSORY.)
Thank you!! When I first turned on and found all my icons and most of my programs were gone, I almost went insane. But it’s fixed now and I don’t have to reload all my iTunes music.
Thanks again
This won’t work for me. An error message pops up that says “Error renaming key.” How can I fix that?
Fantastic fix, thank you. I had the temp account problem for a domain account for our company’s MD who couldnt get into his laptop. I logged in as domain admin account, ignored step 2 with it being a domain and not a local account. The regedit bits worked a treat,really saved the day for me, much appreciated.
Fix at top worked for me first time. Didn’t have to create another admin profile. Thanks a million!