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Windows 10 - Black Screen After Login - Corrupt Profile?

Anonymous
2018-04-19T03:07:21+00:00

A few days ago Windows 10 installed a few updates and afterwards I was no longer able to login to my primary profile.

When I login to the primary profile, the screen is black with a cursor and fails to load the desktop. I have try running the troubleshooting programs, looking at things in safe mode, disabling the start up programs that are secondary (e.g. Adobe Reader) and a few other things. Nothing has helped.

I am able to login under an alternate profile and have access to many of my files. The files I created and password protected under the primary profile seem to be off limits to the alternate profile.

My guess is the primary profile is corrupt.  How can I access the primary profile files that I password protected? I know the password, but Windows is not allowing me to access them with the alternate profile.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Performance and system failures

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  1. Virginia M 40,820 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2018-04-20T12:17:57+00:00

    Right Click on the Windows 10 Start button and click on Run.

    Run Command in Windows 10

    1. Type regedit into the search box and press Enter.

    Regedit Command Window in Windows 10

    1. Now, navigate to the following key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList.

    Registry Hkey Local Machine Software

    Once you follow the file path and reach ProfileList, you will see folders starting with S-1-5. Each of these folders represents a user profile or a user account created on your computer.

    1. Click on each S-1-5 folder and identify the folder that is related to the user account that you are trying to fix.

    You will be able to clearly identify the user account that each of these folders is related to by taking a look at the ProfileImagePath entry that you will see on the right side of your Window.

    User Account Profile Path in Windows 10

    1. Once you have identified the right folder, Double Click on the entry “State” to launch a pop-up window (See image below) and change the value to 0.

    Edit Dword "State"

    1. Next, Double Click on the entry “RefCount” to launch a popup window (See image below) and change the value to 0.

    Note: If you do not have RefCount, then you can create a new file by right clicking anywhere on the blank space in the right pane – Click New > DWORD (32 bit) > type RefCount > click on Enter.

    Create New Dword File

    1. Close regedit and restart your computer. You should now be able to log into your account.

    https://www.techbout.com/fix-corrupt-user-profi...

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  2. Greg Carmack 24,770 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-04-19T03:31:04+00:00

    Hi Cindy. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 8 year Windows MVP, here to help you.

    Can you create and sign into a new Local Admin Account which should be able to copy the files over to itself? http://www.howtogeek.com/226540/how-to-create-a...

    If not see if you can copy them over from the corrupted account in Safe Mode. If nothing else works you can access the files in Repair Mode when Windows has no control over them to copy them over using this same method as for rescuiing files when WIndows won't start: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

    Then set up the new account, test it works OK,or I will help you repair the install using this checklist: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...,

    or you can manually Upgrade to Spring Creators Version when it is released next week using Media Creation Tool - this is a reinstall so solves most problems while saving files, programs and some settings: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...

    When ready delete the old account in Settings > Accounts > Family and Other Users. Then you can associate your MS account with the new account if/when desired: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5375-switch...

    I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

    4 people found this answer helpful.
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