Windows 7: Preparing your desktop....C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\Desktop refers to a location that is unavailable.

Question

C:\Windows\system32\config\systemprofile\Desktop refers to a location that is unavailable.

This problem occours after a reboot but does not happen with any rhym or rhythm (seems random). Login screen appears, im the only user, my pic and user name appear correctly, i type my password and hit enter, then it gets wierd, it says that it is preparing my desktop; But this is not the first time for logging in. then when i do log in its a new desktop everyting default plus the windows aero is shut off and replaced with the Windows classic theme. then i get the message in the taskbar..... Your user profile was not loaded correctly! You have been logged on with a temporary profile. Changes you make to this profile will be lost when you log off. Please see the event log for details or contact your system administrator. Event viewer revals nothing related to this issue that i could find. Only 3 occourances of this so far. I am operaing Windows 7 Professional 64 bit. I have only seen one other mention of this elseware after a google search but was during RC version I have version 6.1.7600 build 7600 and am having this problem rumors are that it happens with Symantec Endpoint Protection installed which i do I have, Version 11.0.5002.333 which is the latest build update and was created for windows 7 compatibility. SEP Logs reveal nothing abnormal besides files that could not be scanned once but did not mention the above file location. Just wanting to see if anyone else has been having this problem.

Also I believe this to happen after a remote desktop connection either to or from the client pc then a reboot or a shut down.

Mentioned here in brief http://www.xiirus.net/articles/article-windows-7-preparing-your-desktop-woe-mbp3t.aspx

and here in vista http://www.xiirus.net/articles/article-vista-your-user-profile-was-not-loaded-correctly-cuu82.aspx < i do notice in the screenshot here that SEP is installed on that computer

Answer 1

I don't know if this is going to be of any help, but here's a situation I ran into recently that I hope gets you closer to the solution.

Brief History

While testing out a new Win 7 image build, I had to make numerous changes to default user profile and default user hive to make the necessary adjustments that should only happen once per user.  However, once I logged on, tested and made any additional adjustment(s), I couldn't just log out and back on because the profile was already created.  I would need to start from scratch.

Like we currently do in Win XP, I deleted my existing profile and left it at that.  On subsequent logons however I noticed that my changes weren't 'coming down' and adjustments I made to the profile weren't sticking.  It was at that point I realized I was logging on with a temporary profile.

SolutionIn my case I not only had to delete (or rename) my user profile, but I also had to go into the registry and remove/rename the profile SID (well I think its the SID, or user GUID of some sort) for the profile I deleted.

• HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
• Look at each SID/GUID
• Check the ProfileImagePath to confirm you've selected the proper SID/GUID
• Once you have the right one, delete the key or rename it (like append .BAK to the name)

Once I deleted the profile, all worked well again.

Now for you, I know that removing or renaming your profile may not be the most desirable solution, but if you try the suggestion above, or simply create a new account, it should help isolate where the problem lies.

Answer 2

Happened again to me today, has anyone seen or herd of this with windows 7?

Answer 3

Just happened to me for the first time. Similar config to yours, Win 7 Ultimate x64. Had just updated my nVidia drivers. Hasn't happened since but I'd sure like more info in case it does. Thanks!

Answer 4

Just happened to me for the first time. Similar config to yours, Win 7 Ultimate x64. Had just updated my nVidia drivers. Hasn't happened since but I'd sure like more info in case it does. Thanks!

Do you have the antivirus program Symantec Endpoint Protection installed and running on your computer? I also have this entry in my event viewer log "The Nvidia display driver Service service has reported an invalid current state 32." Every time I boot the computer i creates one of these error logs. Since you mentioned updating your nVidia drivers I have a GeForce 9800 GT with driver version 191.07 installed. But has been updated this didnt happen right after i installed the driver update for my graphics card in my case. And that error is widespread i wouldent be supprised if you found similar entries in your event viewer.

Answer 5

I'm having the same issue as well. I also have Symantec Endpoint Protection installed, and I have a Nvidia 9600M GS graphics card. I haven't updated my graphics drivers in a while, so that leads me to believe that the problem lies with Symantec. I just upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit a couple of weeks ago, and have had this problem sporadically since then. However, now it happens every time I reboot my computer.