Member Avatar for ArtChess

Ok, here's the scenario, someone is using Windows XP with the latest patches. it's an IBM t41. User logs on to an Active Directory Domain. the user accounts are Local (not roaming).

The issue is one day the user logs on and he get the following error:

[User Environment]

Windows cannot find the local profile and is logging you on with a temporary profile. Changes you make to this profile will be lost when you log off.

[OK]
******************** when we click OK **************
it reads:

Detail - An I/O operation initated by the regitry failed unrecoverably. the registry could not read in, or write out, or fulush, one fothe files that contain the sytems' image of the registry

[OK]
**************************************

Ok actually i forgot which window came up first , i think it maybe the other way around.

But in any event the symptoms are when he finally logs in his script still works and he can still get to his U: drive an other network drives. However his desktop is empty and My Documents folder is empty.

When you right click Start button and explore it's on the c:\documents and settings\temp ...

he can get to his c:\documents and settings\%his name% folder no problem.


Other than of course re-imaging the system, what would be a actual legitmate fix for this, and what may have caused it?

Any suggestion is appreciated and thank in advance as always!!

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Dani AI

Generated

This looks like a classic local-profile/registry-hive problem on an XP laptop (as described). The important clues are: mapped drives and logon script still work, the profile folder exists on disk, Explorer is using a temporary profile, and the system reported a registry I/O failure. ’s suggestion to try a Last Known Good boot is a good, non-destructive first step.

Recommended triage (in order):

  • Check Event Viewer (System & Application) for profile/registry errors and the time of failure.
  • Verify free space on C: and run hardware checks if any I/O errors appear.
  • Run these maintenance commands from an elevated prompt:
    chkdsk C: /f /r
sfc /scannow

Registry/profile repair (backup first): boot as local Administrator, export the key below from the registry, then inspect the SID keys. If a user SID has a duplicate with “.bak”, fix it by renaming so the correct SID has no “.bak” and set the RefCount and State DWORDs to 0. Confirm ProfileImagePath points to the correct folder.

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

Reboot and test login.

If the hive is corrupt or the registry I/O error persists: create a fresh profile and migrate data (do NOT copy NTUSER.DAT). Log into the new account once to build the folder, then copy Desktop, Documents, Favorites and needed AppData subfolders (mail PSTs, browser profiles) but avoid registry hives. If chkdsk shows real disk faults or SMART/diagnostics fail, plan data recovery and reimage—repeated registry I/O failures usually indicate hardware trouble. Always export the ProfileList key and back up the profile folder before making changes.

Member Avatar for dcc

have you tried a last known good configuration?

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