Windows 8: user profile service login error - what to do?
In Windows 8, if you receive a message about an error logging in to the User Profile Service, you can usually fix it yourself. We'll show you how to do this.
Windows 8: Error logging in to the User Profile Service
- The messages "The login of the user profile service failed" or "The user profile cannot be loaded" appear for example after interrupted Windows updates or improper changes to the registry.
- For repair you have to start the safe mode and log into your user account or that of another administrator. In our video, we show you how to access Safe Mode:
Windows 8: Repair broken user and fix errors
Note: Before you make any changes to the registry, you should back up the registry.
- Simultaneously press the [Windows] + [R] keys so that the "Run" window opens.
- Enter the "regedit" command here and confirm with "OK". Then the registry editor starts.
- Navigate to the following path on the left: "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ ProfileList".
- You will find several subfolders here. Select the folder with the longest name.
- Right-click the RefCount and State files and choose Modify.
- Change the values to zero (0) and close the window with the "OK" button.
- Then restart Windows if your user can be reached again.
In the next practical tip we will show you how to start Windows 8 without login.