Win7 - "User profile cannot be loaded"

[Quackamoe]

I got a Lenovo laptop running Windows 7 a while back. I set up two user accounts - Account A with admin rights and Account B without admin rights. Then I got lazy and did all my browsing and astronomy stuff on Account A. The laptop worked fine - hadn't downloaded anything lately - and then one day I closed the lid on Account A and the next day I opened the lid and selected Account A and entered the password. Then I got this:

The User Profile Service failed the logon
User profile cannot be loaded.

I can log into Account B with no problems but when I try to install software I'm prompted - as ever - for a password. But now entering the Account A password has no effect. Also, I have a lot of data in Account A that I can't even see.

I've found a couple of possible fixes but they all require the Account A password - which doesn't work. Hmph.

I'm hoping some spacey ice people might have some suggestions for me.

Terry Fowler
Apple Valley, CA

[bluezanzibar]

Hi Terry,

For a slightly geekish solution you could try a Linux bootdisk or Usb stick. A Linux bootdisk will usually enable you to access the files on a Windows partition. Linux doesn't recognize Windows permissions but does recognize the files and folders on a Windows Disk. You don't have to install Linux on your Hard disk, you just run Linux directly from a DVD, CD or Usb stick. For more information about this see this article http://www.pcworld.com/article/2147063/linux-to-the-rescue-how-ubuntu-can-help-a-computer-in-distress.html. In the linked article they show how to reset the Admin password on a Windows machine from a Ubuntu Live Usb drive. If that doesn't work then this article might help http://null-byte.wonderhowto.com/how-to/hack-windows-7-admin-account-password-with-windows-magnifier-0154860/. Google is your friend. As always, backup your files and folders before attempting to hack Windows.
Good luck and may the Geek Gods be with you.

regards
Athol

[RAJAH235]

Hi,
I used this just this week to reset the P/W on a friends WIN 7 PC.
> http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/

Worked like a charm.

Seasons Greetings.

[Ferrcpb]

This (http://www.uukeys.com/reset-windows-7-password.html) program used to work on Windows 7 but failed on Windows 10. Anyone know the reason?

[BeyonceCheng]

Check to see if the tools you use are compatible with both Windows 7 and Windows 10,on the market,some tools only support Windows 7,not Windows 10.
For user who use Windows 7 computer,please try it:https://www.winpwd.com/ to reset computer.