The User Profile Service service failed the logon

I went into safe mode and (I think) got into a default administrator situation. Then, when I tried to mess around with the old administrator status/password/name/etc. it kept asking me for the old password as a prelude to change. I gave it the old password, but now, if the old password is corrupt, the old password that I gave it that (was) right must look like a wrong password. What a mess.

OK, still hoping to make some changes in the user account area. Tell me what to do.

I see seven possible things to mess with, as follows:

1. Change Password. But I have to put in the old admin password which now doesn't seem to work. In that case, how to change it?

2. Remove Password. That would seem to fix my problem, but Windows cautions me not to do it. What would happen if I did do it? Could I subsequently add back my old password or is the administrator naked forever or something worse after I remove what is in there now?

3. Change Picture No point in doing that so far as I can tell.

4. Change Account Name I could not. This option seems to be protected from change by a little yellow and blue shield icon.

5. Change Account Type. Same as 4. above.

6. Manage another Account No dice; same as 4. above.

7. Change User Account Control Settings Same as 4 above.

What are the shield icons telling me? Any workarounds here?

Thanks,

How to Enable or Disable the Windows 7 Built-in Administrator Account

(Using OPTION TWO)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Through an Elevated Command Prompt

NOTE: This option can be used in all editions of Windows 7.
Step 1. Open an elevated command prompt. (by doing this)

2. Open the Start Menu.

3. Click on All Programs and Accessories, then right click on Command Prompt and click on Run as administrator. (See screenshot below)

3a. If you are in an administrator account and get a log in prompt after doing any of the above steps, then click on the Cancel button and repeat the above step again. This will only do this for the very first time you try to open an elevated command prompt in Windows 7.

My note: I opened my account years ago in Windows XP and I thought my (only) user account was also my administrator account. Now, when I click “Run as administrator” per procedure above, windows opens to my old/original user’s account and wants a password. Following item 3a above, I look for a Cancel button. But there is no Cancel button, only a box for “yes” or a box for “no”. I seem to fail at this point.

But…I am not in Safe Mode at this point. So far as I can tell, these instructions don’t call for me to be in Safe Mode. Should I be in Safe Mode?

3b. If you are in a standard account, then you will need to type in the administrator's password to elevate the command prompt.

My note: the box for “yes” or the box for “no” also appears if the situation is 3b rather than 3a...in other words, no Cancel button.

Step 2. To Enable the Hidden Built-In Administrator Account (Step 2 afterOpening an elevated command prompt)

A) In the elevated [COLOR=#0072bc !important][COLOR=#0072bc !important]command [COLOR=#0072bc !important]prompt[/COLOR][/COLOR], type [/COLOR]
net user administrator /active: yes and press Enter. (See screenshot below)

B) Go to step 4.

4. Close the elevated command prompt.

5. Log off, and you will now see the built-in Administrator account log on icon added (enabled) or removed (disabled) from the log on screen. (See screenshot below)

NOTE: Click on the Administrator icon to log on to the built-in Administrator account.
Last edited by dubina; 12 Hours Ago at 01:23 AM..

Brink, sorry for the confusion. I haven't seen an administrator's account (named as such) on the new PC or the old XP for years. I thought (a) I was the administrator, (b) my (named) account was the admin account and (c) the admin account was corrupt since I couldn't log in to it anymore.

What I get is that I do have to boot to Safe Mode before I take steps to enable the Windows 7 Built-in Administrator Account. I will do that before doing the steps under Option 2 above.

Brink,

OK, I enabled the Administrator account, logged out and restarted in normal mode.

Saw new Administrator icon and logged in.

Then I saw an opportunity to change / reestablish my old password in my old user account...that I previously thought was an admin account. (By the way, the icon for that account says it is an admin account, which I suspected as I have reported here.)

I wanted to do that, presummably....hopefully, to get back to where I was before the crash.

When I put in the old password (that earlier had not worked because I got the User Profile error, presummably because the software install had corrupted something) in the old user account, Windows told me if I made that change, I would lose all my password related internet stuff for that account...presummably, because I was changing the password for that account. Seeing a problem, I stopped what I was doing.

If that password / profile is messed up so that I can't open it with the old password, then how can I retain and access the structure that Windows tells me I will lose if I change the password? Is Windows telling me in effect that I've lost that structure (and by "that structure", I assume it's talking about my affiliations with other forums, websites, professional organizations, etc.) because something is messed up in that particular user account and changing the password to that account in an effort to "fix it" would destroy my preexisting credentials and affiliations? I can't sign in to that account with the old password, and I can't access the structure if I change the password? What a mess.

Moreover, when I was locked out of Windows 7 by my profile problem, I got in through another (standard) account. In that account, I thought I couldn't see files that I could see as an administrator before the crash. If I change the password for my old (admin) user account or try to reinstate the old password by "changing" it, will I have access to those other files that I couldn't see when I logged in under the standard account?

And what about my Window updates and other automatic online updates? If I change / reinstate that password, will my updates be terminated? I am led to wonder at the extent of my injury. That, in turn, leads me to wonder if a system restore might not be easier and best afterall in more ways than one.

What do you think?

Again, I don't quite know what I'm doing and I hope you can advise me what to make of this.