User Profile Service (Error 1501) Cannot create temporary directory

2

1

I believe the problem stems from this issue in my event viewer:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service
Date:          5/30/2015 3:19:04 PM
Event ID:      1501
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      
User:          Daniel-PC\daniel2
Computer:      Daniel-PC
Description:
Windows cannot create a temporary profile directory. This problem may be caused by insufficient security rights. 

 DETAIL - The system cannot find the path specified.

When my computer starts up, and logs in for the first time, (I believe) it's trying to create a backup for this profile. This fails, and then I get the dreaded "User Profile Service Failed". I can then login to a different account, check the registry, and restore the .bak registry entry in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\, and then I'm able to login. After a restart (Not a logoff suprisingly), this issue occurs again.

Some things to note about this Windows install: I modified the users profile directory and the ProgramData directories from the C: drive to my external USB drive following the steps here.

Where I'd like to go from here: I'd like to debug the user profiles services some more (gpsvg.log appears to be of no help, and trying to enable diagnostic logs on the User Profile Service via Event Viewer showed no useful logs). I'd like to see where the copy is failing, and what directory it's trying to move to, to try and figure this out further.

Goodbye StackExchange

Posted 2015-05-30T22:36:19.607

Reputation: 208

Answers

0

This might be a problem with a Windows parameter that was wrongly changed.

As this seems to be a recent problem, restore Windows to a time before this happened:

  1. Log on to your computer as an administrator.
  2. Open the Control Panel by clicking Start, and then clicking Control Panel.
  3. Click System and Security, and then click System.
  4. Under the Control Panel Home menu, click System protection.
    If you are prompted for an administrator password, type your password. If you are asked for confirmation, provide confirmation.
  5. Click System Restore.
  6. Click Choose a different restore point, click Next and then click a Restore point.
  7. Click Next, and then click Finish to confirm your Restore point.
  8. To start the restore process, click Yes.
  9. Once the system restore is complete, your computer will restart.

harrymc

Posted 2015-05-30T22:36:19.607

Reputation: 306 093

This is a brand new install..., there is nothing to restore. – Goodbye StackExchange – 2015-06-02T11:07:24.730

Something still managed to get itself corrupted, and with a new install this is more serious. I suggest doing chkdsk and sfc /scannow. Use also a tools such as Speccy to verify the SMART data of the hard disk. If nothing is found, then I see no other solution than to reformat the hard disk using slow format (can find disk errors) and reinstall Windows.

– harrymc – 2015-06-02T11:33:24.800

As I said in my post, I believe it has to do with the fact that I'm using junctions for directories, and my profiles are stored on a different hard drive. This is a brand new install, and I do not believe anything was corrupted on install. This error makes me tend to believe that it's attempting to create directories on the alternate drive and perhaps permissions are not set correctly. – Goodbye StackExchange – 2015-06-02T11:40:45.873

So this is not a brand new install - you already changed some settings. I guess you have an SSD and are looking to unload some folders from it. I looked at your link and it looks much too complicated for such a simple operation. I really don't see, for example, any reason to move Program Files off the SSD, even the opposite. I suggest to reinstall and get everything working, and only then start moving folders one by one, very carefully, while knowing exactly how to undo each operation. – harrymc – 2015-06-02T13:27:22.923

Just remember that some of these folders are very special and might be better left in their place. Nothing stops you from storing your files on another drive, you don't really have to move system folders, because you need to understand each and every operation you do. – harrymc – 2015-06-02T13:28:07.993

1Windows has support for moving the Users directory and ProgramData folders. In this case, I just set junctions like the article said in case some remnants still refer to c:\users or c:\programdata. This is a stock windows install other than the unattended install and the junctions added. I'm looking for more helpful answers in regards to debugging the WinLogon service in regards to how it creates profile backups. – Goodbye StackExchange – 2015-06-02T13:30:58.240

You don't need to debug Windows - there is nothing wrong with it. The instructions you followed are wrong, or you had some mistake while following them. Attention: Relocating these folders might prevent you from fixing future problems with Windows - search this forum for examples. I repeat: Go back to square one and proceed very slowly. Today's SSDs are of a different quality from even 5 years ago, and will stand up to anything you can throw at them as good or better than a spindle drive. If you have enough space, no need to move folders. – harrymc – 2015-06-02T13:41:21.323

I don't have the space...that's the point. It's a small SSD drive (50gb), and I'm tired of trying to free up space every few days. Programs that install like to utilize c drive even though I point them to the D drive (For example things like .net framework/visual studio additions.). I'm not having any issues with anything other than the user profile service now, and I've installed roughly ~40 programs with Visual Studio/.net framework, etc... – Goodbye StackExchange – 2015-06-02T13:46:28.820

Programs can install anywhere, there is nothing special about C:\Program Files. (Except for some Microsoft products/updates). However, some User folders are special, and I think you ran into one of them. You might be better off moving selectively some sub-folders of Users, rather than the entire Users folder, but know that this might make impossible the Repair Install of Windows, so once it's broken complete reinstallation is required. You can store documents, music, video and mail in your own folders, changing defaults, no need to relocate the Windows ones. – harrymc – 2015-06-02T15:18:43.997

Asked: 2015-05-30T22:36:19.607

Viewed: 1 475 times

Active: 2017-08-10T11:33:09.470