BleepingComputer.com: startup cant find desktop

I origianaly posted about search links being redirected, couldn't install or run malwarebytes or superspyware. After reading a bunch of posts with similar problems, I took it upon myself to run combofix. That seemed to work, all search links worked even after several reboots. Until I decided to do some preventative maintenance:

1. Installed and ran malwarebytes and superspyware

2. went into regedit and deleted 2 objects in one of the : software\microsoft\...... run or runonce
(i dont remember exactly what or where from)

One of the two probally the latter cuased
upon normal reboot to recieve BIG RED X saying:
LOCATION IS NOT AVAILABLE
c:\windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop is not accessible

Bottom right next to clock a bubble pops up and reads:
Failed to connect to a windows service
windows could not connect to the User Profile Service
this problem prevents limited users from logging onto system..

I get a BLACK desktop, a small recycle bin and start is there I click it opens everything is there but nothing happens when I click on them.

I'm running Vista Home SP1.
I can start in SAFE MODE only, I can not install update from my original CD in safe mode.
Repair from CD didnt work either.
In safe mode all my files and folders are there and I have access to everything safe mode allows.

I hope I gave enogh info.

Thank you for your time....

i would like to suggest to create the new user account

Hey,

Please say you backed up your registry before deleting things?

I tried a new user account and it starts up the same way black desktop and recycle bin. safe mode works the way supposed to.

I really messed up by not backing up registry before making changes. (HUGE MISTAKE)

I can still backup all my important documents/files to a usb flash in safe mode and transfer to my other computer, Then do a clean install.

But if I can avoid that by replacing whatever is missing (file or value) which starts User Profile Service at startup.

your input is greatly appreciated.

Yep a big mistake indeed!

Unless you can remember the keys that where deleted i don't think this can be fixed. - If we knew what they key was we could try and recreate it.

Enter Safe Mode and try running a System Restore. ----> worth a shot

System restore could not find any restore points.
Luckly I can still backup my important stuff with a usb flash.
I guess I will do a clean install.

Someone once said, " Confidence is the feeling you get before you F somthing up"

I felt sooo confident after i fixed the malware problem.

Thanks for your time and help....

ElTilicon, on Mar 18 2009, 11:49 PM, said:

So true!

If you ever need to make changes to your registry i would suggest to seek help from someone who knows what they are doing.

As you have seen, one wrong move and everything's messed up.

A great registry back-up tool that I've personally used ERUNT.

FWIW - a search through my Vista registry for "windows\system32\config\systemprofile\desktop" didn't find anything.
The folder itself does exist on my system - and contains a lot of OS specific stuff.

Since you can't boot into Normal mode you can't do a repair install of Vista ( http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-re...tall-vista.html )

Since you're able to boot into Safe Mode, but not Normal mode, we'll have to figure out what is different between the two (that's a lot) - then try some research to see if we can figure out what's causing it.

Since we're not sure about the status of your hard drive, let's check that first. Here's a link to a topic with links to the most common hard drive manufacturer's tools: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic28744.html Use a bootable diagnostic to avoid having to work in Windows (as the installer most likely won't work in Safe Mode).