Steps
DISCLAIMER: Editing\Deleting registry keys is very dangerous and should always be done with caution. Before making any changes to the registry please create backups and move them off the server from which you will be making registry changes.
| 1. |
Identify the SID of the user whose profile needs to be deleted.– I typically use ADSI Edit on a domain controller to do this. Open ADSI Edit, navigate through the OU’s until you find the user, CN=”Username”, right-click and choose properties. Scroll to the object property labeled “objectSid”. Document that SID because you will need it shortly. |
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| 2. |
Verify that the user is not logged into the server.– From a command prompt type “query user” and verify that the user is not listed. |
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| 3. |
Open the folder directory where the server user profiles are stored.– Server 2008 default is “C:\%USERNAME”. |
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| 4. |
Delete the profile folder for the user. |
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| 5. |
Open the registry editor.– Start > regedit |
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| 6. |
Navigate to the following: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList |
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| 7. |
Locate the sub-key that is named the same as the documented SID from earlier. Right-click on the sub-key choose delete. |
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| 8. |
Have the user log back in. If the user reports no problems then you have successfully deleted a user profile.– If the user logs in and is presented with a pop-up from the system try stating that the user is being logged in with a temporary profile then proceed to step 9. |
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| 9. |
If the user gets logged in with a temporary profile then have them log out, open up the registry editor once again, and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList. |
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| 10. |
Look for a sub-key named the same as the documented SID followed by a “.bak”. Right-click on that sub-key and choose delete. |
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| 11. |
Have the user attempt to login. The user should no longer be prompted by the temporary profile pop-up. |