Forum Discussion
Cant fully remove user profile Win10 Enterprise V2004
Hello everyone
For years I have been able to recreate user profiles by rebooting the machine and then going to control panel and opening up the list of user profiles and deleting it.
I would then confirm no trace of profile in registry here: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
Now when I attempt this, things like recycle bin is still full and some onedrive files are left behind.
We suspect the 2004 update may have altered how to recreate profiles.
Does anyone know how to solve this? I have tried on 2 different machines with 2 different users with no luck.
Thanks in advance.
12 Replies
We had the same problem, we even stumbled upon a Critical Error when attempting to open the Start Menu after the same user that had just been removed signed back in again. I figured it must have something to do with the User GUID, so I searched for that in the registry and removed most instances. I then created a DOS batch script to make it easier the next time. Here it is. Feel free to adjust to your needs.
REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets\Regedit" /v "LastKey" /d "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList" /f start "" regedit Msg * "Copy the the correct Profile GUID from the Registry Editor and close the Registry Editor, then paste the Profile GUID in the batch script" SET /P PROFILE_GUID="Please paste the GUID " REG DELETE "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\Deployment\AppExtension\windowsudk.storage.registerschema\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\Deployment\Package\*\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\IdentityStore\Cache\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WcmSvc\wifinetworkmanager\features\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppReadiness\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx\AppxAllUserStore\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Authentication\LogonUI\UserTile\ /v %PROFILE_GUID% /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\DataStore\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\State\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Group Policy\Status\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileService\References\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WlanSvc\ProfileSync\PerUser\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\IdentityCRL\DeviceIdentities\production\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f REG DELETE "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\%PROFILE_GUID%" /f explorer "C:\Users" Msg * "Shift+Delete the User Folder and then the Profile Removal is all done"GreatToHearFromYou Thanks very much for that information.
Its quite unusual for this to happen, its 2 from 2 attempts. The other user is overseas and a director so we couldn't spend anymore time on it so she is using a new laptop now.
For the remaining user it will be up to my boss if he wants anymore time spent on it now but I will keep this handy either way as it may happen again.
Thanks againpmgoes You're very welcome. I really think this is a new problem in v2004, I've never had this problem before. I am not sure how long your company is using the 2004 version now, but we just started deploying v2004 for only new computers, or computers that are showing problems and I've already encountered the problem twice, so 2 for 2, thus currently 100% fail rate. The first time it happened to the VP of HR so I couldn't investigate more (just like you), The second time it happened while setting up a new computer, that gave me more time to investigate and come up with the script. I've been helped so many times by the Tech Community, so it is nice to pay it forward 🙂 👍
warrenw There are no entries in the registry and the profile does get deleted when removing it via the control panel. I also confirm that the folder is gone in C:\users
One thing I have noted is that in the control panel the profile is listed as unknown user but when I delete it the users folder disappears in the C:\users folder so I know i have removed the right one, also it was the only large profile in control panel.
I have tried this recreation of a profile several times for both affected users but dont manage to get anywhere.
When they log back in the recycle bin is still full and I note with the new profile auth problems in office 365 appear as everytime we try to sign in with their account we get a white box and cant go further.
Its quite annoying.
I have recreated profiles for years with no issue but we are wondering if something is different with version 2004, perhaps there is another step somewhere that needs to be followed since this update.
