Microsoft KB Archive/945122

= User profiles are unexpectedly deleted after you configure the &quot;Delete user profiles older than a specified number of days on system restart&quot; Group Policy setting on a Windows Vista-based computer =

Article ID: 945122

Article Last Modified on 11/30/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Business
 * Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
 * Windows Vista Enterprise
 * Windows Vista Ultimate

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SYMPTOMS
On a Windows Vista-based computer, you configure the following Group Policy setting:

Delete user profiles older than a specified number of days on system restart

Therefore, you expect the user profiles that have not been used within the number of days that you specify to be automatically deleted when Windows Vista restarts. However, you notice that some user profiles that have been used within that period are unexpectedly deleted some days later.



CAUSE
This problem occurs because of an error in the User Profile Service. The Group Policy setting uses the time at which the profile was created instead of the time at which the profile was last used as the basis for determining when to delete the profile. Therefore, even if the user profile is still being used, it is deleted after the specified number of days have elapsed since the time at which you created the profile.



Hotfix information
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows Vista service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
No prerequisites are required to apply this hotfix.

Restart requirement
You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

Registry information
To use this hotfix, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista, x64-based versions


STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

940017 User profiles may be deleted after you restart a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824684 Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates

Keywords: kbfix kbqfe kbpubtypekc kbexpertiseadvanced kbhotfixserver KB945122

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