> C:\Users>dir /a[color=blue]
> Volume in drive C is SYSTEM
> Volume Serial Number is 74B7-6F38
> Directory of C:\Users
> 10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> .
> 10/08/2007 07:19 <DIR> ..
> 02/11/2006 14:02 <SYMLINKD> All Users [C:\ProgramData]
> 02/11/2006 14:02 <JUNCTION> Default User [C:\Users\Default]
> 02/11/2006 13:50 174 desktop.ini
> 09/08/2007 18:09 <DIR> IanC
> 1 File(s) 174 bytes
> 5 Dir(s) 134,548,062,208 bytes free[/color]

Hi Ian,

That explains it (sort of ...). You have no Default users' directory. This
"Default" is the skeleton which is used to create new home directory
structures and profiles, for newly created users. When you created Karen as
a user, there was no Default user directory, so no home directory or new
profile could be created for the her account. So when she logs in, she gets
the "User Profile Failed for logon" error message.

Why you don't have a "Default" user directory, I do not know. Without
pointing the bone prematurely, the most likely cause of a missing directory
would be that it was deleted, possibly inadvertently, by a user. Maybe you
deleted it accidently, at the same time you deleted the Public directory?
The system still has a Junction point "Default User" pointing towards the
C:\Users\Default directory, so we know the Default directory did exist, at
some time in the past. Anyway, it's gone now ...

As to how you fix this problem ... hmm, that's hard. The Default user
directory is quite complex, it has a bunch of junction points to other
directories, so it's not as simple as copying across a copy from another
machine (well, you could; but to do it correctly would be a complex, fiddly
operation).

I'd be inclined to try an inplace "upgrade" of Vista, over the top of your
existing Vista installation. This is the equivalent of a Repair Install,
under XP - you make a new installation of Vista on top of your existing
Vista; because it is an "upgrade", all your douments and seetings, and
installed applications will be preserved. Basically it fills in all the
missing pieces in the old installation. Just boot from your Vista DVD, and
choose "Upgrade" from the installation options.

If you don't feel like trying an inplace up-grade (although, it should be
fairly safe) you could, I guess, just resign yourself to having a single
user machine :-(

Anyway ... hope this helps a bit. Let me know if you have questions.

--
Andrew McLaren
amclar (at) optusnet dot com dot au