Article ID: 187453 - Last Review: November 1, 2006 - Revision: 2.1

User's SID Remains in Registry After Logoff

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This article was previously published under Q187453
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
256986  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/256986/EN-US/ ) Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry
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SYMPTOMS

This issue has multiple symptoms including:
  • The user's policy is no longer applied when the user logs on to the server.
  • The system administrator cannot delete the user's profile using the System Properties/User Profiles utility because the Delete button is unavailable.
  • The user's SID remains in HKEY/USERS even if the user is not logged on to the server.
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CAUSE

Programs or services that leave a handle open to the user's registry cause the unload of the hive not to succeed.
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RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

In Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe), select the user's SID and then click Unload Hive.
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APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition
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Keywords: 
kbprb KB187453
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