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The User Profile Service (ProfSvc) crashes in Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista SP1 systems when the service loads or unloads user profiles that contain compressed files or folders

Article ID: 959125 - View products that this article applies to.

Support for Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1) ends on July 12, 2011. To continue receiving security updates for Windows, make sure you're running Windows Vista with Service Pack 2 (SP2). For more information, refer to this Microsoft web page: Support is ending for some versions of Windows
(http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/help/end-support-windows-xp-sp2-windows-vista-without-service-packs)
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SYMPTOMS

When users try to log on to Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista SP1 systems, the User Profile Service crashes. This problem occurs if the profile that the service tries to load or to unload contains compressed files or compressed folders.

Additionally, the following services also crash:

Application Experience
Application Information
Background Intelligent Transfer Service
Certificate Propagation
Group Policy Client
Health Key and Certificate Management
IKE and AuthIP IPsec Keying Modules
IP Helper
Server
Multimedia Class Scheduler
User Profile Service
Remote Access Connection Manager
Task Scheduler
Secondary Logon
System Event Notification Service
Terminal Services Configuration
Shell Hardware Detection
Themes
Windows Management Instrumentation
Windows Update

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CAUSE

This issue occurs because the User Profile Service (ProfSvc) uses an incorrect synchronization method to set the compression flag in user profiles. Therefore, the User Profile Service encounters an access violation and then crashes.

The User Profile Service and the other services that the "Symptoms" section mentions share one Svchost.exe process. Therefore, when the User Profile Service crashes, all the other services that the "Symptoms" section mentions also crash.

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RESOLUTION

Hotfix information

A supported hotfix is 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 software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if 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. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

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

Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.Important Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only one of these products may be listed on the “Hotfix Request” page. To request the hotfix package that applies to both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, just select the product that is listed on the page.

Prerequisites

You must have Windows Vista SP1 installed to apply this hotfix. Service Pack 1 is integrated into Windows Server 2008.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

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.