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

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

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.

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows Vista. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Hotfixes and security updates that are included in SP2 for Windows Vista Service and for Windows Server 2008

For more information about the hotfixes and the security updates that are included in SP2 for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008, visit the following Microsoft TechNet Web site: -Note: Currently, the list of hotfixes and security updates is available only in English.

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: 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.

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, x86-based versions

Windows Vista, x64-based versions

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

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