NTUSER.DAT locked - User Profile Service

[geoffreyfishing]

I have tried posting everywhere, but no one has given me an answer so far. I am willing to try everything short of a clean install of vista.

My Problem:
Some process has a locking handle on the Users NTUSER.DAT file, so windows attempts to unload it:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service
Date:          6/13/2010 8:54:01 AM
Event ID:      1530
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      Den-PC
Description:
Windows detected your registry file is still in use by other applications or services. The file will be unloaded now. The applications or services that hold your registry file may not function properly afterwards.  
 
 DETAIL - 
 27 user registry handles leaked from \Registry\User\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001:
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\Disallowed
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\SmartCardRoot
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IETld
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\trust
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\TrustedPeople
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\Root
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network\Location Awareness
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\My
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\CA
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
 
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service" Guid="{89B1E9F0-5AFF-44A6-9B44-0A07A7CE5845}" EventSourceName="profsvc" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="32768">1530</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-06-13T13:54:01.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>39724</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>Den-PC</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData Name="EVENT_HIVE_LEAK">
    <Data Name="Detail">27 user registry handles leaked from \Registry\User\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001:
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\Disallowed
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\SmartCardRoot
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main\FeatureControl\FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\IETld
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\trust
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\TrustedPeople
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\Root
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Network\Location Awareness
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies\Microsoft\SystemCertificates
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Policies
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\My
Process 656 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Windows\System32\lsass.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\SystemCertificates\CA
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
Process 4752 (\Device\HarddiskVolume3\Program Files\uTorrent\uTorrent.exe) has opened key \REGISTRY\USER\S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings
</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

However, windows fails. Then when the user logs on, the User Profile Service cannot load HKEY_CURRENT_USER, because the file that contains this hive, NTUSER.DAT, is locked:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service
Date:          6/13/2010 8:50:30 AM
Event ID:      1508
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          SYSTEM
Computer:      Den-PC
Description:
Windows was unable to load the registry. This problem is often caused by insufficient memory or insufficient security rights. 
 
 DETAIL - The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process.  for C:\Users\Elaine\ntuser.dat
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service" Guid="{89B1E9F0-5AFF-44A6-9B44-0A07A7CE5845}" EventSourceName="profsvc" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="49152">1508</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>2</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-06-13T13:50:30.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>39704</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>Den-PC</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-18" />
  </System>
  <EventData Name="EVENT_REGLOADKEYFAILED">
    <Data Name="Error">The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. </Data>
    <Data Name="File">C:\Users\Elaine\ntuser.dat</Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

So then windows cannot load the profile, because the profile is contained in the file windows cannot load. Windows then throws a critical exeption:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service
Date:          6/13/2010 8:50:30 AM
Event ID:      1502
Task Category: None
Level:         Error
Keywords:      Classic
User:          Den-PC\Elaine
Computer:      Den-PC
Description:
Windows cannot load the locally stored profile. Possible causes of this error include insufficient security rights or a corrupt local profile. 
 
 DETAIL - The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. 
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service" Guid="{89B1E9F0-5AFF-44A6-9B44-0A07A7CE5845}" EventSourceName="profsvc" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="49152">1502</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>2</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-06-13T13:50:30.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>39705</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>Den-PC</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1002" />
  </System>
  <EventData Name="EVENT_FAILED_LOAD_LOCAL">
    <Data Name="Error">The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. </Data>
  </EventData>
</Event>

Since windows cannot load the profile, it backs up the profile, and makes this backup the user profile:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service
Date:          6/13/2010 8:50:31 AM
Event ID:      1515
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          Den-PC\Elaine
Computer:      Den-PC
Description:
Windows has backed up this user profile. Windows will automatically try to use the backup profile the next time this user logs on.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service" Guid="{89B1E9F0-5AFF-44A6-9B44-0A07A7CE5845}" EventSourceName="profsvc" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="49152">1515</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-06-13T13:50:31.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>39706</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>Den-PC</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1002" />
  </System>
  <EventData Name="EVENT_PROFILE_DIR_BACKEDUP">
  </EventData>
</Event>

So then windows has to load a temporary profile, because it cannot load the user's profile:

Log Name:      Application
Source:        Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service
Date:          6/13/2010 8:50:31 AM
Event ID:      1511
Task Category: None
Level:         Warning
Keywords:      Classic
User:          Den-PC\Elaine
Computer:      Den-PC
Description:
Windows cannot find the local profile and is logging you on with a temporary profile. Changes you make to this profile will be lost when you log off.
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
  <System>
    <Provider Name="Microsoft-Windows-User Profiles Service" Guid="{89B1E9F0-5AFF-44A6-9B44-0A07A7CE5845}" EventSourceName="profsvc" />
    <EventID Qualifiers="49152">1511</EventID>
    <Version>0</Version>
    <Level>3</Level>
    <Task>0</Task>
    <Opcode>0</Opcode>
    <Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
    <TimeCreated SystemTime="2010-06-13T13:50:31.000Z" />
    <EventRecordID>39707</EventRecordID>
    <Correlation />
    <Execution ProcessID="0" ThreadID="0" />
    <Channel>Application</Channel>
    <Computer>Den-PC</Computer>
    <Security UserID="S-1-5-21-3692011518-2094500946-738968334-1002" />
  </System>
  <EventData Name="EVENT_TEMPPROFILEASSIGNED">
  </EventData>
</Event>

Which causes the user to be presented with the default profile with no personalized settings.

After a computer restart the user is able to log on to their normal profile without any problems. But after they log off, the next user has to restart the computer, or they will be presented with the same error.

Please, I have tried posting on multiple forums, and nobody has found a solution. I am desperate to fix this problem. I cannot identify which process has a locking handle on NTUSER.DAT from the windows logs.

[John T]

Hi Geoff,
For what it's worth I too am having what looks like an identical issue.
My circumstances are a little different but after being assigned a temporary user profile my application cannot use DPAPI calls to decrypt passwords. The Cryp..ProtectData calls fail becasue they need the "Common AppData" value as a key, and it's not there anymore.
To get rid of the temporary profile a reboot is required.

I have raised a support call with Microsoft.

[geoffreyfishing]

Please tell me how to fix the problem; when you get a reply from Microsoft. I would be interested to know how to fix the problem.

[ytcyguy]

Have you fixed / found a solution to the problem?

I am having this problem too and can't find a solution on the web. Lots of places tell me how I can get my profile back, but a reboot solves that.

[geoffreyfishing]

Sorry, I had opened multiple threads on diffrent sites for this problem, and had finally found an answer.

The solution is at http://www.google.com/support/forum/...68a22d32&hl=en

(I am the user Geoffish)

And please do post on that topic, so It will get Google's attention.

[geoffreyfishing]

(The topic can be closed now)