Delprof.exe does not delete the Windows Installer data when you remotely delete a user profile (883250)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
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 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you run the User Profile Deletion utility (Delprof.exe) to delete a user profile that is located on a remote computer, the Windows Installer data for the user profile may not be deleted. The Windows Installer data is located in the Windows registry.

Note When you run Delprof.exe locally on your computer to delete a user profile the Windows Installer data is deleted.

CAUSE

This issue occurs because the Windows Installer tool does not perform operations on remote computers. Delprof.exe was designed to work with the Windows Installer tool.

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.To resolve this issue, use any one of the following methods.

Method 1

Run Delprof.exe locally on the computer where the user profile is located.

Method 2

Create a script to delete the following registry subkey after Delprof.exe has deleted the user profile:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\<security identifier for the user profile>

Method 3

Manually delete the following registry subkey after Delprof.exe has deleted the user profile:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\<security identifier for the user profile>

To do this, follow these steps:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData

  3. In the right pane, right-click the security identifier for the user profile that you want to delete, and then click Delete.
  4. Click Yes, and then quit Registry Editor.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about Delprof.exe, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

315411 How to delete user profiles by using the User Profile Deletion utility (Delprof.exe) in Windows 2000

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/3/2004
Keywords:kbtshoot kbprb KB883250 kbAudITPRO
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.