Error Message: Copy Profile Error

• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server Enterprise Edition version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you use the System tool in Control Panel to copy a user profile on a Windows NT-based computer with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or 4.01 installed, the user profile may not be copied and you may receive the following error message:

   Copy Profile Error. The operation completed successfully.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur when the profile copy process attempts to modify the security on the following registry key:

   Hkey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System Provider

RESOLUTION

To work around this issue, stop the Protected Storage service, and then create the new user profile that will be copied. To do so, follow these steps:

1. Log on to your computer using a local user account with administrator rights.

2. Click Start, click Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Services.

3. Click the Protected Storage service, and then click Stop.

4. Log off.

5. Log on as a new user and configure the user profile as needed. This creates the user profile that you will copy to other user accounts. Be sure to use a new account that has not logged on to this computer before.

   NOTE: Performing this step while the Protected Storage service is not running prevents the Protected Storage System Provider registry key from being created for this user.

6. Log off.

7. Log on to your computer using a local user account with administrator rights.

8. Click Start, click Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click System.

9. Click the User Profiles tab, copy the user profile, click OK, and then click OK again.

10. In Control Panel, double-click Services.

11. Click the Protected Storage service, and then click Start.

STATUS

Microsoft is researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.