Windows 10 Resetting Settings: Why It Happens & How to Fix

The Vanishing Windows Customizations: A Common Frustration

It can be incredibly disheartening to meticulously configure your Windows operating system to your preferences, only to find those customizations lost upon subsequent logins. What causes this unexpected reset of your settings?

The answer to this frequently encountered problem is addressed in today’s SuperUser Question & Answer segment. A reader’s frustration prompted a detailed explanation from the community.

Understanding the SuperUser Platform

This particular Q&A exchange originates from SuperUser, a valuable resource within the Stack Exchange network. Stack Exchange is a collection of community-managed question and answer websites.

SuperUser provides a platform for users to seek and share solutions to complex computing issues.

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Ultimately, the core issue of lost Windows customizations is a common one with a solvable explanation, as detailed within the SuperUser discussion.

The Issue of Reset Windows Settings

A SuperUser user, Konamiman, is experiencing a recurring problem with Windows 10 where all personalized settings are reverted upon each login.

Problem Description

The user reports that after logging in, a "Preparing Windows" message appears, followed by a complete reset of his system configurations.

Specifically, the following settings are consistently lost:

• The desktop background reverts to the default Windows logo image.
• All pinned shortcuts on the taskbar are removed.
• The Cortana search bar reappears, despite being previously disabled.
• Google Chrome loses all saved account information.
• Custom regional settings are reset to their defaults.
• Installed keyboard layouts are no longer recognized.
• Applications behave as if they are being launched for the first time.

Despite this, no applications appear to have been uninstalled from the system.

System Details

The user's Windows 10 build number is currently 10.0.10586. He had recently enabled the receipt of Insider builds, but believes no updates have been installed.

An unusual message is displayed on the Insider build configuration screen: "Another administrator has set up this device to receive builds."

The Core Question

Konamiman is seeking an explanation for why Windows 10 is repeatedly resetting his settings with each login, and why the system indicates another administrator is managing Insider builds despite being the sole user.

The situation suggests a conflict in configuration, potentially related to the Insider build settings and user account permissions.

Investigating the source of the "Another administrator" message is crucial to resolving this issue.

Resolving Windows Profile Loading Issues

A SuperUser user, Oded, provides insight into a recurring problem. The issue involves Windows loading a default, empty user profile instead of the user’s customized settings. This behavior has been observed in both Windows 7 and Windows 10.

Registry Modification as a Solution

A potential fix involves modifying the Windows Registry to correct the profile loading process. Specifically, adjustments are needed within the ProfileList key.

• The relevant registry path is: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

Within this key, the problematic profile will be represented by two folders sharing the same GUID. One folder will have a ".bak" extension, while the other will not.

To rectify the issue, rename the folder *without* the ".bak" extension by appending a temporary extension, such as ".tmp". Subsequently, remove the ".bak" extension from the folder that currently possesses it. This action restores the correct profile settings.

Post-Modification Steps

After implementing these registry changes, a system reboot is required. Following the reboot, attempt to log in as usual. The user’s personalized settings should then be restored to their previous state.

Further details regarding this solution can be found in the following blog post:

How to fix: Windows 7 loads default instead of user-modified profile wiping off all settings, files, email accounts, bookmarks

Do you have additional information or alternative solutions to share? Please contribute your thoughts in the comments section below. For a more comprehensive discussion and insights from other technical experts, refer to the original Stack Exchange thread.