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Have you received the “WINDOWS system32 config systemprofile Desktop is unavailable” error after upgrading to Windows 10? Try these fixes.
Option 1: Replace the Desktop Folder
Use the steps below to copy default Desktop to C:\WINDOWS\system32\config\systemprofile:
- Press Windows + E (Windows logo simultaneously with R) on your keyboard. This will open File Explorer.

- On the top left of File Explorer, click the View tab.

- On the View tab, check the box beside Hidden items. This will show hidden files and folders.
- Then navigate to C:\Users\Default and copy Desktop folder.

- Next, click This PC. Then open the path C:\Windows\System32\config\systemprofile and paste the Desktop folder you copied earlier.

- Restart your computer. Then login with the user name that threw the error message. If you logon successfully, congratulations! Otherwise, try method 2 below.
Option 2: Login with a New User Account
This method is more of a workaround: Create a new user. Then login with the new user name and copy your files from the “corrupt” profile to the new profile.
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Here are the steps.
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator. Then type the command below and press Enter.
control userpasswords2
- The previous command will open the User Account tool.

From this point you can either add an existing domain user or create a new local user.
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To add an exiting domain user:
- Click Add.

- When the Add a domain account wizard opens, click Browse. The Select User menu will load

- On the Enter the object name to select box, type the name of the domain account you want to add. Then click Check Names. Verify your domain credentials. Then click OK.

- The domain account you want to add to the local computer will be verified (underlined).

- To proceed, click OK

- From this point, click Next. Then add the user as Standard user or administrator.
Alternatively, you can create a new local account. Here are the steps:
- On User Accounts, click Advanced tab. Then, on the Advanced user management section, click Advanced. Local Users and Groups mmc will open.


- To create a new local user account, right-click Users. Then select New User…

Add the user details and assign it a group.
You can login with this user or the domain user. Then copy your old profile to the new one.
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This method should fix “WINDOWS system32 config SystemProfile Desktop is unavailable” error. In the unlikely event that it does not, my method 3 is to perform a fresh installation of Windows 10.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsConclusion
I hope that one of the two solutions I discussed in this guide fixed your desktop’s unavailable Windows error. Let me know by responding to the “Was this page helpful?” question below.
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