Solved After deleting User Manager


crjensen

New member
Local time
12:50 AM
Posts
5
OS
Windows 11
My Windows 11 laptop (Acer Nitro 5) was for some reason using 100% memory and CPU.
Opening the Task Manager I discovered that it was caused by some Windows component called 'User Manager', so every time I used the PC I made a habit of turning off that task.
But then, today, I did something foolish. I entered:
hkey_local_machine > system > CurrentControlSet > services > User Manager

...and deleted it.
Now, when I turn on the PC it shows my user name and photo but I can't login. There is no password prompt anymore.
I have tried to open BIOS - but that didn't help - and I have tried, when the user name showed, to click all sorts of combinations on the keyboard. Didn't help.

Have I ruined my Windows 11 PC? Can I rescue it somehow, or do I have to reinstall?
Thank you.
 
Windows Build/Version
Windows 11

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Gforce GTX
You haven't ruined the computer but the Operating System is a different story. In a case like described I use a Linux LiveDVD created from a downloaded file on a different computer and boot to it to first save any data/files that exist nowhere else. Then I'd download the MCT/Media Creation Tool from Microsoft to get either an .iso file used to create a bootable DVD for reinstall/repair or if no ODD create a bootable 8GB USB thumb drive to reinstall/repair.
www.distrowatch.org for a Linux download
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Win11 Pro RTM
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 3400
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 11th Gen. 2.40GHz
    Memory
    12GB
    Hard Drives
    256GB SSD NVMe
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro RTM x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Vostro 5890
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 10th Gen. 2.90GHz
    Memory
    16GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Onboard, no VGA, using a DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" Dell
    Hard Drives
    512GB SSD NVMe, 2TB WDC HDD
    Browser
    Firefox, Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender/Microsoft Security
There are a number of things you can do. Recovery options in Windows

1. Use recovery media and attempt a system restore. If it works, this would be the simplest method.

2. If you're adventurous, you can load the registry hive offline using installation media and rebuild the key you deleted. The key you deleted is quite complex.

3. Do as Berton said and clean install.

I am attaching a .reg file of the key you deleted. You can open it using notepad after you unzip it.
 

Attachments

  • usermanager.7z
    1 KB · Views: 1

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
During the past week z3r010 has given away free software to make backup images.

After the repair please make backup images.

See if he has any extra software:



If not then use Macrium:




To fix the immediate problem you may be able to use a restore point.

However you've mentioned that there were already performance problems.

So test the disk drive and if Ok then perform a reset save files, custom install, or clean install.

Sea Tools Bootable Long Generic Test:
Post images or share links using one drive, drop box, or google drive.


The reset save files and custom install will allow you to backup important files using Windows.

All three methods require the reinstallation of drivers and applications.








 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz
    Motherboard
    Product : 190A Version : KBC Version 94.56
    Memory
    16 GB Total: Manufacturer : Samsung MemoryType : DDR3 FormFactor : SODIMM Capacity : 8GB Speed : 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro K3100M; Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
    Sound Card
    IDT High Definition Audio CODEC; PNP Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_76E0
    Hard Drives
    Model Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Mobile Workstation
Friends, thank you!
A boot to Advanced Startup from the Start Scren followed by a System Restore saved my PC and I am now able to log in again.
Now the problem with the User Manager taking up 100% CPU is still a problem. After logging in I can use Task Manager to end the User Manager process, but there must be some other way to deal with it (and not, as I foolishly did, delete it completely)?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Gforce GTX
Please perform the following steps:

1) Run the V2 log collector and upload results or post a share link into this thread

2) Run Hard Disk Sentinel (free or trial version)
Post images or share links for results on these tabs:
a) Overview
b) Temperature
c) SMART

3) Run Sea Tools for Windows long generic test > post images or share links into this thread


For share links please use one drive, drop box, or google drive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz
    Motherboard
    Product : 190A Version : KBC Version 94.56
    Memory
    16 GB Total: Manufacturer : Samsung MemoryType : DDR3 FormFactor : SODIMM Capacity : 8GB Speed : 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro K3100M; Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
    Sound Card
    IDT High Definition Audio CODEC; PNP Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_76E0
    Hard Drives
    Model Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Mobile Workstation
Friends, thank you!
A boot to Advanced Startup from the Start Scren followed by a System Restore saved my PC and I am now able to log in again.
Now the problem with the User Manager taking up 100% CPU is still a problem. After logging in I can use Task Manager to end the User Manager process, but there must be some other way to deal with it (and not, as I foolishly did, delete it completely)?
You could try stopping "User Manager" from running and not deleting it. If you care to try that as a solution, run "services" and from the ensuing list select "User Manager", if it is listed, and right click the entry select "Properties" and select "Stop".

Just a point of curiosity, do you know what "User Manager" does? I tried a web search and didn't see any meaningful results.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Professional
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Microcenter B677
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-9400
    Motherboard
    ASRock H310CM-HDV/M.2
    Memory
    32GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Intel Kaby Lake - High Definition Audio / cAVS (Audio, Voice, Speech) [A0]
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Model: GSM59F1
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1080
    Case
    Lian Li 205M
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky AV
Please perform the following steps:

1) Run the V2 log collector and upload results or post a share link into this thread

2) Run Hard Disk Sentinel (free or trial version)
Post images or share links for results on these tabs:
a) Overview
b) Temperature
c) SMART

3) Run Sea Tools for Windows long generic test > post images or share links into this thread


For share links please use one drive, drop box, or google drive.
zbook, thank you, here are the results. This is a link to a folder on my OneDrive:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Gforce GTX

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Gforce GTX

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 22631.3296
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
    Motherboard
    DELL 0J37VM
    Memory
    32 gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Integrated Realtek
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1tb Solidigm m.2 +256gb ssd+512 gb usb m.2 sata
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell Premium
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Internet Speed
    so slow I'm too embarrassed to tell
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro 22H2 19045.3930
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 9020
    CPU
    i7-4770
    Memory
    24 gb
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Benq 27
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    256 gb Toshiba BG4 M.2 NVE SSB and 1 tb hdd
    PSU
    500w
    Case
    MT
    Cooling
    Dell factory
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless
    Keyboard
    Logitech wired
    Internet Speed
    still not telling
    Browser
    Firefox
    Antivirus
    Defender+MWB Premium
What solved this?
A system restore (Windows 11) and a Clean Boot which revealed the app that caused the initial problem (100% CPU usage).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia Gforce GTX
The V2 log collector had only collected a few log files and was likely blocked by AVG.
If there are any recurrent or future problems then uninstall AVG before running V2.

Glad to read that it's fixed.

Consider making free backup images.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4800MQ CPU @ 2.70GHz
    Motherboard
    Product : 190A Version : KBC Version 94.56
    Memory
    16 GB Total: Manufacturer : Samsung MemoryType : DDR3 FormFactor : SODIMM Capacity : 8GB Speed : 1600
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Quadro K3100M; Intel(R) HD Graphics 4600
    Sound Card
    IDT High Definition Audio CODEC; PNP Device ID HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_111D&DEV_76E0
    Hard Drives
    Model Hitachi HTS727575A9E364
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Mobile Workstation

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