Windows 7 system setting will not "stick"

I helped a user out of a similar jam the other day ... unless you get a better/specific fix for your problem ... try running CHKDSK /R at the command prompt, let it reboot and run.  Then, run SFC /SCANNOW from the command prompt.  

Do you get a message stating that you are logging into a temporary profile at all?  If you co to c:\users does it have your profilename.temp?

Interesting! i have three users set up and none of the profiles show up under explorer.

i will try running CHKDSK /R and then SFC /SCANNOW and see what that does. I really don't want to have to reinstall Windows, but I suppose that could be an option.

If the users have logged in at least once, there should have been a folder created for each of them in C:\Users.  If they have not yet logged into that computer, then there will not have been a folder created for them yet.

I have logged in as them multiple times, as well as under my own login. There are NO profiles! Check disk didn't help.

chkdsk and sfc simply make sure the file system is sound and that basic windows files are present and working ... was the cause of a similar problem I had.

You coulld try to repair windows.  Its very odd that you have nothing under c:\users.  If you boot into safe mode and login as a user does it create their account under c:\users?  Are you on a domain?  If so can you drop off the domain and re-add it?  Are you typing the domain name correctly.  You could also try to type the machinename/username at the pompt just to verify that you are logging in locally.

Ok, my bad. I was looking for documents and settings and the profile under that. Forgot about the Windows 7 changes. The profiles are there under users. But....again, no info. I even logged on and typed a document and saved it. When I logged off and back on, it is gone, along with all the other settings changes. My Office personalization and desktop personalization are gone as well as the sites I set up in Dreamweaver. What's the quickest bet, here, folks? Just get out the original system disk and do a repair or a reinstall?

Did you try sfc /scannow?  If not, I think it would be worth the 10-15 minutes to run, as  I believe that was the actual fix for my similar issue (chkdsk is just usually wise to do before sfc).  If so, I might just reinstall ... if you're not already too invested in this installation.

The bottom line was an update. Each time I installed the OS and then did updates, it came back. I have not yet discovered which update kills it, as with a new install you get 60+ updates all at once.