User.000 issue after updating to 1909

I'm one of the many people suffering from issues with user profiles after applying Update 1909 to Windows 10. I've read all the threads I can find on the topic here and have followed the suggestions, all to no avail. Any other thoughts are appreciated.

After applying Update 1909, the ProfileImagePath was changed to c:\users\User.000
One file that was always in use and couldn't be removed was left in c:\users\User (can't recall or find the exact file now), so I could never rename or remove the c:\user\User directory.

I followed the multiple suggestions from Brink and others:

• Rebooted at least 6 times
• Enabled hidden Administrator
• Booted into Safe Mode
• Changed ProfileImagePath
• Tried to rename c:\users\User but couldn't because a file was still in use
• Copied all data from c:\users\User.000 into c:\users\User
• Rebooted and had temporary profile
• Followed steps in Brink tutorial to change ImageProfilePath; rebooted with no change
• Restored using Restore Point from before Update 1909 - returned to single profile state (User.000)
• Removed each update that was installed individually and rebooted after each update removal - profile state never changed
• After all updates were removed, repeated the steps above with hidden Administrator, changing profile, etc. - same issue with file in use in c:\users\User
• Followed all steps above with hidden Administrator but without copying files from User.000 to User - same results

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

It's certainly possible I missed something, but it doesn't seem that way. The primary issue with following the instructions to change the account name is that I can't rename c:\user\user.

The original directory was c:\user\user. c:\user\user.000 was created after the update and all active files are in the user.000 directory. c:\user\user hasn't been accessed since the update. I had planned to rename c:\user\user to user.old or something, then rename user.000 to user. But I am unable to rename c:\user\user, delete it or otherwise alter it.

I enabled the hidden administrator account, rebooted and logged in as administrator. When I try to change c:\user\user in any way (at a directory level), I receive a permission denied error. I've insured I have permissions, including changing ownership of the directory to the Administrators group. I've tried the same concept using several different methods.

Any additional thoughts? Otherwise I'm left with re-installing Windows, which is certainly a laborious process.

Thanks!

Have you tried using "Disk Cleanup" tool? After the first pass select "Cleanup System Files" and run the second pass. This may delete whatever is causing the issue and if it doesn't at least it hasn't cost you anything to try.