Cannot restore a subscription from backup: System user update is failed: The user johndoe already exists

Symptoms

• Cannot restore a subscription from backup:

  PLESK_ERROR: Execution of "C:\Program Files (x86)\Plesk\bin\domain.exe" --update example.com -guid F4A1C96E-693D-4378-94FD-58CF0F0498CB -creation-date 2016-07-21 -description "" -hosting true -hst_type phys -do-not-apply-skeleton -ip 203.0.113.2 -www-root httpdocs -login checkmail -passwd "" -passwd_type sym -shell "Login Enabled" -ignore-nonexistent-options failed with return code 1. Stderr is An error occurred during domain update: An error occurred during changing of hosting settings: System user update is failed: The user johndoe already exists.

• There is a mail account with the same name as the main system user johndoe@example.com

Cause

This is Plesk bug #PPPM-9878 which is planned to be fixed in future Plesk updates.

Resolution

As a workaround: 

1. Connect to the server via RDP

2. Remove the system user manually.

3. Log in to Plesk GUI

4. Create example.com subscription with the system user jhondoe in Subscriptions > Add Subscription

5. Start the restoration of the subscription from the backup.