win 10 ampersand in username error

[timothy]

Describe the bug

The below happened when using windows 10 using a profile that had an "&" in the username.

When there is an "&" (ampersand symbol) in a user name the npx create-react-app my-app will throw the following error:

Error: EEXIST: file already exists, mkdir
TypeError: Cannot read property 'loaded' of undefined
    at exit (C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\lib\utils\error-handler.js:97:27)
    at errorHandler (C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\lib\utils\error-handler.js:216:3)
    at C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\bin\npm-cli.js:78:20
    at cb (C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\lib\npm.js:225:22)
    at C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\lib\npm.js:263:24
    at C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\lib\config\core.js:81:7
    at Array.forEach (<anonymous>)
    at C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\lib\config\core.js:80:13
    at f (C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\node_modules\once\once.js:25:25)
    at afterExtras (C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\lib\config\core.js:171:20)
C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\lib\utils\error-handler.js:97
  var doExit = npm.config.loaded ? npm.config.get('_exit') : true
                          ^

TypeError: Cannot read property 'loaded' of undefined
    at exit (C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\lib\utils\error-handler.js:97:27)
    at process.errorHandler (C:\Program Files\nodejs\node_modules\npm\lib\utils\error-handler.js:216:3)
    at process.emit (events.js:210:5)
    at process._fatalException (internal/process/execution.js:150:25)
The system cannot find the path specified.
Install for [ 'create-react-app@latest' ] failed with code 1

I tested out a user name that did not have an "&" and it worked fine.
I also noticed that apps already created using npx create-react-app my-app do not work when the username has an "&" symbol. Even if they work fine on other computers and profiles.

Did you try recovering your dependencies?

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Which terms did you search for in User Guide?

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Environment

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Steps to reproduce

(Write your steps here:)

1. create a windows 10 user profile that has and & in the middle of it.
2. Run npx create-react-app my-app using that profile.

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