Lost User files

[kah]

Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to change his
username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he cannot find any of
data files. What might be the best solution for him to recover. Thank you.
--
kah

[John John (MVP)]

His data files are still all there, they can be found in the
Administrator profile folder. He can take ownership of the files or
grant himself necessary permissions to the files and he will be able to
access and move the files to his new "John" profile folders.

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

He can also logon as "Administrator" by hitting Ctrl+Alt+Del twice at
the logon screen and supplying the proper credentials in the logon box.
Once logged on as Administrator he will be able to find and access all
his files and copy/move them to a different location.

John

kah wrote:
> Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to change his
> username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he cannot find any of
> data files. What might be the best solution for him to recover. Thank you.

[Shenan Stanley]

kah wrote:
> Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to
> change his username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he
> cannot find any of data files. What might be the best solution for
> him to recover. Thank you.

Likely he created a new user account.
Copy the files from the old user account.
(c:\documents and settings\administrator\ <etc>)

If you need to take ownership (access is denied messages):

How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following steps.
There is important information there dependent on the version of Windows XP

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

[kah]

Actualkly, he did create a new account, he renamed the default admin account
from Administrator to John. Now he has lost all of his files, favorites, etc.
--
kah


"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> kah wrote:
> > Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to
> > change his username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he
> > cannot find any of data files. What might be the best solution for
> > him to recover. Thank you.
>
> Likely he created a new user account.
> Copy the files from the old user account.
> (c:\documents and settings\administrator\ <etc>)
>
> If you need to take ownership (access is denied messages):
>
> How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
>
> Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following steps.
> There is important information there dependent on the version of Windows XP
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

[Shenan Stanley]

kah wrote:
> Actualkly, he did create a new account, he renamed the default
> admin account from Administrator to John. Now he has lost all of
> his files, favorites, etc.

Seems like a lesson in futility - but did you look in the place I stated
anyway?

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

[kah]

I had him look and he said the folder is empty
--
kah


"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> kah wrote:
> > Actualkly, he did create a new account, he renamed the default
> > admin account from Administrator to John. Now he has lost all of
> > his files, favorites, etc.
>
> Seems like a lesson in futility - but did you look in the place I stated
> anyway?
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

[JS]

Check to make certain that you can see 'Hidden files and Folders'.

Open Windows Explorer
Select 'Tools' option in the menu bar.
From the list select 'Folder options'.
In the 'Folder Options' window click on the 'View' tab.
In the 'Advanced settings' box, 'Files and Folders' options,
under 'Hidden files and folders' select 'Show hidden files and folders'.
Now click the 'Apply' button located in the lower right corner.
Then click the 'OK' button. Close Windows Explorer.

Now once again open Windows Explorer and navigate to the
Administrator account and see if the files you are looking for are
now displayed.

JS


"kah" > wrote in message
...
> Actualkly, he did create a new account, he renamed the default admin
> account
> from Administrator to John. Now he has lost all of his files, favorites,
> etc.
> --
> kah
>
>
> "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
>
>> kah wrote:
>> > Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to
>> > change his username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he
>> > cannot find any of data files. What might be the best solution for
>> > him to recover. Thank you.
>>
>> Likely he created a new user account.
>> Copy the files from the old user account.
>> (c:\documents and settings\administrator\ <etc>)
>>
>> If you need to take ownership (access is denied messages):
>>
>> How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
>>
>> Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following steps.
>> There is important information there dependent on the version of Windows
>> XP
>>
>> --
>> Shenan Stanley
>> MS-MVP
>> --
>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>>
>>
>>

[kah]

He has tried that as well and still cannot see the files.
--
kah


"JS" wrote:

> Check to make certain that you can see 'Hidden files and Folders'.
>
> Open Windows Explorer
> Select 'Tools' option in the menu bar.
> From the list select 'Folder options'.
> In the 'Folder Options' window click on the 'View' tab.
> In the 'Advanced settings' box, 'Files and Folders' options,
> under 'Hidden files and folders' select 'Show hidden files and folders'.
> Now click the 'Apply' button located in the lower right corner.
> Then click the 'OK' button. Close Windows Explorer.
>
> Now once again open Windows Explorer and navigate to the
> Administrator account and see if the files you are looking for are
> now displayed.
>
> JS
>
>
> "kah" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Actualkly, he did create a new account, he renamed the default admin
> > account
> > from Administrator to John. Now he has lost all of his files, favorites,
> > etc.
> > --
> > kah
> >
> >
> > "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
> >
> >> kah wrote:
> >> > Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to
> >> > change his username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he
> >> > cannot find any of data files. What might be the best solution for
> >> > him to recover. Thank you.
> >>
> >> Likely he created a new user account.
> >> Copy the files from the old user account.
> >> (c:\documents and settings\administrator\ <etc>)
> >>
> >> If you need to take ownership (access is denied messages):
> >>
> >> How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
> >>
> >> Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following steps.
> >> There is important information there dependent on the version of Windows
> >> XP
> >>
> >> --
> >> Shenan Stanley
> >> MS-MVP
> >> --
> >> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> >> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
> >>
> >>
> >>
>
>
>

[JS]

Have you checked to see what's in the Recycle Bin?

JS

"kah" > wrote in message
...
> He has tried that as well and still cannot see the files.
> --
> kah
>
>
> "JS" wrote:
>
>> Check to make certain that you can see 'Hidden files and Folders'.
>>
>> Open Windows Explorer
>> Select 'Tools' option in the menu bar.
>> From the list select 'Folder options'.
>> In the 'Folder Options' window click on the 'View' tab.
>> In the 'Advanced settings' box, 'Files and Folders' options,
>> under 'Hidden files and folders' select 'Show hidden files and folders'.
>> Now click the 'Apply' button located in the lower right corner.
>> Then click the 'OK' button. Close Windows Explorer.
>>
>> Now once again open Windows Explorer and navigate to the
>> Administrator account and see if the files you are looking for are
>> now displayed.
>>
>> JS
>>
>>
>> "kah" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> > Actualkly, he did create a new account, he renamed the default admin
>> > account
>> > from Administrator to John. Now he has lost all of his files,
>> > favorites,
>> > etc.
>> > --
>> > kah
>> >
>> >
>> > "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
>> >
>> >> kah wrote:
>> >> > Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to
>> >> > change his username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he
>> >> > cannot find any of data files. What might be the best solution for
>> >> > him to recover. Thank you.
>> >>
>> >> Likely he created a new user account.
>> >> Copy the files from the old user account.
>> >> (c:\documents and settings\administrator\ <etc>)
>> >>
>> >> If you need to take ownership (access is denied messages):
>> >>
>> >> How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
>> >>
>> >> Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following
>> >> steps.
>> >> There is important information there dependent on the version of
>> >> Windows
>> >> XP
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Shenan Stanley
>> >> MS-MVP
>> >> --
>> >> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>> >> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>

[Bruce Chambers]

kah wrote:
> Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to change his
> username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he cannot find any of
> data files. What might be the best solution for him to recover. Thank you.


Your friend had been using the built-in Administrator account for
daily use? This was very unwise. As he's discovered, once any
additional user accounts have been created, the built-in Administrator
account will no longer be displayed on the Welcome Screen. This is a
default security feature.

The built-in Administrator account was never intended to be used
for day-to-day normal use. The standard security practice is to rename
the account, set a strong password on it, and use it only to create
another account for regular use, reserving the Administrator account as
a "back door" in case something corrupts your regular account(s).

By design, the only way to log into the Administrator account of
WinXP Home is to reboot into Safe Mode. For WinXP Pro, pressing
CTRL+ALT+DEL twice at the Welcome Screen will produce the standard login
dialog box.

A wiser course of action would be to create another user account
for his daily use (as he's inadvertantly done), and copy desired the
files and settings from the Administrator account to this newly created
user profile.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

[jalsahappy]

kah wrote:
Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to change his
username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he cannot find any of
data files. What might be the best solution for him to recover. Thank you.


Your friend had been using the built-in Administrator account for
daily use? This was very unwise. As he's discovered, once any
additional user accounts have been created, the built-in Administrator
account will no longer be displayed on the Welcome Screen. This is a
default security feature.

The built-in Administrator account was never intended to be used
for day-to-day normal use. The standard security practice is to rename
the account, set a strong password on it, and use it only to create
another account for regular use, reserving the Administrator account as
a "back door" in case something corrupts your regular account(s).

By design, the only way to log into the Administrator account of
WinXP Home is to reboot into Safe Mode. For WinXP Pro, pressing
CTRL+ALT+DEL twice at the Welcome Screen will produce the standard login
dialog box.

A wiser course of action would be to create another user account
for his daily use (as he's inadvertantly done), and copy desired the
files and settings from the Administrator account to this newly created
user profile.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

Open Windows Explorer
Select 'Tools' option in the menu bar.
From the list select 'Folder options'.
In the 'Folder Options' window click on the 'View' tab.
In the 'Advanced settings' box, 'Files and Folders' options,
under 'Hidden files and folders' select 'Show hidden files and folders'.
Now click the 'Apply' button located in the lower right corner.
Then click the 'OK' button. Close Windows Explorer.