User account problem

[Gerontius]

I am running Windows XP Pro on a home computer used by my wife, six children
and me. I have administrator rights, the other users have limited user
rights.

Recently the following problems arose in one of my daughters' accounts:

1. Windows Messenger no longer responds for her (though it does for all the
other users) and the Messenger shortcut has disappeared from herTaskbar;

2. Program icons are no longer 'pinned' to the Start Menu and attempts to
'pin' them back fail. Right-clicking program icons in the 'All Programs'
list and selecting 'pin to Start menu' fail. Also, opening 'Show on Start
Menu' under 'Customizing Start Menu' and selecting, say, Internet Explorer,
does not cause that program icon to appear in the Start Menu.

I suspect that I may have caused this problem when I deleted her password.
Shortly thereafter these problems appeared, though I have not been able to
find any log of the event to verify.

Tried a system restore, but that hasn't fixed the problem (though my
recollection of the date I deleted the password may be faulty).

Could these problems stem from the deletion of the password? I would value
any suggestions as to how to resolve them.

[Ray Taylor]

I doubt the password would have anything to do with it.

Try making a new account and check to see if it works. If it does then she
could migrate her files/ settings to the new account and delete the old one.

Otherwise i see no reason why this could happen unless someone else has been
playing where they shouldnt.



Ray Taylor


"Gerontius" > wrote in message
...
> I am running Windows XP Pro on a home computer used by my wife, six
children
> and me. I have administrator rights, the other users have limited user
> rights.
>
> Recently the following problems arose in one of my daughters' accounts:
>
> 1. Windows Messenger no longer responds for her (though it does for all
the
> other users) and the Messenger shortcut has disappeared from herTaskbar;
>
> 2. Program icons are no longer 'pinned' to the Start Menu and attempts to
> 'pin' them back fail. Right-clicking program icons in the 'All Programs'
> list and selecting 'pin to Start menu' fail. Also, opening 'Show on Start
> Menu' under 'Customizing Start Menu' and selecting, say, Internet
Explorer,
> does not cause that program icon to appear in the Start Menu.
>
> I suspect that I may have caused this problem when I deleted her password.
> Shortly thereafter these problems appeared, though I have not been able to
> find any log of the event to verify.
>
> Tried a system restore, but that hasn't fixed the problem (though my
> recollection of the date I deleted the password may be faulty).
>
> Could these problems stem from the deletion of the password? I would value
> any suggestions as to how to resolve them.
>
>

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

Can't find much on either and they may be related.

Try this:
The following assumes you have an actual XP CD as opposed to a restore CD or
restore partition supplied by your PC manufacturer.

Go to Start, type sfc /scannow in the run box and press enter. Note, there
is a space between sfc and the forward slash. You will be asked for your XP
CD. Be aware, upon inserting the CD the XP setup screen may appear, this is
not a part of sfc /scannow, rather it is being invoked by autorun. Simply
minimize the screen and allow sfc to continue.

If the above fails to resolve the issue, try a repair install as follows:

Be sure you are well backed up in case there is a problem from which you are
unable to recover. NOTE, while a repair install should leave your data
files intact, if something goes wrong during the repair install, you may be
forced to start over and do a clean install of XP. If you don't have your
data backed up, you would lose your data should that eventuality occur.

Assuming your system is set to boot from the CD-ROM drive, boot with the XP
CD in the drive. If it isn't or you are not sure, you need to enter the
system's BIOS. When you boot the system, the first screen usually has
instructions that if you wish to enter setup press a specific key, when you
see that, do so. Then you will have to navigate to the boot sequence, if
the CD-ROM drive is not first line, set it first in the boot sequence. Save
your settings and exit with the XP CD in the drive. The system will reboot.

Boot from the CD. If your system is set to be able to boot from the CD, it
should detect the disk and give a brief message, during the boot up, if you
wish to boot from the CD press any key.

Once you have pressed a key, setup should begin. You will see a reference
asking if you need to load special drivers and another notice that if you
wish to begin the ASR (Automatic Recovery Console) depress F2. Just let
setup run past all of that. It will continue to load files and drivers.

Then it will bring you to a screen. Eventually, you will come to a screen
with the option to (1) setup Windows or (2) Repair Windows Installation
using the Recovery console.

The first option, to setup Windows is the one you want and requires you to
press enter. When asked, press F8 to accept the end user agreement. Setup
will then search for previous versions of Windows. Upon finding your
version, it will ask if you wish to Repair your current installation or
install fresh. Press R, that will run a repair installation. From there
on, follow the screens.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Fizz" > wrote in message
...
> When I click the user account I receive this message: "automation server
> cannot creat object(s)" and this message: 'g_Navigator is null or not an
> object. What does this mean? How do I fix this problem? It has been
> this way for awhile. Have gotten no help from other groups. Thanks for
> any info.
>
>

[Fizz]

Michael, I typed sfc /scannow in the run box. This box came up: Windows File Protection it said please wait while Windows verifies that all protected Windows files are intact and in their original versions. Then it read for awhile. The box disappeared
and nothing happened. It never asked for the CD. Is this what was supposed to happen? I looked in the user account and still the same message as before. I am afraid to try the other method as I am only a novice at the computer. Thanks for the help.

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

I guess, if it found anything specific, it would have asked for your CD.
Though, if the setup files were on your hard drive, it may have found what
it needed.

Not much else I can offer besides what I've posted. I couldn't find
anything really specific on this error so it came down to trying to repair,
first with SFC and if that didn't resolve it, a Repair Install.

I would have offered System Restore but you implied this had been going on
for quite awhile. Nonetheless, you can give it a try as you may have a
restore date earlier than when it began. Well, it's worth a look anyway.
Go to Start\All Programs\Accessories\System Tools\System Restore. Check the
available restore dates and see if one predates when this began as it may
resolve the issue.

If nothing there, make sure your antivirus software is up to date and run a
virus scan. Also, download, install and run Ad Aware as it's possible some
malware has become installed on your system that might be the source of the
issue: www.lavasoftusa.com

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Fizz" > wrote in message
...
> Michael, I typed sfc /scannow in the run box. This box came up: Windows
> File Protection it said please wait while Windows verifies that all
> protected Windows files are intact and in their original versions. Then
> it read for awhile. The box disappeared and nothing happened. It never
> asked for the CD. Is this what was supposed to happen? I looked in the
> user account and still the same message as before. I am afraid to try
> the other method as I am only a novice at the computer. Thanks for the
> help.

[wojo]

"Fizz" > wrote in message
...
> Michael, I went ahead and did the repair install thing. The user
> accounts are back. Thank you. I also downloaded the Ad-Aware and found
> some objects. Can you tell me what they mean? There were 2 things called
> Alexa and about 6 Tracking cookies. I quarantined them even though I
> don't know what they did/do.
>

Alexa is adware.
Tracking cookies track what websites you visit and send that information
back to whomever created the cookie. They use this info for marketing to see
what sites and/or types of sites are visited most often.

--

TO Email: Remove [SPAM]
If I can help you I will.
If you can help me thanks.

--

**Useful Links**
AdAware:
www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/
Spybot S & D:
www.safer-networking.org/
Check for Parasites/Worms:
www.gemal.dk/browserspy/parasites.html
Blaster Security Patch:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/incident/blast.asp
TweakUI and other PowerToys:
www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

You're welcome.

Alexa has a component that is a part of Internet Explorer but it is safe to
remove. I don't recall the purpose and it was rather innocuous. The second
instance is likely something that was added by some malware...it's safe to
remove both. Tracking cookies are also safe to remove. Sometimes they are
quite innocent but they can be used to gleam information about your surfing
habits. If you go to sites that have personalization features of which
you've availed yourself, they will set cookies also. I prefer to run
without personalization, it makes it easier to simply delete all cookies.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Fizz" > wrote in message
...
> Michael, I went ahead and did the repair install thing. The user
> accounts are back. Thank you. I also downloaded the Ad-Aware and found
> some objects. Can you tell me what they mean? There were 2 things called
> Alexa and about 6 Tracking cookies. I quarantined them even though I
> don't know what they did/do.
>

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

You're welcome.

--
Michael Solomon MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User
Backup is a PC User's Best Friend
DTS-L.Org: http://www.dts-l.org/

"Fizz" > wrote in message
...
> Michael, Thank you for your help.
>