Recover User Profile

I am so confused at this point, I only hope I can explain the problem clearly. I need to restore my user’s profile in W-XP Home Edition; SP3.

I installed a new OS on a new HD. The legacy HD with XP is now chain loaded as the ‘Slave’ HD. The boot loader for the new OS uses GRUB2. After I got it up and running, I discovered that I was unable to boot into XP! After futzing around, I was finally able to get XP back in the Boot Menu, but when I clicked in, I got an intermediate alert saying Windows was unable to load ‘my profile’. I didn’t appreciate what this meant and I let it continue to load. A new “User Profile” seems to have been created although it seems the new profile was given my old 'user name'/'log in name'.

The upshot of this is that all my docs, sets, task bar, desktop and applications were no longer in evidence.

I attempted to recover my old profile by following the Rx on:
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;326688

It suggests creating a new user account (profile) and copying the original Docs & Sets into it. I could not do this even after 2 attempts which resulted in creating 2 new user profiles; “penguin” and “pilgrim”. A new (?) directory which seems to me to contain the old profile “Owner” had been created (I know not how) but was ‘greyed-out’ on both attempts on the prompted list of directories available to copy from. I did log out of the current user account, 'rooster' and logged in as a different user as directed; …but no joy.

I don't understand the XP filing system well enough to know how to proceed and this is a major stumbling block. For example: my log in screen shows 3 users: 'pilgrim', 'penguin' and 'rooster'. However, I can't locate the profile that associates with 'rooster'.

I would really appreciate some help here. I've been trying to solve this sine early in May.

rod

fly_rod wrote:

I am so confused at this point, I only hope I can explain the problem
clearly. I need to restore my user’s profile in W-XP Home Edition; SP3.

I installed a new OS on a new HD. The legacy HD with XP is now chain
loaded as the ‘Slave’ HD. The boot loader for the new OS uses GRUB2.
After I got it up and running, I discovered that I was unable to boot
into XP! After futzing around, I was finally able to get XP back in the
Boot Menu, but when I clicked in, I got an intermediate alert saying
Windows was unable to load ‘my profile’. I didn’t appreciate what this
meant and I let it continue to load. A new “User Profile” seems to have
been created although it seems the new profile was given my old 'user
name'/'log in name'.

If your configuration is now like this:
SATA1= New HD (new OS)
SATA2= Legacy HD (Windows XP)
BIOS Boot= Harddisk 1 or IDE 1 or SATA 1

Then the problem is because of drve assignment change and GRUB. Even
though GRUB has a drive mapping feaure, it is done at software level (a
hack). However, Windows use its own drive accessing functions so GRUB
drive mapping is ignored. This is why GRUB "drivemap" command only work
for some OS.

If your configuration is now like this:
SATA1= New HD (new OS)
SATA2= Legacy HD (Windows XP)
BIOS Boot= Harddisk 1 or IDE 1 or SATA 1

Then the problem is because of drve assignment change and GRUB. Even
though GRUB has a drive mapping feaure, it is done at software level (a
hack). However, Windows use its own drive accessing functions so GRUB
drive mapping is ignored. This is why GRUB "drivemap" command only work for some OS.

JJ[_7_];
Thanks for your reply.

Adding to your assessment of the original problem ... GRUB worked well with earlier installations of FOSS Debian on what you refer to as SATA1 (New HD with new OS) It was with the inception of GRUB 2 that the "drivemap" got 'bebuggered'; i.e., reconfigured the boot loader. Losing my 'user profile' in the legacy OEM XP-Home edition is only one of several unanticipated and unannounced problems GRUB2 created.

If you don't mind, I would like to reiterate my objective. How do I find the user profile (Directory?) for 'rooster'? The 2 profiles I created trying to solve the problem are in evidence in "My Computer". But 'rooster' is not.

Further, the Directory containing my old (rooster’s) Docs & Sets appears (to me) to be in a directory named: “Owner” listed below. However, the current ‘logged in as’ user is “rooster” which does not appear in the command module’s list below; whereas “Owner” doesn’t appear in the list of users at the login prompt/screen above.

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings

05/08/2012  10:14 PM    DIR          .
05/08/2012  10:14 PM    DIR          ..
08/18/2011  01:02 PM    DIR          Administrator
03/08/2011  05:54 AM    DIR          All Users
04/10/2006  03:58 PM             1,184 backup04.log
08/18/2011  01:02 PM    DIR          Guest
05/29/2012  08:57 AM    DIR          Owner
05/08/2012  06:16 PM    DIR          Owner.TRIGGER
05/08/2012  10:14 PM    DIR          penguin
05/08/2012  09:20 PM    DIR          pilgrim
               1 File(s)          1,184 bytes
               9 Dir(s)  15,648,595,968 bytes free

Given that my understanding of Windows file nomenclature is at the newbie level, my best guess at what I am hoping to do is copy/rename the 'Owner' profile to/as 'rooster'. But I don't know where 'rooster' is much less understand why it isn't in the list above.

rod

fly_rod wrote:

If you don't mind, I would like to reiterate my objective. How do I find
the user profile (Directory?) for 'rooster'? The 2 profiles I created
trying to solve the problem are in evidence in "My Computer". But
'rooster' is not.

Further, the Directory containing my old (rooster’s) Docs & Sets appears
(to me) to be in a directory named: “Owner” listed below. However, the
current ‘logged in as’ user is “rooster” which does not appear in the
command module’s list below; whereas “Owner” doesn’t appear in the list
of users at the login prompt/screen above.


Code:
--------------------
Directory of C:\Documents and Settings

05/08/2012 10:14 PM DIR .
05/08/2012 10:14 PM DIR ..
08/18/2011 01:02 PM DIR Administrator
03/08/2011 05:54 AM DIR All Users
04/10/2006 03:58 PM 1,184 backup04.log
08/18/2011 01:02 PM DIR Guest
05/29/2012 08:57 AM DIR Owner
05/08/2012 06:16 PM DIR Owner.TRIGGER
05/08/2012 10:14 PM DIR penguin
05/08/2012 09:20 PM DIR pilgrim
1 File(s) 1,184 bytes
9 Dir(s) 15,648,595,968 bytes free
--------------------


Given that my understanding of Windows file nomenclature is at the
newbie level, my best guess at what I am hoping to do is copy/rename the
'Owner' profile to/as 'rooster'. But I don't know where 'rooster' is
much less understand why it isn't in the list above.

rod

Below are a couple of things that you can use to determine which "Owner*"
folders is the "rooster" folder.

* File names in "My Documents" folder. I assume you remember what files
you have saved. You can use it as identifications.

* Folder content size. There must be numeruous files piled up in the
"rooster" profile folder. The larger one is likely the roster profile.

* Folder creation date & time. One of the "Owner" or "Owner.TRIGGER" is a
newly created folder by the system due to that glitch. The older one is
likely the roster profile.

There is a sure method to find it, but it's too risky since it requires
experience in Windows registry.

JJ[_7_];

File names in "My Documents" folder. I assume you remember what files
you have saved. You can use it as identifications

A “My Documents” folder appears in ‘pilgrim’, ‘penquin’, “Owner” and “Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER”.

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER

05/08/2012  06:16 PM    DIR          .
05/08/2012  06:16 PM    DIR          ..
07/02/2012  05:17 AM    DIR          Desktop
06/05/2012  10:02 PM    DIR          Favorites
06/11/2012  01:35 PM    DIR          My Documents
05/08/2012  06:16 PM    DIR          Start Menu
               0 File(s)              0 bytes
               6 Dir(s)  15,708,323,840 bytes free

Note that the ‘…\Owner.TRIGGER’ directory is automatically chosen when I open the Command Module.
By the date, I assume it was created when I attempted to log in during the session when I got the alert that Windows was unable to load my ‘User Profile’.

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents
SNIP 
20 File(s) 19,927,470,165 bytes       
33 Dir(s)  15,707,365,376 bytes free

To the best of my understanding the above Directory does contain the Docs & Sets that used to be what associated with my original (and only) ‘Log in Name’, cum ‘User Name’, i.e., ‘rooster’.

In review, ‘pilgrim’, penguin’ and ‘rooster’ are now the 3 choices offered in my Log in screen. “Pilgrim’ and ‘penquin’ got created when trying to resolve my loss of profile problem as per; http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;326688 and are redundant AFAIAC. ‘Pilgrim’ and ‘penguin’ also appear in: Directory of C:\Documents and Settings, as do:
Guest
Owner
Owner.TRIGGER
All Users
Administrator
…however, ‘rooster’ does not.

If I understand your analytics correctly, my question would be: how do I get the ‘rooster’ that appears in my Log in Screen to ‘associate’ with;

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents

If using the Command Module is the way to go, would I use a ‘cp’, ‘mv’ or ‘rn’ command?

rod

fly_rod wrote:

If I understand your analytics correctly, my question would be: how
do
I get the ‘rooster’ that appears in my Log in Screen to ‘associate’
with;
Code:
--------------------

Directory of C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\My Documents
--------------------


If using the Command Module is the way to go, would I use a ‘cp’,
‘mv’
or ‘rn’ command?

rod

If you don't have any encrypted files or any secured data that depend
on rooster account, you can try to do a manual user profile *copy*.
Don't move the files so that your original files are safe. However, you
mighthave a problem copying them due to file permission issue. And
Windows XP Home Edition AFAIR, don't have a "Security" property tab for
file system objects. So you can't change the permissions when you need
to.

JJ Wrote:

If you don't have any encrypted files or any secured data that depend on rooster account, you can try to do a manual user profile *copy*.

Don't move the files so that your original files are safe.

However, you might have a problem copying them due to file permission issue. And Windows XP Home Edition AFAIR, don't have a "Security" property tab for file system objects. So you can't change the permissions when you need to.

JJ;

Pardon the naiveté, but by “encrypted files” are you including compressed/zipped files and folders? I have a couple of those that I created when making backups to removable media for ‘rooster’s “Documents and Settings” before the profile troubles.

I’m still perplexed as to how to find the current ‘rooster’ account/directory/profile listed in my log in page. I can’t proceed to *copy* the contents of the ‘Owner’ folder until I find it. Similarly, I don’t know for sure what ‘permission’s attach to it now; whereas before the troubles it was the onliest profile and had all admin privileges and permissions.

rod

JJ;

Pardon the naiveté, but by “encrypted files” are you including compressed/zipped files and folders? I have a couple of those that I created when making backups to removable media for ‘rooster’s “Documents and Settings” before the profile troubles.

I’m still perplexed as to how to find the current ‘rooster’ account/directory/profile listed in my log in page. I can’t proceed to *copy* the contents of the ‘Owner’ folder until I find it. Similarly, I don’t know for sure what ‘permission’s attach to it now; whereas before the troubles it was the onliest profile and had all admin privileges and permissions.

[added by edit]

In Finding the ‘rooster’ profile/directory.

I mentioned earlier that when I open the Command Module, it automatically goes to:
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600] (C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp. C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER

I also observe from “My Computer” @:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER\Desktop
…my current Desktop appears. This tells me that, for reasons I don’t understand, my
current ‘rooster’ profile has a second identity, ‘\Owner.TRIGGER’.

My question now becomes: Can I rename ‘\Owner.TRIGGER’ ‘rooster’? If I can,
can I then *copy* the contents of ‘…\Owner’ into it?

rod

fly_rod wrote:

Pardon the naiveté, but by “encrypted files” are you including
compressed/zipped files and folders? I have a couple of those that I
created when making backups to removable media for ‘rooster’s
“Documents
and Settings” before the profile troubles.

I meant the native NTFS-specific encrypted files. It's an NTFS
"Encrypted" attribute to be more specific. It's accessible via
folder/file property dialog's "Advanced Attributes" dialog via
"Advanced" button (if it's available in XP Home edition). ZIP or any
other archives won't be affected.

GER"

My question now becomes: Can I rename ‘\Owner.TRIGGER’ ‘rooster’? If I
can,
can I then *copy* the contents of ‘…\Owner’ into it?

Renaming "Owner.TRIGGER" profile folder to "rooster" alone won't fix it
because the registry setting for "rooster" account is still pointing to
"Owner.TRIGGER".

I want to provide a guide to fix it, but I need to know the current state
of the relevant registry settings. Also, I'll be assuming that the
contents of "Owner" profile folder is the one you really want for
"rooster" account.

Starting at this point, please login using Administrator account. Then
open the command prompt and follow these steps.

1) Execute this command line (it may get broken due to formatting).

REG /EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg

It will get all account profile registry settings. No private data is
included except for account IDs and user profile path names.

2) Right-click on C:\OrgProfileList.reg and choose "Edit" to open it with
Notepad.

3) Copy all text into clipboard and paste it into your message. Or send
the file to my email if you want. FYI, the SID field is a unique Security
ID to indicate user and group membership, so it's not a password.

Keep the OrgProfileList.reg file for later. I'll give you further guide
after I edit the registry settings.

JJ:

Originally Posted by JJ

I meant the native NTFS-specific encrypted files. It's an NTFS
"Encrypted" attribute to be more specific. It's accessible via
folder/file property dialog's "Advanced Attributes" dialog via
"Advanced" button (if it's available in XP Home edition). ZIP or any
other archives won't be affected.

GER"

Copy that; … can’t think of ever having recourse to encrypting anything.
Do you prefer to be addressed as GER*?

According to ‘Control Panel’ ‘User Accounts’, 4 options are presented.
penguin – Computer administrator
pilgrim – Computer administrator
rooster – Computer administrator
guest – Guest account is off

I’m logged in as ‘rooster’. That should suffice as Administrator; eh?

Originally Posted by JJ

I want to provide a guide to fix it, but I need to know the current state of the relevant registry settings. Also, I'll be assuming that the
contents of "Owner" profile folder is the one you really want for
"rooster" account.

Starting at this point, please login using Administrator account.
Then open the command prompt and follow these steps.

1) Execute this command line (it may get broken due to formatting).

REG /EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg

No joy.

 C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER REG /EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Error:  Bad operation.  Use /? for help

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg
The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER REG EXPORT /?

Console Registry Tool for Windows - version 3.0
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp. 1981-2001.  All rights reserved


REG EXPORT KeyName FileName

  Keyname    ROOTKEY\SubKey (local machine only)
    ROOTKEY  [ HKLM | HKCU | HKCR | HKU | HKCC ]
    SubKey   The full name of a registry key under the selected ROOTKEY
  FileName   The name of the disk file to export

Examples:

  REG EXPORT HKLM\Software\MyCo\MyApp AppBkUp.reg
    Exports all subkeys and values of the key MyApp to the file AppBkUp.reg


C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER

I tried without (“) narks.

 REG /EXPORT HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
\ProfileList C:\OrgProfileList.reg
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER REG /EXPORT HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Wdows NT\CurrentVersion                                                                                                                                      Error:  Bad operation.  Use /? for help                                                                                                                     C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER\ProfileList C:\OrgProfileList.reg    '\ProfileList' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.

To the best of my keen, your command looks OK. I used regedit to navigate to
"My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Win dows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList" … but that the results weren’t amenable to copying to Notepad; … as you probably know.

rod

fly_rod wrote:

Do you prefer to be addressed as GER*?

My news client probably acting up.

I’m logged in as ‘rooster’. That should suffice as Administrator; eh?

It's OK for this step. But later, for the actual fix, it would not be OK
because its user profile folder including some of its files are being
used by the system. The fix involves renaming the profile folder at
specific step later. So, please use other account.

REG /EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg
No joy.

Code:
--------------------
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER REG /EXPORT
"HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Error: Bad operation. Use /? for help

That command line got broken by my news client. Please assume as one
single line and please don't remove the quotes (type it as is).

REG /EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg

Originally Posted by JJ[_7_]

fly_rod wrote:

Do you prefer to be addressed as GER*?

My news client probably acting up.

I’m logged in as ‘rooster’. That should suffice as Administrator; eh?

It's OK for this step. But later, for the actual fix, it would not be OK
because its user profile folder including some of its files are being
used by the system. The fix involves renaming the profile folder at
specific step later. So, please use other account.

REG /EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg
No joy.

Code:
--------------------
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER REG /EXPORT
"HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

Error: Bad operation. Use /? for help

That command line got broken by my news client. Please assume as one
single line and please don't remove the quotes (type it as is).

REG /EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg

By your command:

REG /EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]                                         (C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.                                                                                                                         C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER REG /EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion                                                                                                                                         Error:  Bad operation.  Use /? for help                                                                                                                         C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg cd  The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.                                                                                              C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER REG /EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList"C:\OrgProfileList.reg                                                                                                       Error:  Bad operation.  Use /? for help                                                                                                                         C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER                                                                                                                        C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER REG /EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion                                                                                                                                         Error:  Bad operation.  Use /? for help                                                                                                                         C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg     The filename, directory name, or volume label syntax is incorrect.                                                                                              C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER

I tried both copy/paste and typing the command, but I get the same result. Sorry for the copy job from cmd mod. That's the best I can do without manually alt/editing it. I tried copying to MS Word, NotePad and copying directly. They all get bemangled when copying here.

I really appreciate you patience. I only wish I knew where I'm going wrong.

rod

fly_rod wrote:

I tried both copy/paste and typing the command, but I get the same
result. Sorry for the copy job from cmd mod. That's the best I can do
without manually alt/editing it. I tried copying to MS Word, NotePad
and copying directly. They all get -bemangled- when copying here.

I really appreciate you patience. I only wish I knew where I'm going
wrong.

My bad. I subconsciously inserted a "/" before the "EXPORT". It should
have been:

REG EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg

Terribly sorry about that.

Originally Posted by JJ[_7_]

fly_rod wrote:

I tried both copy/paste and typing the command, but I get the same
result. Sorry for the copy job from cmd mod. That's the best I can do
without manually alt/editing it. I tried copying to MS Word, NotePad
and copying directly. They all get -bemangled- when copying here.

I really appreciate you patience. I only wish I knew where I'm going
wrong.

My bad. I subconsciously inserted a "/" before the "EXPORT". It should
have been:

REG EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg

Terribly sorry about that.

JJ:

No worries. I be just as 'bad'. I'm better versed in using Debian shells/terminals-syntax. The "/" was a dead giveaway. I should also have picked it up from the "REG EXPORT /?" query that gave the example:

Examples:
  REG EXPORT HKLM\Software\MyCo\MyApp AppBkUp.reg
    Exports all subkeys and values of the key MyApp to the file AppBkUp.reg

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER REG EXPORT "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersi
on\ProfileList" C:\OrgProfileList.reg

The operation completed successfully

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner.TRIGGER

I was expecting a P/O or new window of some kind to appear so I could proceed with:

It will get all account profile registry settings. No private data is
included except for account IDs and user profile path names.

2) Right-click on C:\OrgProfileList.reg and choose "Edit" to open it with
Notepad.

...but nothing presented!!

rod

JJ:
FYI: File search failed to locate a file named, ‘AppBkUp.reg’ anywhere on 'C:' Drive.

I looked for ‘C:\OrgProfileList.reg’ in “MY Computer” location box.
I didn’t want to proceed past this alert; pending direction form you.

Are you sure you want to add the information in ‘C:\OrgProfileList.reg’ to the registry?

rod