Pc Help Please - All Settings Lost!

Northtim

Just switched on pc and it had a bit of a fit. Then started after a while with security centre/winXP tour etc as though a new install. Looking at docs*settings folder I see it has created a new folder same user name as before but then .pcname. All desktop/favourites/my docs are blank in the folder its using.

To get going I have copied these over from the old folder. However it is now like a new user and I haven't got my old e-mails or e-mail accounts either. I know I can copy these over also but has anyone any idea what has happened and how I can point windows back to using my original settings.

There are no other users set up on the pc, it just boots straight into this one.

Got AVG running as well and don't seem to have any viruses.

scheming_gypsy

try logging in as the administrator, rename the username folder to something else and then rename the username.pcname back to username. Reboot and see what happens,

Northtim

I only have one user, the one that is messed up, who is administrator, although they are not called that - does that make sense!!

When I look at the users there are only two, the messed up account and an unused guest account. Should I create another account with admin rights?

I have never had to sign on because of just using the admin account. I knw it is only a small thing but as it is just a home pc I like it booting up faster!

scheming_gypsy

yep, create another account with admin rights,


you could try renaming them while you're already logged in but it might not let you change the names.

Northtim

Brilliant - got everything back! Wifes pc so I was immediately accused of doing tinkering and messing it up

Still don't know what happened, my pc was a bit funny and lost the firewall until I rebooted. Maybe there is/was a virus, or windows update applied just previously was the cause.

Done full AVG & Ad Aware scans on both pcs and come up with nothing.

Anyway - alls good now :beer:

Mr_Skint_2

Northtim wrote:

Brilliant - got everything back! Wifes pc so I was immediately accused of doing tinkering and messing it up

Still don't know what happened, my pc was a bit funny and lost the firewall until I rebooted. Maybe there is/was a virus, or windows update applied just previously was the cause.

Done full AVG & Ad Aware scans on both pcs and come up with nothing.

Anyway - alls good now :beer:

I hope you did Adaware with system restore off
And AVG in safe mode.

Northtim

Mr_Skint wrote:

I hope you did Adaware with system restore off
And AVG in safe mode.

Er, probably not - why?
(More damned instructions I should have read?)

Mr_Skint_2

A piece of crap will stay in a Restore point and return if Adaware
is not run with restore off..

Same for AVG but it needs to be ran in safe mode for best results.

AdAware, Right click my computer Icon, Properties, System Restore (turn off)
run a scan then turn restore back on...

Restart PC and as It comes on tap F8 for safe mode run AVG the
restart PC as normal............

Northtim

Mr_Skint wrote:

A piece of crap will stay in a Restore point and return if Adaware
is not run with restore off..

Same for AVG but it needs to be ran in safe mode for best results.

AdAware, Right click my computer Icon, Properties, System Restore (turn off)
run a scan then turn restore back on...

Restart PC and as It comes on tap F8 for safe mode run AVG the
restart PC as normal............

Can the crap only return if I do a restore? Never had to do one. I have a backup drive on wifes pc which is on home network, regularly backup photos and docs etc that I don't want to lose to that so would prob just do a full reinstall if had major problems. Guess I could reimport the crap at the same time but been lucky with viruses so far!

Mr_Skint_2

Crap can be reimported at anytime thats why its best to scan all media
in safe mode, and You dont have to have to do a System Restore Point
just to get crap back it will reside there and pop out at anytime.

Also have a look at this it says Microsoft Anti Spyware is better than AdAware
its on this thread Post number 4

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=111982

Northtim

Should I uninstall Ad Aware before running the MS offering. Do they both just run when prompted? Don't want loads of background stuff running?

Thanks