Windows ME - Lost User Accounts

Sylvester

I'm not expecting any replies at 4am, but I'm going to try and calm down and go to bed soon, but if anyone can help at all, I would be most grateful.

Basically, there are 2 user accounts on my machine and both have been lost.

The files from both accounts are still on the PC, but when windows starts up, it didn't recognise either and asked me to set up a new account.

I can reach all the files as have a new user account setup, but can't rescue any as all my programs are on the other usernames.

How do I rescue the user profiles? It has alot of things on that, although can be replaced, will cost me alot of time, and possibly money :mad:

Hope that makes sense....i'm ever so tired and pulling my hair out

Thanks

Sylvester

I should also mention, I am using my backup PC where I had no CD writer as it's very old, so can't d/l anything to help me out and my new user profile on the main PC won't accept the modem

albertross_2

You could try running scandisk, or a system restore.

If the data is really important, then get a copy of ghost 2003, and backup the whole of the c: drive to CD/DVD/external HD, then play about with it to try and get at the data and accounts. That way, if you make anything worse, you have everything on CD or DVD, and can put things back the way it was. You will also be able to extract the data from the .gho files on another PC using ghost explorer.

Donnie

http://www.kbalertz.com/Feedback.aspx?kbNumber=273889

Sylvester

Thanks for the replies.

I started Scandisk and then a defrag at 2.30 and it finished 10 minutes ago...

Not solved the problem though

System Restore could find no dates to restore

I'll have a look out for this ghost thing.

I'm going to try and save something to CD if I can transfer anything across to the new windoes account - it seems I can access some things on the new screen despite it being in the profiles I can't bring up

Donnie - I shall try your suggestions now - will I lose anything by doing this?

Donnie

As long as the tool can complete it's operation, no.

Another way of locating your important documents is to use WinDirStat; http://windirstat.info/

No need to install anything. Just run the .exe file.

http://windirstat.info/wds_current_ansi.zip

Sylvester

Donnie wrote: »

As long as the tool can complete it's operation, no.

Another way of locating your important documents is to use WinDirStat; http://windirstat.info/

No need to install anything. Just run the .exe file.

http://windirstat.info/wds_current_ansi.zip

Ran it, was very quick - a few seconds - sound about right?

I can't d/l anything to this PC as no CD burner to then transfer it to the sick PC and I have no other way of transferring it, and the sick PC won't let me online without re-installing my internet package and I'm going to have to hunt that CD down.

I can get to the profiles that are missing and I may be able to drag the programs/data across to a new user profile, although this may take some time.

It's a shame it's not an easy process as to just restore the user profiles onto the sign in screen or user list

Sylvester

Just to add, when I click properties on the profiles from C:windows/profiles, the user profiles are all unchecked for hidden/archived/read only.

I take it that this is okay??

Could I create a new user profile and drag the whole old profile folder, with all it's contents, over to save time?

Donnie

You have to download the .zip file and extract the .exe from there.

It's a small download, 610 KB, so you can download and store it on a Floppy Disc if you have one and then transfer it to the problem computer.

Donnie

Sylvester wrote: »

Just to add, when I click properties on the profiles from C:windows/profiles, the user profiles are all unchecked for hidden/archived/read only.

I take it that this is okay??

Could I create a new user profile and drag the whole old profile folder, with all it's contents, over to save time?

Not sure, never tried it.

Sylvester

Donnie wrote: »

You have to download the .zip file and extract the .exe from there.

It's a small download, 610 KB, so you can download and store it on a Floppy Disc if you have one and then transfer it to the problem computer.

Ahhhh, will get it onto floppy now. Didn't realise was so small.

Thanks