What I am about to suggest requires changing the registry. If you make
incorrect changes, you might ruin your computer, so, if you are a novice
user, I suggest consulting the computer manufacturer, taking the system to a
computer store, or calling the Geek Squad.
Step 1: Open My Computer > Documents and Settings. Check for a folder
labeled your user name. USE THE FOLDER THAT HAS YOUR USER NAME ONLY! If you
use the folder labeled <user name.computer name> or <user name.001> etc, you
will defeat the purpose of everything I am telling you!
Step 2: Once you find your original user name, go to the start menu, and
select "Run" Type "regedit"
Step 3: Once the Registry Editor is open select the following directories:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SOFTWARE
Microsoft
Windows NT
Current Version
ProfileList
In each folder under ProfileList, there should be a file named
"ProfileImagePath", type "REG_SZ", Data "%SystemDrive%\Documents and
Settings\<user name.computer name>" or "%SystemDrive%\Documents and
Settings\<user name.001>
IMPORTANT: Where <user name> is, there should be the user name that you
created when you setup the computer. If <computer name> is there, there
should be the title you decided to call your computer when you set up
Windows.
IMPORTANT: If where I wrote <user name> there is "systemprofile" or
"localservice" or "networkservice," YOU HAVE SELECTED THE WRONG FOLDER AND
FILE!!! Continue looking for the filder with the criteria listed above.
Step 4: Once you have found the correct file, double-click it. In the
“value†field, the path should read: "%SystemDrive%\Documents and
Settings\<user name.computer name>" or "%SystemDrive%\Documents and
Settings\<user name.001>
Step 5: Keep <user name>, but delete <.computer name> or <.001>
Step 6: Click OK.
Step 7: Exit the Registry and restart the computer.
Step 8: If necessary, logon to the computer, otherwise, just wait for your
desktop to appear.
If your original profile does not load, than you either made a mistake in
changing the registry, or your original profile was deleted.
I hope this information could be of some help. If what I said worked, could
you please click ‘YES’ at the bottom of this post. That would be a big help
to me. Thanks, and good luck.
-Christopher Isherwood
