Lost User files

  • Thread starter Thread starter kah
  • Start date Start date
K

kah

Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to change his
username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he cannot find any of
data files. What might be the best solution for him to recover. Thank you.
 
His data files are still all there, they can be found in the
Administrator profile folder. He can take ownership of the files or
grant himself necessary permissions to the files and he will be able to
access and move the files to his new "John" profile folders.

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

He can also logon as "Administrator" by hitting Ctrl+Alt+Del twice at
the logon screen and supplying the proper credentials in the logon box.
Once logged on as Administrator he will be able to find and access all
his files and copy/move them to a different location.

John
 
kah said:
Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to
change his username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he
cannot find any of data files. What might be the best solution for
him to recover. Thank you.
Click to expand...

Likely he created a new user account.
Copy the files from the old user account.
(c:\documents and settings\administrator\ <etc>)

If you need to take ownership (access is denied messages):

How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

Read *carefully* - do not just skim the page and start following steps.
There is important information there dependent on the version of Windows XP
 
kah said:
Actualkly, he did create a new account, he renamed the default
admin account from Administrator to John. Now he has lost all of
his files, favorites, etc.
Click to expand...

Seems like a lesson in futility - but did you look in the place I stated
anyway?
 
Check to make certain that you can see 'Hidden files and Folders'.

Open Windows Explorer
Select 'Tools' option in the menu bar.
From the list select 'Folder options'.
In the 'Folder Options' window click on the 'View' tab.
In the 'Advanced settings' box, 'Files and Folders' options,
under 'Hidden files and folders' select 'Show hidden files and folders'.
Now click the 'Apply' button located in the lower right corner.
Then click the 'OK' button. Close Windows Explorer.

Now once again open Windows Explorer and navigate to the
Administrator account and see if the files you are looking for are
now displayed.

JS
 
kah said:
Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided to change his
username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he cannot find any of
data files. What might be the best solution for him to recover. Thank you.
Click to expand...


Your friend had been using the built-in Administrator account for
daily use? This was very unwise. As he's discovered, once any
additional user accounts have been created, the built-in Administrator
account will no longer be displayed on the Welcome Screen. This is a
default security feature.

The built-in Administrator account was never intended to be used
for day-to-day normal use. The standard security practice is to rename
the account, set a strong password on it, and use it only to create
another account for regular use, reserving the Administrator account as
a "back door" in case something corrupts your regular account(s).

By design, the only way to log into the Administrator account of
WinXP Home is to reboot into Safe Mode. For WinXP Pro, pressing
CTRL+ALT+DEL twice at the Welcome Screen will produce the standard login
dialog box.

A wiser course of action would be to create another user account
for his daily use (as he's inadvertantly done), and copy desired the
files and settings from the Administrator account to this newly created
user profile.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Bruce said:
kah wrote:-
Have a friend running windows xp professional, and he decided t
change his
username from Administrator to John. After doing so, he cannot fin
any of
data files. What might be the best solution for him to recover.
Thank you.-


Your friend had been using the built-in Administrator account fo

daily use? This was very unwise. As he's discovered, once any
additional user accounts have been created, the built-in Administrato

account will no longer be displayed on the Welcome Screen. This is a
default security feature.

The built-in Administrator account was never intended to be used
for day-to-day normal use. The standard security practice is to renam

the account, set a strong password on it, and use it only to create
another account for regular use, reserving the Administrator account a

a "back door" in case something corrupts your regular account(s).

By design, the only way to log into the Administrator account of
WinXP Home is to reboot into Safe Mode. For WinXP Pro, pressing
CTRL+ALT+DEL twice at the Welcome Screen will produce the standar
login
dialog box.

A wiser course of action would be to create another user account
for his daily use (as he's inadvertantly done), and copy desired the
files and settings from the Administrator account to this newly create

user profile.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://tinyurl.com/6rrv

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://tinyurl.com/6czfm


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertran
Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
Click to expand...

Open Windows Explorer
Select 'Tools' option in the menu bar.
From the list select 'Folder options'.
In the 'Folder Options' window click on the 'View' tab.
In the 'Advanced settings' box, 'Files and Folders' options,
under 'Hidden files and folders' select 'Show hidden files an
folders'.
Now click the 'Apply' button located in the lower right corner.
Then click the 'OK' button. Close Windows Explorer
 
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