Profile change

  • Thread starter Thread starter djohnsonsd
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djohnsonsd

I have windows xp home. I was told by windows live tech support that I have a
corrupt profile and need to use a different one. I have created a new profile
(with admin priviliges) but don't know how to import all the settings from my
old profile into the new one.

I tried the instructions at Microsoft's website:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151/

but, when I did so, I was unable to access the folders of either the old or
new profile (access denied).

Thanks for any assistance.
 
What does that mean? I created the new profile with admin status and then
tried to transfer from one profile to the next. It didn't work. Please let me
know specifically what I need to do. Thanks.
 
djohnsonsd said:
I have windows xp home. I was told by windows live tech support
that I have a corrupt profile and need to use a different one. I
have created a new profile (with admin priviliges) but don't know
how to import all the settings from my old profile into the new one.

I tried the instructions at Microsoft's website:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151/

but, when I did so, I was unable to access the folders of either
the old or new profile (access denied).

Thanks for any assistance.
Click to expand...

First off... Settings - forget it. Not worth the trouble - and likely
contains the problem areas.

My suggestion - copy the contents of the old user's "My Documents" folder,
"Favorites" folder, perhaps the "Desktop" folder and check the "Start
Menu\All Programs" folders to see if anything was unique to the old user you
might need. If you utilized Outlook Express, you might need another folder.
Same if you used Mozilla Firefox - but we will cross those bridges only if
need be.

As for "Access Denied" - Google searches are your best friend when it comes
to having the actual error messages and knowing what Operating system you
run. You seem to have both - here is what you would have come across if you
had searched...

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
 
I did search google for this problem, as I use google for virtually all
searches. The problem was transferring profiles and the access denied message
was not addressed in the article I was referred to. I assumed that I was
doing something wrong or had the wrong instructions for my specific situation
as a result. It wouldn't have occurred to me to search for the secondary
issue of a denied folder since I've never experienced that poblem before -
only when following the instructions for this specific problem. However, when
searching for this issue in the manner I search, your link did not pop up in
the top choices, so I wouldn't have found it anyway. The concept of "taking
ownership" of a folder is a strange term I'm not familiar with, so it
wouldn't have occurred to me to look at an article with that title.

I am concerned about following those instructions without having any idea
why I am running into this "access denied" folder problem to begin with. I am
reluctant to make changes that could cause me other ureleated problems. Since
this access denied issue is not mentioned in the article explaining how to
change profiles, I have to assume it's not a common problem. So, the question
is what caused this problem to begin with and am I safe "taking ownership" of
these folders. Do I need to take ownership of both profile folders?
 
Actually, this *is* a common problem. When that particular profile was
initially set up, the function to deny access was established (more than
likely). Therefore you need to "take ownership" of that user's folder
and all the folders inside that folder. The best way to do this is to
use the built-in Administrator's account in Safe Mode (password is
blank, by default). Use the method outlined here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

Once this is done, you will no longer get the "access denied" message
(as long as you are logged in under the built-in Administrsator's
account, which again needs to be done in Safe Mode). Then you can follow
the directions here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151/

HTH.

P.S. Are you running XP Home or XP Pro? That will determine how you
access the built-in Administrator account. The method I gave you is for
XP Home. For XP Pro, it is not necessary to go into Safe Mode. At the
Welcome Screen, merely hit Ctrl+Alt+Del twice. Type in Administrator for
User name. If a password was never established, it is blank.
 
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