Using an orphan ntuser.dat to re-create original user

  • Thread starter Thread starter Audiobuff
  • Start date Start date
A

Audiobuff

Through a series of unfortunate steps I am unable to remember or that really
matter, I am left with the parent folder which contains all the files of the
user I accidentally deleted. It includes the ntuser.dat file. The folder is
named user.lastname.workgroupname.

The userlist shows this ntuser.dat file as a unknown user so I can't copy it.

in addition, all machine names, workgroup names are out of synch now as I
tried several things.

I have had the most luck with creating a new user, logging in, then from a
neutral account, copying over selected folders & the original ntuser.dat -
which brought over the startup menu but that's nothing.

My question is - can I create a new user somehow so the user is recognized,
then through a process of elimination, and manual stimulation, get the
original folder to point to the newly created user?

i read something about unique IDs being assigned to users which is telling
me I am out of luck but a post I read pointed me here for possible help.
 
Audiobuff said:
Through a series of unfortunate steps I am unable to remember or
that really matter, I am left with the parent folder which contains
all the files of the user I accidentally deleted. It includes the
ntuser.dat file. The folder is named user.lastname.workgroupname.

The userlist shows this ntuser.dat file as a unknown user so I
can't copy it.

in addition, all machine names, workgroup names are out of synch
now as I tried several things.

I have had the most luck with creating a new user, logging in, then
from a neutral account, copying over selected folders & the
original ntuser.dat - which brought over the startup menu but
that's nothing.

My question is - can I create a new user somehow so the user is
recognized, then through a process of elimination, and manual
stimulation, get the original folder to point to the newly created
user?

i read something about unique IDs being assigned to users which is
telling me I am out of luck but a post I read pointed me here for
possible help.
Click to expand...

You are OoL.
The NTUser.DAT contains user specific registry entries for the most part -
very little of importance to most people. The layout of their desktop, what
background image they selected, etc. The important stuff is usually the
files, shortcuts, favorites, email, etc - which is in the profile folders
itself.

Most of that is not tricky to get to (once you can get to it - meaning
'taking ownership' of the old files/folders.)

Essentially - you copy to the same location in your current profile.

C:\Documents and Settings\<old username>\Desktop
C:\Documents and Settings\<old username>\Start Menu
--> Get old shortcuts/icons as well as anything you happned to store on
your desktop.

C:\Documents and Settings\<old username>\My Documents
--> Get everything you used to store in your My Documents folder. This
also contains the "My Pictures" and "My Music" and a host of other folders.

C:\Documents and Settings\<old username>\Favorites
--> Get your old Internet Explorer Favorites

C:\Documents and Settings\<old username>\NetHood
--> Location of your old "My Network Places"...

C:\Documents and Settings\<old username>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Identities\<hex string>\Microsoft\Outlook Express
--> Location of your Outlook Express files

Now - if you lost your network drives and stored passwords - yeah - those
are likely gone - although with some editing and know-how you might recover
them. Truth is - if you don't know them - better to fix that ASAP than
anything else.
 
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