User Account Lost in XP Home Edition

[JohnL]

Somehow lost only user account while trying to set up to
use Direct Cable Connect with new computer. Had to set up
new administrator user account in Safe Mode since system
wouldn't complete boot. Old user account GONE & I can't
find the files I had stored in My Documents under that
account. Found fix to restore user account in MS Support,
but it only applies to XP Professional. When I try to set
up new account with old name, I get message "acount
already exists."
Can anybody help.

 

[JohnL]

Actually, If someone can tell me how I can find the files
I had stored in "My Documents" in original setupo, that
would be great. Since I upgraded to XP from 98SE, would I
get the files back if I uninstalled XP? Please advise.

 

[Michael Solomon \(MS-MVP Windows Shell/User\)]

I wouldn't try uninstalling. You might want to do a search in Explorer for
some of the documents as it might turn up the location of the rest of the
documents. If they aren't there now, it's unlikely and uninstall will
restore them.

Make sure all files and folders are visible in Explorer before doing the
search. Open Explorer, go to Tools, Select Folder Options, go to the View
tab, be sure "Show hidden files and folders" is selected and be sure "Hide
extensions for known file types and Hide protected operating system files"
is not selected, click apply and ok. If you know the extension of some of
the missing files, you might use that as the search criteria and that might
reveal where everything is.