user accounts can't be accessed

[Jon Cabiria]

I had to reinstall Windows XP, but instead of
selecting "upgrade" I chose "Install." Big mistake!

In the reinstallation process, I create two user accounts
(thinking that the prior two user accounts had been
deleted as part of the reinstall process).

When the reinstall was completed, I discovered that the
two new user accounts could not access the previously
install programs (MS Office, Norton Anti-virus, Outlook,
etc). However, the programs are still on the computer.

I then discovered that the two original user accounts
still existed. Here is my question: How can I get these
two original user accounts to appear back on the user
account list at startup? My goal is to delete the two new
user accounts that were mistakenly created during the
reinstall and to be once again be able to use the former
user accounts by getting them to appear in the user login
screen.

NOTE: It's almost as if there is a wall, with the
original user settings and programs on one side, and the
new settings on the other. I can see everything from all
user accounts, old and new, in the folder list.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

No, you can't do it the way you are thinking. You will need to reinstall the
software you want under the new installation. All you can do with the old
profiles is take ownership of them and copy off any files you wish to
preserve. You will not be able to incorporate them as users in the new
installation (has to do with security and how they are tied to the old
installation, but the short answer is that you will not be able to use
them).

Next time to avoid all the extra work, do a repair installation, see:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone