A ghost in my computer!

[Andy]

Greetings,

thanks for reading...

I am experiencing a major problem. After contracting
some type of virus, which it seems i have now fully
removed, my computer now seems to have a "ghost" user.
Though I sign on as "Andy" at start-up, all the
settings/options/etc. are as if I am a totally new user
(fresh "my documents" folder, etc.) Everytime I restart
my computer, though I again sign in as "Andy", the
desktop is cleaned off, and all the settings/options are
reset again. Anything that was on the desktop, then
appears in: C/Documents and Settings/TEMP.Andy.
Everything that I had on the desktopbefore this problem,
still appears in C/Documents and Settings/Andy/Desktop.

Any suggestions? I VERY much appreciate any help
(ghostbusters).

-Andy

 

[CWatters]

Anything that was on the desktop, then
appears in: C/Documents and Settings/TEMP.Andy.

You are not alone.

http://www.ozzu.com/ftopic29717.html

http://forums.devhardware.com/archive/t-22361

Perhaps some of the replies will help - but read to the end before taking
action.

 

[CWatters]

thnaks cwatters, however, those links don't address the more serious issue im
having which is that every time i restart, the seetings restart, and im a new
user again...(though under MY name (andy))....strange...

It's not actually creating a new user account, it's putting the setting in
the wrong place so it can't find them next time you log in... but I'm not
sure why.

Doing a System Restore works for others eg...

http://hosthideout.com/showthread.php?postid=40617

...but I hesitate to suggest you do this because might take your system back
to the time when it had the virus. Perhaps you know when exactly you got the
virus and can restore to a point before that date?

Otherwise if you I would try loggin in as admin and create a new user
account. If that one works ok (eg you can put things on the desktop and they
are still there when you log out/in again) then copy over your data and
delete the "problem" account when you are sure you have everything (inc
email etc).

Colin

 

[Guest]

THANKS! CWatters... a simple but good idea. It seems the new user is not
currupted.


Andy

 

[CWatters]

THANKS! CWatters... a simple but good idea. It seems the new user is not
currupted.

Ok. Don't forget to copy over your email and other settings - best keep that
problem account to refer to until you are really sure you have everything
transferred to the new one,