Account folders have format "User.XXX"?

[Bob]

After re-installing Windows XP, I setup some accounts. But the folders for
the accounts have the format User.XXX (i.e. C:\Documents and
Settings\Bob.XXX).

I also have a folder "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.Windows". I am
not sure why there is a "Windows" extension.

Why is there an extension for the account folders? If possible, what is the
best way to remove the extension and avoid future account folders having
extensions?

Thanks, Bob

 

[R. McCarty]

When you reinstalled XP did you do:
(1.) Repair install over a pre-existing instance of XP
(2.) Fresh install by formatting the destination volume
(3.) Inadvertently create a "Side-by-Side" install of XP
You may have received a message that Windows installation found
an existing Windows install and that re-installing would overwrite the
Windows folder... If that's the case then you've created an overlay
type of setup and pre-existing profile folders are found so when you
recreate the users it must create the same name with a .Machinename
(or other) extension to them.

 

[Bob]

I reinstalled similar to 1). I did an install over a pre-existing instance
of XP but I did not specify a "repair" install. I also did not reformat the
hard drive prior to installing XP.

I new accounts I created did already exist in the pre-existing instance of
XP.

Should I do "cleanup" by doing the following:
1) Create new Admin account.
2) Delete all necessary accounts.
3) Re-create accounts again.

Can I just rename "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.Windows" to
"C:\Documents and Settings\All Users"?

Thanks, Bob

 

[R. McCarty]

It's not just as simple as renaming. The Registry is now holding pointers
to the extended name paths. You would probably have to change both
the Registry Key values that define Default & All User and then make
the necessary changes to the profile path itself. I'd have to rate this a 9
on the 1-to-10 "Shoot Yourself in the Foot" scale. Before I made any
changes I'd backup personal data and if you have the capability make a
system image.

 

[Bob]

Thanks for the help.

I create a new account and its folder did not have an extension. So then I
deleted and re-created my previous accounts. Now all user account folders
do not have an extension.

The folder "All Users.Windows" remains as is, which is not a big deal. I
did not want to mess around with the registry.

Bob