Can't Create New User Accounts/Profiles

[Kira]

I've been having this problem for a while. From Control Panel, I can create a
new user account, but I can't actually log into it. I've gone to "Computer
management" or whatever to create the account and change the local groups
etc, but that doesn't help either. I deleted the "default user" and
"Administrator" and "guest" folders under "documents and settings" which is
why I think this is the problem. My account let's call Bloom. On the
Microsoft support database or whatever it's called, it says I could copy a
profile to another account, but you need to log in to a seperate account from
the one you're copying - I can't log into any other account but mine, so I
can't copy my account. I've really messed this up. Please help!!!

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install:
http://michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

This will rebuild the default "Administrator' account, and should let you
create others with that.
If Home Edition, boot to Safe Mode (F8 on restart, during 'black screen'
after Bios screen) to see the administrator account on the welcome screen

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Mark L. Ferguson

..

 

[Kira]

Will that erase data on my account? Like will it delete all My Documents etc?
I should backup my computer first?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Will that erase data on my account?

No.


Like will it delete all My Documents etc?

No.


I should backup my computer first?

Yes. If you have data that's important to you, it should *always* be
backed up. That goes double before you take any big step, even one
that isn't supposed to hurt your data.

 

[Kira]

Thanks. I will try this and let you know how it works out.

 

[Kira]

It didn't work. When I go through the Repair Install exactly as the
directions say, during Setup it says it can't find XP previously installed on
my computer, although it obviously is since here I am writing to you using
it, and my XP disk is an update disk for updating from Windows Millenium, 98,
etc. to XP. When I use that Magical Jelly Ban Keyfinder thing, it finds a key
alright but it says that key is not installed or not supported, which backs
up the setup problem. It's possible I'm using the wrong XP disk, since we
have more than one computer in my house, but I'm pretty sure this is my disk.
I just don't understand how it doesn't recognize the XP when here I am using
it.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

Yes, wrong disk, or really 'version'. There are several Editions of XP, and
also there is a difference in Service pack level. If the install does not
have SP2, and you are running it, then you need to uninstall the service
pack back to the level of the disk to use it to repair.
If the original install was SP2, and you use a setup disk without it, it
fails. You also can't use a pro disk on a home product, or any other Edition
difference.

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Mark L. Ferguson

..

 

[Kira]

My computer's installation as well as all the disks are Home edition.
So if I uninstall SP2 it should work? I also tried booting in safe mode but
it kind of just froze up.

 

[Kira]

All of the XP installation disks we own are update disks. I've tried the
numerous ways to uninstall SP 2 but I can't find it anywhere, and I've looked
all over and tried different methods of uninstalling it. The computer still
says it doesn't recognize the XP installed on it, and its newer than the
version on the disk (but I can still use it, obviously). It wants me to put
in the disk from Millennium or whatever to upgrade but I don't know if ME was
installed on this computer or if we bought it with XP or whatever, and don't
plan on going back to ME in order to upgrade again. It won't let me continue
with the installation process because of the "newer version" but I really
can't find SP 2 anywhere to uninstall it, although I definitely have it.