Corrupt user profile error, data erased

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Guest

Yesterday afternoon, my laptop worked fine.
This morning, when I started it up, I received an error saying "Windows
could not properly load due to a corrupt user profile. I clicked OK and it
loaded Windows (XP SP2) in basically default settings. The programs that were
on it when I purchased it are there, the default Windows background is on the
desktop, the themes are reverted to default, all programs I've installed are
gone, all the pictures and music in 'My Documents' are gone. However, my name
is listed at the top of the STart Menu.

What should I do? Would a system restore to yesterday or the day before be a
good idea? I did find the 'How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to
a new profile' help summary on support.microsoft.com but would I be able to
retrieve anything when I copy to a new profile? Is that the route I should
go? The head of IT here at my school recommended avoiding doing anything on
my laptop until I have a good solution (he's not familiar with this problem
and recommended I come here) so that I'm not overwriting old data
accidentally.

Thanks for any input.
 
xRyanx,


Solution 1: Try the System Restore first, then try solution 2.


Solution 2:

Note:
Your original user profile folder must still be located in the C:\Documents
and Settings folder. You can then 'Copy & Paste' to the current profile.

* open Windows Explorer > click Tools > Folder Options > View tab
* check 'Show hidden files and folders' & uncheck the 'Hide protected
operating system files' > click OK
* Navigate to 'C:\Documents and Settings\'Your original profile name'
* Copy all folders & files from 'Your original profile name' folder except:
Ntuser.dat
Ntuser.dat.log
Ntuser.ini

* Navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\'Current profile name'
* Paste all the copied folders & files from 'Your original profile name'
folder (except the 3 noted files) into the 'Current profile name' folder
* Rename the profile you just pasted into to the original login name
* Reboot and log on as you normally would before your problem

Note:
You must import your e-mail messages & address book to the 'new profile'
before you delete the old profile

Drew
 
thanks so much! i did a restore back to tuesday, saved everything and then
created a new restore point from here out so that i can go back to it and
create a new profile from there if the need arises.
thanks!
 
xRyanx said:
Yesterday afternoon, my laptop worked fine.
This morning, when I started it up, I received an error saying "Windows
could not properly load due to a corrupt user profile. I clicked OK and it
loaded Windows (XP SP2) in basically default settings. The programs that were
on it when I purchased it are there, the default Windows background is on the
desktop, the themes are reverted to default, all programs I've installed are
gone, all the pictures and music in 'My Documents' are gone. However, my name
is listed at the top of the STart Menu.

What should I do? Would a system restore to yesterday or the day before be a
good idea? I did find the 'How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to
a new profile' help summary on support.microsoft.com but would I be able to
retrieve anything when I copy to a new profile? Is that the route I should
go? The head of IT here at my school recommended avoiding doing anything on
my laptop until I have a good solution (he's not familiar with this problem
and recommended I come here) so that I'm not overwriting old data
accidentally.

Thanks for any input.
Click to expand...

Have you considered backing up your important files? You
might be out of luck next time! A 2.5" disk in an external
USB case is a low-cost but highly effective backup medium.
 
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