Help Needed - Computer Defaulting to TEMP User

[Krebs]

Arggh! Help Needed Identifying/Eliminating TEMP User

Guessing my father's computer must've been visited by some brand of
evil -

A user folder called TEMP has appeared, and can be seen under Documents
And Settings:
- All Users
- Default User
- Owner
- TEMP

All files, folders, programs, address book etc.. are (and always have
been) in "Owner". Owner is the only user profile on the computer, yet
when WinXP is booted, it seems as if TEMP is the active user - The
sparse TEMP desktop appears, there is no access to email, etc. If I
run Outlook Express, I get the welcoming screen as if it was never used
before. I cannot access the TEMP user.. If I try to log off and
change users, I can't... The only choice offered is Owner.

I was going to copy files and folders from Owner to TEMP, but I don't
think this solves the problem.

(Have updated and run Norton Anti-Virus, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search &
Destroy - All reads fine)

How can I repair this so Owner is once again the sole user when Windows
boots? Simple words & concepts appreciated...
Help please and TIA!
- Krebs

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Arggh! Help Needed Identifying/Eliminating TEMP User

Guessing my father's computer must've been visited by some brand of
evil -

A user folder called TEMP has appeared, and can be seen under
Documents And Settings:
- All Users
- Default User
- Owner
- TEMP

All files, folders, programs, address book etc.. are (and always have
been) in "Owner". Owner is the only user profile on the computer, yet
when WinXP is booted, it seems as if TEMP is the active user - The
sparse TEMP desktop appears, there is no access to email, etc. If I
run Outlook Express, I get the welcoming screen as if it was never
used before. I cannot access the TEMP user.. If I try to log off and
change users, I can't... The only choice offered is Owner.

I was going to copy files and folders from Owner to TEMP, but I don't
think this solves the problem.

(Have updated and run Norton Anti-Virus, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search &
Destroy - All reads fine)

How can I repair this so Owner is once again the sole user when
Windows boots? Simple words & concepts appreciated...
Help please and TIA!

The original profile is corrupt. Create a new one as an adminstrative user
(TEMP may be one) and log in with that user.. Take ownership of the old
OWNER folder and copy the files you need - not everything - because there
are settings in there that are corrupt obviously - but the documents and
such.. Then rebuild the desktop/start menu from that user as well..

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

Krebs,
Give this a go. From XP's main menu, select Control Panel. Then select User Accounts. Then pick Change the way users log on or off.
Un-check the Use the Welcome screen. Apply changes. Logoff and restart.

(You may or may not have to do this in Safe Mode). This change hopefully will allow selecting (typing in) Owner account.

Make very sure you have eradicated all malware.
See The Parasite Fight Quick Fix Protocol at <http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm>

 

[Krebs]

Shenan,
Many thanks for the speedy advice.
Hope to get that machine up and running soonest!
- Krebs

 

[Krebs]

Hey Maurice,
Thanks for the quick reply - it's much appreciated.
Let's see if can get that machine up and running today.
- Krebs

 

[Salmon Dave]

I am confused..........
Bear with me......I create a new user (admin)
question....how do I "take ownership of the old owner folder"
what does that mean ?

also.... in working on a fix ...we created a new user
but there was no (new)identity in the (new) local settings
how can that be ??

TIA
Salmon Dave

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Arggh! Help Needed Identifying/Eliminating TEMP User

Guessing my father's computer must've been visited by some brand of
evil -

A user folder called TEMP has appeared, and can be seen under
Documents And Settings:
- All Users
- Default User
- Owner
- TEMP

All files, folders, programs, address book etc.. are (and always
have been) in "Owner". Owner is the only user profile on the
computer, yet when WinXP is booted, it seems as if TEMP is the
active user - The sparse TEMP desktop appears, there is no access
to email, etc. If I run Outlook Express, I get the welcoming
screen as if it was never used before. I cannot access the TEMP
user.. If I try to log off and change users, I can't... The only
choice offered is Owner.

I was going to copy files and folders from Owner to TEMP, but I
don't think this solves the problem.

(Have updated and run Norton Anti-Virus, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search &
Destroy - All reads fine)

How can I repair this so Owner is once again the sole user when
Windows boots? Simple words & concepts appreciated...
Help please and TIA!

The original profile is corrupt. Create a new one as an
adminstrative user (TEMP may be one) and log in with that user..
Take ownership of the old OWNER folder and copy the files you need -
not everything - because there are settings in there that are
corrupt obviously - but the documents and such.. Then rebuild the
desktop/start menu from that user as well..

I am confused..........
Bear with me......I create a new user (admin)
question....how do I "take ownership of the old owner folder"
what does that mean ?

also.... in working on a fix ...we created a new user
but there was no (new)identity in the (new) local settings
how can that be ??

First - create your new user:
HOW TO: Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279783

Make it an "Administrative User".
Log in as the user at least ONCE to allow the creation of the files/folders
for the user - before you log in - you have only created the "idea" of the
user - the building of the profile in C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME
does not happen until you log in.

Now - reboot.

Log in as the new user.

Take ownership of all of the files/folders under c:\documents and
settings\owner:
HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

How to disable simplified sharing & set permissions
on a shared folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874

Once you have taken ownership of the files/folders, you should be able to
browse them. I would copy files from the OWNER user to the new user
folders.. But not from any of these directories or their sub directories:

Application Data
Cookies
Desktop
Favorites
Local Settings
NetHood
PrintHood
Recent
Templates
UserData
WINDOWS

And not ANY NTUSER.* file(s).

Reboot again - log in as the "new" user.