How to change USERPROFILE in WinXP registry

[t,mf2kg]

Hi,

How can I change the USERPROFILE variable that WinXP uses for a user.

The problem that I am running into is that after I took out my laptop's
drive to quickly back it up, WinXP has decided to use
"myaccountname.computername" as the USERPROFILE variable i.e. it
decides to create and use this account as I try to login into my
account. This creates all sorts of problems for me since it does not
use my old settings, my documents etc...

I need to set the USERPROFILE variable so that WinXP can use my old -
"C:\Documents & Settings\myaccountname" instead of creating and using
the new folder "C:\Documents and Settings\myaccountname.computername".

How do I do this?

Thanks - Ted

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hi,

How can I change the USERPROFILE variable that WinXP uses for a user.

The problem that I am running into is that after I took out my laptop's
drive to quickly back it up, WinXP has decided to use
"myaccountname.computername" as the USERPROFILE variable i.e. it
decides to create and use this account as I try to login into my
account. This creates all sorts of problems for me since it does not
use my old settings, my documents etc...

I need to set the USERPROFILE variable so that WinXP can use my old -
"C:\Documents & Settings\myaccountname" instead of creating and using
the new folder "C:\Documents and Settings\myaccountname.computername".

How do I do this?

Thanks - Ted

One method consists of modifying the profile path in the registry. Navigate
to
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList,
then change every occurence of the incorrect name to the correct. name.
This is best done while logged on as administrator.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

"myaccountname.computername" as the USERPROFILE variable

If you lose Full Control permissions to your profile folder, in the
%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings folder, Windows 2000 and Windows XP
will create a new one the next time you log on. The new profile is named:

UserName - if the older profile was deleted.
UserName.ComputerName - if the old profile exists.
UserName.ComputerName.000 - if UserName.ComputerName exists.
UserName.ComputerName.001 - if UserName.ComputerName.000 exists.

Above explains how the names are arrived at.

Below are some links on how to recover and/or remove what's not needed.

Duplicate profile folders exist under the "Documents and Settings" folder
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/restprofile.htm

How to rename or move a User Profile folder
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/userpath.htm

HOW TO: Restore a User Profile in Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314045

How To Restore a User Profile in Windows Server 2003
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/324734

How do I recovery a lost local user profile?
http://www.jsiinc.com/SUBJ/tip4600/rh4631.htm

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In