Mystery folders in C\Documents and Settings

[Guest]

In Documents and Settings I see folders named "All Users", "All
Users.WINDOWS", and "All Users.WINDOWS.0"

Similarly, "Default User", "Default User.WINDOWS"' and "Default
User.WINDOWS.0"

The same is true for my logon name -- with three 0's!

This may be the result of a re-install of Windows a few months ago, which,
incidentally, did not cause me to lose any data, to my surprise.

I run Windows XP and am the only user of my computer, which is not networked.

There is much overlap among the subfolders and files in the extra folders.

Is it safe to delete the extra folders (to save storage space)? The system
won't let me delete the extra system folders.

Thank you very much.

 

[Guest]

This is because you not do a clean Installation and that's why your previous
data is still there.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

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

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

Scroll down to
Match Users to Data
here...
Windows Rejuvenated
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,119266,pg,3,00.asp

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Rock]

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

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

Scroll down to
Match Users to Data
here...
Windows Rejuvenated
http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,119266,pg,3,00.asp

Great post Wes.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Thank you, Rock.

I've been working on it off and on since November, 2004 according to the
Created Date of the file. ;-) I changed or added something about a month
ago. I wonder what that was?

I have just spent about three hours searching my registry, the web, my sock
drawer and anywhere else I can think of for why Rename would be missing from
a right click context menu, the File menu in folders and Rename this file
missing from common tasks. I can hardly see straight and I have found no
answer except that shell32.dll has something to do with it.

And I read a post today by Ramesh that stated that you cannot register
shell32.dll. ;-(

I may have to go to bed.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[Guest]

I don't know what "Full Control permissions" means, but I tried following the
instructions in the PC World article, and got stuck. After backing up, I
created a new temporary user account and logged on. In Documents and
Settings, I successfully moved the contents of "Default User" and "Default
User.WINDOWS" to "Default User.WINDOWS.0", but in trying to do the same with
"All Users" I got messages such as "Start Menu is a system folder and is
required for Windows to run properly. It cannot be moved or renamed."

Thank you for any additional guidance you can give me.

 

[Rock]

Thank you, Rock.

I've been working on it off and on since November, 2004 according to the
Created Date of the file. ;-) I changed or added something about a month
ago. I wonder what that was?

I have just spent about three hours searching my registry, the web, my sock
drawer and anywhere else I can think of for why Rename would be missing from
a right click context menu, the File menu in folders and Rename this file
missing from common tasks. I can hardly see straight and I have found no
answer except that shell32.dll has something to do with it.

And I read a post today by Ramesh that stated that you cannot register
shell32.dll. ;-(

I may have to go to bed.

Yep, sometimes it's better to give it a rest. I just was working on a
multiboot Vista Boot Loader problem and by being tired keyed in the
wrong drive letter which led me down a two hour wild goose chase.
Lol..it's all good now.

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

... and there are many wild geese out there just waiting to be chased..

 

[Rock]

.. and there are many wild geese out there just waiting to be chased..

lol..I love roast goose too. I just hate wasting two hours chasing em.
Much better to be munching away.

 

[charli b]

lol..I love roast goose too. I just hate wasting two hours chasing em.
Much better to be munching away.

do it from a rowing boat, you can catch them within 3 to 5 mins

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Wes,

Shell32.dll or Kernel32.dll?
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/405231ea8e2d2f17

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thank you, Rock.

I've been working on it off and on since November, 2004 according to the
Created Date of the file. ;-) I changed or added something about a month
ago. I wonder what that was?

I have just spent about three hours searching my registry, the web, my sock
drawer and anywhere else I can think of for why Rename would be missing from
a right click context menu, the File menu in folders and Rename this file
missing from common tasks. I can hardly see straight and I have found no
answer except that shell32.dll has something to do with it.

And I read a post today by Ramesh that stated that you cannot register
shell32.dll. ;-(

I may have to go to bed.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[NewScience]

Check the registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

Under that key is the Profiles for your system and their associated
pathnames. In that fashion you can determine what folder is actually being
used for Default User, All Users, ....

Once you determine what belons to what, you should have absolutely no
problem in fixing and combining files/folders where they belong.

If you want to keep the standard folder names for Default Users, All Users,
.... and they are not the norm (C:\Documents and Settings\Default User), then
modify the ProfileImagePath value/data pair to reflect the true path, and
move everything from the old bad name to the name you just change.

Then reboot

SUGGESTION: Do one at a time, reboot, test and move to the next.

I've down this many times with absolutely no problems.

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Hi Ramesh,

I was tired and remembered wrong. Shell32.dll is the file I thought might
be causing problems, but it's something else.

Missing "Rename" option in My Documents' files & folders
microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...63505?lnk=st&q=&rnum=1&hl=en#0e03cd848db63505

Jump in if you want.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Hi Wes,

Shell32.dll or Kernel32.dll?
http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/405231ea8e2d2f17

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Thank you, Rock.

I've been working on it off and on since November, 2004 according to the
Created Date of the file. ;-) I changed or added something about a month
ago. I wonder what that was?

I have just spent about three hours searching my registry, the web, my
sock drawer and anywhere else I can think of for why Rename would be
missing from a right click context menu, the File menu in folders and
Rename this file missing from common tasks. I can hardly see straight
and I have found no answer except that shell32.dll has something to do
with it.

And I read a post today by Ramesh that stated that you cannot register
shell32.dll. ;-(

I may have to go to bed.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Great post Wes.

 

[Guest]

Thank you to everyone who offered advice.

I've tried numerous times, but I can't make it work. The key you mention,
NewScience, gives the pathname for the named user (me), but not for All Users
or Default User. I'm giving up for now.

Unfortunately, none of my System Restore points worked, and neither did
ERUNT. Fortunately, Carbonite worked. Unfortunately, I only backed up My
Documents, excluding My Pictures and My Videos. Fortunately, My Pictures is
still there, for some reason, but, unfortunately, My Videos is gone --
despite that I got many messages telling me I could not delete system
folders! I'm trying to recover using File Recover (third party software).
If anyone has a better suggestion for recovery, please let me know.

Thanks again.