Ntuser.dat file

[Guest]

I was browsing my computer (HP Pavillion zv5001us, 4 yrs old) and came across
my user.dat files. I have five of them, the funny thing about it is that the
program associated with it is Intervideo WinDVD 4, which I do have. I have
never seen this and assumed it was incorrect. I tried to unassociate the
program with the .dat files. It didn't work becuase the file was in use, so
says the pop up message. I use a program that will delete files that are in
use upon reboot. I inadvertantly deleted the ntuser.dat which was about 8.5
MB. My computer still boots up just fine, but seems a little unstable. Is
there a way to repair or find that file again? If so, where does it go or
belong so my puter will be stable again. Also, concerning .dat files. Why
do I have 5 of them. Here they are: Administrator, All users, Default User,
Owner, and Me. Do they all need to be on there? Can I get rid of them
without harming the puter? Thanks.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Airborne82" <[email protected]>

| I was browsing my computer (HP Pavillion zv5001us, 4 yrs old) and came across
| my user.dat files. I have five of them, the funny thing about it is that the
| program associated with it is Intervideo WinDVD 4, which I do have. I have
| never seen this and assumed it was incorrect. I tried to unassociate the
| program with the .dat files. It didn't work becuase the file was in use, so
| says the pop up message. I use a program that will delete files that are in
| use upon reboot. I inadvertantly deleted the ntuser.dat which was about 8.5
| MB. My computer still boots up just fine, but seems a little unstable. Is
| there a way to repair or find that file again? If so, where does it go or
| belong so my puter will be stable again. Also, concerning .dat files. Why
| do I have 5 of them. Here they are: Administrator, All users, Default User,
| Owner, and Me. Do they all need to be on there? Can I get rid of them
| without harming the puter? Thanks.

NO do NOT touch *any* NTUser.dat file !

There is one in each profile...

C:\Documents and Settings\USER1

C:\Documents and Settings\USER2

Each has a NTUser.dat file and represent the User Registry !

Failure to heed my warning will have disasterous results.

 

[Rock]

I was browsing my computer (HP Pavillion zv5001us, 4 yrs old) and came
across
my user.dat files. I have five of them, the funny thing about it is that
the
program associated with it is Intervideo WinDVD 4, which I do have. I
have
never seen this and assumed it was incorrect. I tried to unassociate the
program with the .dat files. It didn't work becuase the file was in use,
so
says the pop up message. I use a program that will delete files that are
in
use upon reboot. I inadvertantly deleted the ntuser.dat which was about
8.5
MB. My computer still boots up just fine, but seems a little unstable.
Is
there a way to repair or find that file again? If so, where does it go or
belong so my puter will be stable again. Also, concerning .dat files.
Why
do I have 5 of them. Here they are: Administrator, All users, Default
User,
Owner, and Me. Do they all need to be on there? Can I get rid of them
without harming the puter? Thanks.

They contain the user portion of the registry for each profile. Leave them
alone! Why would you go about deleting something if you don't know
beforehand what they are and the possible effects?

Do a system restore to before you did this deletion.

 

[Guest]

At the time I deleted the files I didn't know they were .dat files as the
file extensions are not shown for this file type or any other file type. At
the time of deletion the files were associated with Intervideo WinDVD 4.
They took on the appearance of a video file. When I double clicked the file,
it even opened Intervideo WinDVD 4, of course it wouldn't play because WinDVD
said it was an unrecognized file type. At the time it was just a corrupt
video file, it seemed that way to me anyway. I later found out that it was
the nutuser.dat file. Why would WinDVD associate itself with a .dat file in
the first place? Currently I still have ntuser.dat files on my box and my XP
seems to start up just fine, a little slow. I'm also missing my original
win.ini and boot.ini and config list and config.sys files.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Airborne82" <[email protected]>

< snip >

I'm also missing my original
| win.ini and boot.ini and config list and config.sys files.
|

Oy vay !

 

[Rock]

At the time I deleted the files I didn't know they were .dat files as the
file extensions are not shown for this file type or any other file type.
At
the time of deletion the files were associated with Intervideo WinDVD 4.
They took on the appearance of a video file. When I double clicked the
file,
it even opened Intervideo WinDVD 4, of course it wouldn't play because
WinDVD
said it was an unrecognized file type. At the time it was just a corrupt
video file, it seemed that way to me anyway. I later found out that it
was
the nutuser.dat file. Why would WinDVD associate itself with a .dat file
in
the first place? Currently I still have ntuser.dat files on my box and my
XP
seems to start up just fine, a little slow. I'm also missing my original
win.ini and boot.ini and config list and config.sys files.

As I said before, do a system restore.

 

[Guest]

I'm all for system restore in certain cases, but it's not, in my opionion the
cure all. I have used it before for minor software glitches, but when it
comes to system files and the like system restore can be funny about what it
restores. I'm hesitant about using it in this case because past experience
has taught me more harm than good can come out of it. I have had problems
with system restore. Before I go that route, there must be a way to repair
or replace the missing files, ie system file checker or something of that
nature. Thanks for you input>

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

I'm all for system restore in certain cases, but it's not, in my opionion
the
cure all. I have used it before for minor software glitches, but when it
comes to system files and the like system restore can be funny about what
it
restores. I'm hesitant about using it in this case because past
experience
has taught me more harm than good can come out of it. I have had problems
with system restore. Before I go that route, there must be a way to
repair
or replace the missing files, ie system file checker or something of that
nature. Thanks for you input>

One of the things System Restore restores is the Registry, of which
NTUser.dat is a part.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for the info.

One of the things System Restore restores is the Registry, of which
NTUser.dat is a part.

 

[Rock]

I'm all for system restore in certain cases, but it's not, in my opionion
the
cure all. I have used it before for minor software glitches, but when it
comes to system files and the like system restore can be funny about what
it
restores. I'm hesitant about using it in this case because past
experience
has taught me more harm than good can come out of it. I have had problems
with system restore. Before I go that route, there must be a way to
repair
or replace the missing files, ie system file checker or something of that
nature. Thanks for you input>

Well suite yourself, but this is exactly the kind of situation SR is suited
for. It backs up the registry and monitored system files. There is sfc,
but that won't replace user generated or edited files. Boot.ini can be
edited and ntuser.dat is the user part of the registry. This is what SR is
for.

If you don't want to do SR, then restore the system state data from a backup
made by ntbackup where system state data was included. You don't use
ntbackup? Well then restore the most recent image created with whatever
imaging software you use to routinely image the system (which is not a bad
idea if you intend to muck around deleting things without knowing exactly
what's up). Actually drive imaging is wonderful insurance against a variety
of computer disasters.

You don't use imaging software? Then Google for file recovery software,
there's a variety ranging from free offerings to quite expensive. Or lastly
send the drive to a data recovery company like www.ontrack.com or
www.drivesavers.com.