Possible two log-ons for one user?

[Jorge Cervantes]

I boot WinXP Pro with a password. I am the only user and also the
Administrator with the same password.
It now looks like that there are two users (i.e., two logons). The reason
is that when I log on the windows, I get A screen. When I reboot the
computer later, I get B screen. Both A and B screens are very similar but
two desktop icons are missing in one of the screens. I am quite puzzled
about this observation. My question is how to confirm that there are two
users (or logons) for one person, and if so, how to get rid of one of the
two logons.
Jorge

 

[John John - MVP]

I boot WinXP Pro with a password. I am the only user and also the
Administrator with the same password.
It now looks like that there are two users (i.e., two logons). The reason
is that when I log on the windows, I get A screen. When I reboot the
computer later, I get B screen. Both A and B screens are very similar but
two desktop icons are missing in one of the screens. I am quite puzzled
about this observation. My question is how to confirm that there are two
users (or logons) for one person, and if so, how to get rid of one of the
two logons.

They would have a different profile folder. To verify this you can use
the SET USER command at the Command Prompt. Issue the command under
both logons and compare the results. To make it easier to compare the
results you can redirect the output of the command to a text file:

set user >>c:\user.txt

John

 

[Jorge Cervantes]

I did not mention this in order to make the post shorter. I recall this
fact: I installed Total Commander program. I placed its shortcut on the
desktop. When I booted later, the icon did not show. I felt like
hallucinated. When booted later, I see the icon on the desktop. I will
try your suggestion tomorrow . The computer is in my office.
Jorge

 

[Jorge Cervantes]

BTW, if there are indeed different profiles, how can I delete one profile?
Jorge

 

[John John - MVP]

I really doubt that this is an issue with the profile itself.

John

 

[John John - MVP]

First you would have to determine why a new profile was created and you
would have to figure out why the system would be alternating between the
profiles. What you describe is highly unusual, I kind of doubt that
this is a profile issue per se, we will know more after we get the
results from the set command. There are only two reasons why new
profiles are created for existing users:

1- The user profile is corrupt and the user cannot logon using the
corrupt profile so the system creates a new profile for the user.

2- The user lost his permissions on his profile, his read rights to his
profile were revoked. Here again the system will create a new profile
for the user.

John

 

[Tim Meddick]

Jorge,
type ("copy and paste") the following into your "Run" box on the Start Menu
:


c:\windows\system32\lusrmgr.msc


.....and press [ok] - This should bring up the "Local Users and Groups" console.

From here, you can see all the profiles currently set up on your XP installation.

This includes "hidden" accounts.


It could be that installing "Total Commander" has configured .Net Framework.

When .Net Framework is configured, it causes a new "hidden" profile called "ASPINET"
to be created.

This has the "knock-on" effect of making a PC with only one profile and no password,
that used to boot straight into Windows with no logon, to then begin to stop at the
"Welcome" screen.


You can override this effect, whether caused in the way described above or in some
other way, by downloading and using this tiny Microsoft utility called "AutoLogon"

Download "AutoLogon" by clicking on the link below :

http://live.sysinternals.com/Autologon.exe


==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[Chuck]

It's been several years and an SP or two since I actually saw this problem!
Turned out to be some sort of corruption in the user profiles. A "new user"
account was the accepted cure.
After things worked properly, the old user accounts were removed. Finally
the new user account was changed to the desired users name, etc.
(I had to skip the gory step by details, since I don't remember them.)

Jorge,
type ("copy and paste") the following into your "Run" box on the
Start Menu :


c:\windows\system32\lusrmgr.msc


....and press [ok] - This should bring up the "Local Users and Groups"
console.

From here, you can see all the profiles currently set up on your XP
installation.

This includes "hidden" accounts.


It could be that installing "Total Commander" has configured .Net
Framework.

When .Net Framework is configured, it causes a new "hidden" profile called
"ASPINET" to be created.

This has the "knock-on" effect of making a PC with only one profile and no
password, that used to boot straight into Windows with no logon, to then
begin to stop at the "Welcome" screen.


You can override this effect, whether caused in the way described above or
in some other way, by downloading and using this tiny Microsoft utility
called "AutoLogon"

Download "AutoLogon" by clicking on the link below :

http://live.sysinternals.com/Autologon.exe


==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

I boot WinXP Pro with a password. I am the only user and also the
Administrator with the same password.
It now looks like that there are two users (i.e., two logons). The
reason is that when I log on the windows, I get A screen. When I reboot
the computer later, I get B screen. Both A and B screens are very
similar but two desktop icons are missing in one of the screens. I am
quite puzzled about this observation. My question is how to confirm that
there are two users (or logons) for one person, and if so, how to get rid
of one of the two logons.
Jorge