Problem After Upgrading

[patetc]

Even since reinstalling Windows XP and upgrading to SP3, I have an
additional directory under "documents and Settings." I did have User
Accounts and My Name. Now there is a third one, Administrator.

I can't get into certain programs because I get a message telling me
that the program has not been installed for this user. I am the only
person using this computer and I am the administrator as well. I have
made changes to allow me full access but I still don't have it.

My favorites don't show up in Internet Explorer either. I need help
to get this back to normal. System restore won't work--I already
tried that.

Pat

 

[TERRY]

Hi P.I,m not a pro but i do try to help.I hate seeing people in need i know
it can be frustrating.Sp3 can be a pain.There are alot of people on this
forum that will tell you that.My favorite program on the pc is system
restore.But sometimes it,s not the answer.I,ve owned a pc since there was no
internet.So i,ve struggled alot but i never let it beat me.There might be a
spyware doing that to you or worse. And i can tell you from experience
because the pc i am sending this to you on had 268 viruses on it when my
father in law gave it to me.Thanks dad.lol.But anyhoo.When something doesn,t
look or feel right i click start,run.Type msconfig,ok.This brings you to a
window with tabs on it.Click the startup tab,disable all,apply,close.The pc
will prompt you to restart.Restart.When the screen comes back on it will have
a dialog box.Just click do not show,close.This will stop all programs from
running at startup.Gives you a chance to stop any spyware from running,or
ahything else.At that point you can try to get into user accounts and change
them.If not try to restore it again.If that doesn,t work.Which it should
without the spyware or whatever was running.Restart in safe mode.Do a scan
and see what happens.I,ve never heard of sp3 putting in an admin before.But
it could be possible.Who knows.But if this does work,and it should.When you
get into accounts.Erase all accounts and put yourself in as admin with a
password.This makes it more difficult for the spyware to get in.Some people
don,t like to do that,but i always have and never had any trouble.Alot of the
mvps or micro people don,t advise msconfig,but i do it on a regular basis.I
do agree you have to know what you are doing,but it isn,t rocket science.All
you are doing is stopping the startup programs.Your not playing with the cp
running progams like when they tell you to go to regedit.Which if you screw
something up its gone for good.PS.If you do stop the startup programs.When
you restart,and close the dialog box you will have to start your security
manually.Its not hard.Just activate the icon.The other programs that need to
run will prompt you if not, when you get it sorted.Go back to msconfig and
you can go to startup tab and check the boxes that have your sp signature on
them.Hope this helps.Wouldn,t try to steer you wrong.TERRY.