G
Guest
My Windows XP Home Edition crashed recently and had to be repaired using the
original system CDs. Windows now works, but my original user profile is gone
and none of my programs are mapped (everything from Word and Excel to McAfee
and Skype - nothing will launch either from the desktop or through the Start
menu). All of my data is intact (but it is now buried several folders into
the Documents and Settings folder) as are all of the .exe files for installed
programs. Since the .exe files are intact, in theory, all of my programs
should be functional...
To correct this aberration, I attempted to locate the original user profile
by using Microsoft article no. 811151 ("How to copy data from a corrupted
user profile...") to see if I could locate the original profile to copy it
into a new one. My thought is if I can restore the old profile that the
programs and customizations to the PC would return to normal. Unfortunately,
only the newly created profiles are in the Documents and Settings folder.
My question is this: is there any way I can locate and restore the lost
profile? Or if the profile is lost in the great Microsoft abyss, is there a
way to restore all program files without individually re-installing each
application?
Before I gave up and began to rebuild the computer, I wanted to check to see
if there was a more direct - and easier- workaround. Would appreciate any
insights...
original system CDs. Windows now works, but my original user profile is gone
and none of my programs are mapped (everything from Word and Excel to McAfee
and Skype - nothing will launch either from the desktop or through the Start
menu). All of my data is intact (but it is now buried several folders into
the Documents and Settings folder) as are all of the .exe files for installed
programs. Since the .exe files are intact, in theory, all of my programs
should be functional...
To correct this aberration, I attempted to locate the original user profile
by using Microsoft article no. 811151 ("How to copy data from a corrupted
user profile...") to see if I could locate the original profile to copy it
into a new one. My thought is if I can restore the old profile that the
programs and customizations to the PC would return to normal. Unfortunately,
only the newly created profiles are in the Documents and Settings folder.
My question is this: is there any way I can locate and restore the lost
profile? Or if the profile is lost in the great Microsoft abyss, is there a
way to restore all program files without individually re-installing each
application?
Before I gave up and began to rebuild the computer, I wanted to check to see
if there was a more direct - and easier- workaround. Would appreciate any
insights...