reinstall eliminated my user account

[Tanj]

I had a mainboard failing and replaced it. Windows would
not boot so I ran the CDROM and did the re-install thing
(repair an existing install, not the command-line
repair). This appeared to go fine except it requested a
new user account. I was not present (my daughter's
computer), I'd left for a meeting since all seemed to be
running smoothly, she set up an account name when it
asked. Of course the new account did not have any of her
files.

Well, that should be only a minor hassle, right? Just log
in to the old account, then use account management to
delete the new one. Wrong. Change User refuses to
recognize the previous username on the computer. This is
on Win XP Pro. So, how do I get back to the correct
account? Surely a "repair" option has not destroyed the
account, it is just hidden somehow?

Does anyone know what happened and how to fix it?

Thanks,
Tanj

 

[Malke]

I had a mainboard failing and replaced it. Windows would
not boot so I ran the CDROM and did the re-install thing
(repair an existing install, not the command-line
repair). This appeared to go fine except it requested a
new user account. I was not present (my daughter's
computer), I'd left for a meeting since all seemed to be
running smoothly, she set up an account name when it
asked. Of course the new account did not have any of her
files.

Well, that should be only a minor hassle, right? Just log
in to the old account, then use account management to
delete the new one. Wrong. Change User refuses to
recognize the previous username on the computer. This is
on Win XP Pro. So, how do I get back to the correct
account? Surely a "repair" option has not destroyed the
account, it is just hidden somehow?

If the files are visible, you will need to take ownership of them. Look
in your Help & Support for "take ownership". You will need
administrative privileges to do this.

Malke