User Login creating new account named [username].[computername]

[Guest]

First post here so forgive the ignorance.

I use Windows 2000 Pro on my home computer to manage my kids accounts and grant or deny them permissions. I got tired of repairing things they would mess up.

Anyway, two days ago, they complained to me that everything was lost when they logged in. Documents, settings, favorites, everything. Going into windows explorer, I see three new users listed, one for each one of the users having problems. They are labeled with their user name appended with ".[computername]" For an example, it looks like Billy.Adkredneck where Adkredneck is the computer name.

When they log in, they get the basic windows opening screen complete with the box where you can register windoes, etcc

I've deleted these new users and when trying to log in under their user name and password, it creates the new account all over. Their original user names and folders are all there, complete with their documents and settings.

Any idea what's going on and how this can be corrected.

BTW, I'm self-teaching on Windows 2000, kind of a shade-tree computer mechanic.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Oli Restorick [MVP]]

Hi

First off, let's get a bit of terminology straight. The folders you are
seeing under Documents and Settings are profiles, not accounts. No new
accouunts are being created.

When a user logs in, the system checks to see if the user has logged in
previously and already has a profile directory. This is done by matching
the SID (a long number uniquely representing the user) to a list of profile
directories already stored on the system. This list is stored in the
following location in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

If the system thinks the user has never logged in before and therefore
doesn't have an existing profile, it will create a new one. First, it will
try a folder with the same name as the user (e.g. "Billy"). If this already
exists, it will try appending a . and the computer name or domain.
Subsequently, numbers are appended to create a unique name.

I'm not sure why your users would have become disassociated with their
profiles (I've never seen it happen, for example), but some registry changes
or fiddling with folder permissions could have been the cause.

The registry key above might provide some userful information. I really
wouldn't go changing stuff in there, though, unless you're very sure that
your change will work and then only after having taken a full backup.

Regards

Oli

 

[Guest]

Thanks Oli. I was just figuring out that my terminology was wrong when your reply came in. I went to system and User profiles and there exists the three profiles that weren't affected along with Administrator and the computer name account. There are also two 'account unkown's. The user profiles for the three that are having problems are not listed.

Is there a way to re-establish the user accounts with the profiles that are still stored in Documents and Settings?

Hi

First off, let's get a bit of terminology straight. The folders you are
seeing under Documents and Settings are profiles, not accounts. No new
accouunts are being created.

When a user logs in, the system checks to see if the user has logged in
previously and already has a profile directory. This is done by matching
the SID (a long number uniquely representing the user) to a list of profile
directories already stored on the system. This list is stored in the
following location in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

If the system thinks the user has never logged in before and therefore
doesn't have an existing profile, it will create a new one. First, it will
try a folder with the same name as the user (e.g. "Billy"). If this already
exists, it will try appending a . and the computer name or domain.
Subsequently, numbers are appended to create a unique name.

I'm not sure why your users would have become disassociated with their
profiles (I've never seen it happen, for example), but some registry changes
or fiddling with folder permissions could have been the cause.

The registry key above might provide some userful information. I really
wouldn't go changing stuff in there, though, unless you're very sure that
your change will work and then only after having taken a full backup.

Regards

Oli

First post here so forgive the ignorance.

I use Windows 2000 Pro on my home computer to manage my kids accounts and
grant or deny them permissions. I got tired of repairing things they
would mess up.

Anyway, two days ago, they complained to me that everything was lost when
they logged in. Documents, settings, favorites, everything. Going into
windows explorer, I see three new users listed, one for each one of the
users having problems. They are labeled with their user name appended
with ".[computername]" For an example, it looks like Billy.Adkredneck
where Adkredneck is the computer name.

When they log in, they get the basic windows opening screen complete with
the box where you can register windoes, etcc

I've deleted these new users and when trying to log in under their user
name and password, it creates the new account all over. Their original
user names and folders are all there, complete with their documents and
settings.

Any idea what's going on and how this can be corrected.

BTW, I'm self-teaching on Windows 2000, kind of a shade-tree computer
mechanic.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Guest]

Looking under 'HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList' there are currently nine listings. Anyway to tell which one is which and how to reassociate them with their proper users?

Hi

First off, let's get a bit of terminology straight. The folders you are
seeing under Documents and Settings are profiles, not accounts. No new
accouunts are being created.

When a user logs in, the system checks to see if the user has logged in
previously and already has a profile directory. This is done by matching
the SID (a long number uniquely representing the user) to a list of profile
directories already stored on the system. This list is stored in the
following location in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

If the system thinks the user has never logged in before and therefore
doesn't have an existing profile, it will create a new one. First, it will
try a folder with the same name as the user (e.g. "Billy"). If this already
exists, it will try appending a . and the computer name or domain.
Subsequently, numbers are appended to create a unique name.

I'm not sure why your users would have become disassociated with their
profiles (I've never seen it happen, for example), but some registry changes
or fiddling with folder permissions could have been the cause.

The registry key above might provide some userful information. I really
wouldn't go changing stuff in there, though, unless you're very sure that
your change will work and then only after having taken a full backup.

Regards

Oli

First post here so forgive the ignorance.

I use Windows 2000 Pro on my home computer to manage my kids accounts and
grant or deny them permissions. I got tired of repairing things they
would mess up.

Anyway, two days ago, they complained to me that everything was lost when
they logged in. Documents, settings, favorites, everything. Going into
windows explorer, I see three new users listed, one for each one of the
users having problems. They are labeled with their user name appended
with ".[computername]" For an example, it looks like Billy.Adkredneck
where Adkredneck is the computer name.

When they log in, they get the basic windows opening screen complete with
the box where you can register windoes, etcc

I've deleted these new users and when trying to log in under their user
name and password, it creates the new account all over. Their original
user names and folders are all there, complete with their documents and
settings.

Any idea what's going on and how this can be corrected.

BTW, I'm self-teaching on Windows 2000, kind of a shade-tree computer
mechanic.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Guest]

Okay, I just answered one of my questions. One account is the licensed user name, one is the computer name, and one is the administrator profile. The three unaffected profiles are there and there are three profiles for the three users with the .[computername] appended to it.

Hi

First off, let's get a bit of terminology straight. The folders you are
seeing under Documents and Settings are profiles, not accounts. No new
accouunts are being created.

When a user logs in, the system checks to see if the user has logged in
previously and already has a profile directory. This is done by matching
the SID (a long number uniquely representing the user) to a list of profile
directories already stored on the system. This list is stored in the
following location in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

If the system thinks the user has never logged in before and therefore
doesn't have an existing profile, it will create a new one. First, it will
try a folder with the same name as the user (e.g. "Billy"). If this already
exists, it will try appending a . and the computer name or domain.
Subsequently, numbers are appended to create a unique name.

I'm not sure why your users would have become disassociated with their
profiles (I've never seen it happen, for example), but some registry changes
or fiddling with folder permissions could have been the cause.

The registry key above might provide some userful information. I really
wouldn't go changing stuff in there, though, unless you're very sure that
your change will work and then only after having taken a full backup.

Regards

Oli

First post here so forgive the ignorance.

I use Windows 2000 Pro on my home computer to manage my kids accounts and
grant or deny them permissions. I got tired of repairing things they
would mess up.

Anyway, two days ago, they complained to me that everything was lost when
they logged in. Documents, settings, favorites, everything. Going into
windows explorer, I see three new users listed, one for each one of the
users having problems. They are labeled with their user name appended
with ".[computername]" For an example, it looks like Billy.Adkredneck
where Adkredneck is the computer name.

When they log in, they get the basic windows opening screen complete with
the box where you can register windoes, etcc

I've deleted these new users and when trying to log in under their user
name and password, it creates the new account all over. Their original
user names and folders are all there, complete with their documents and
settings.

Any idea what's going on and how this can be corrected.

BTW, I'm self-teaching on Windows 2000, kind of a shade-tree computer
mechanic.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Guest]

Oli,

Thanks for your help. The location in ther registry editor pointed me in the right direction. I went into Profile list and noticed the three profiles that were having trouble were all appended with .[computername]. I checked under explorer and noticed that under each profile in the protect folder, the correct ID number was there. So I modified the three problem profiles by deleting the .[computername] off the end and all three are back to normal.

I'm not one to start playing in the registry, but sometimes you have to say "What the heck - the profiles are messed up anyhow!"

You stated that the registry must have been messed around with and I remembered that I had run Spy Sweeper the night before the problems arose and there was a huge amount of spyware that had been found in those three accounts. I then removed it all and I wasn't about to restore it from quarantine to see if it would fix it. The only thing I can figure is that whatever my darling little daughters downloaded got into the registry and modified it enough so that when it was removed it was all messed up.

Thank you once again!! <big grin>

Rich

Hi

First off, let's get a bit of terminology straight. The folders you are
seeing under Documents and Settings are profiles, not accounts. No new
accouunts are being created.

When a user logs in, the system checks to see if the user has logged in
previously and already has a profile directory. This is done by matching
the SID (a long number uniquely representing the user) to a list of profile
directories already stored on the system. This list is stored in the
following location in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

If the system thinks the user has never logged in before and therefore
doesn't have an existing profile, it will create a new one. First, it will
try a folder with the same name as the user (e.g. "Billy"). If this already
exists, it will try appending a . and the computer name or domain.
Subsequently, numbers are appended to create a unique name.

I'm not sure why your users would have become disassociated with their
profiles (I've never seen it happen, for example), but some registry changes
or fiddling with folder permissions could have been the cause.

The registry key above might provide some userful information. I really
wouldn't go changing stuff in there, though, unless you're very sure that
your change will work and then only after having taken a full backup.

Regards

Oli

First post here so forgive the ignorance.

I use Windows 2000 Pro on my home computer to manage my kids accounts and
grant or deny them permissions. I got tired of repairing things they
would mess up.

Anyway, two days ago, they complained to me that everything was lost when
they logged in. Documents, settings, favorites, everything. Going into
windows explorer, I see three new users listed, one for each one of the
users having problems. They are labeled with their user name appended
with ".[computername]" For an example, it looks like Billy.Adkredneck
where Adkredneck is the computer name.

When they log in, they get the basic windows opening screen complete with
the box where you can register windoes, etcc

I've deleted these new users and when trying to log in under their user
name and password, it creates the new account all over. Their original
user names and folders are all there, complete with their documents and
settings.

Any idea what's going on and how this can be corrected.

BTW, I'm self-teaching on Windows 2000, kind of a shade-tree computer
mechanic.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Guest]

For anyone who's interested, this is the spyware and adware that I removed, if it helps to understand this.

Alexa Toolbar,
CWS_Mailhook, ("CWS_mailhook (Adware) CWS_mailhook has the ability to hijack your Web searches, home page, and Internet Explorer settings.")
Cydoor,
Eacceleration,
Ebay Toolbar,
PurityScan, and
SearchWWW

Rich

Hi

First off, let's get a bit of terminology straight. The folders you are
seeing under Documents and Settings are profiles, not accounts. No new
accouunts are being created.

When a user logs in, the system checks to see if the user has logged in
previously and already has a profile directory. This is done by matching
the SID (a long number uniquely representing the user) to a list of profile
directories already stored on the system. This list is stored in the
following location in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

If the system thinks the user has never logged in before and therefore
doesn't have an existing profile, it will create a new one. First, it will
try a folder with the same name as the user (e.g. "Billy"). If this already
exists, it will try appending a . and the computer name or domain.
Subsequently, numbers are appended to create a unique name.

I'm not sure why your users would have become disassociated with their
profiles (I've never seen it happen, for example), but some registry changes
or fiddling with folder permissions could have been the cause.

The registry key above might provide some userful information. I really
wouldn't go changing stuff in there, though, unless you're very sure that
your change will work and then only after having taken a full backup.

Regards

Oli

First post here so forgive the ignorance.

I use Windows 2000 Pro on my home computer to manage my kids accounts and
grant or deny them permissions. I got tired of repairing things they
would mess up.

Anyway, two days ago, they complained to me that everything was lost when
they logged in. Documents, settings, favorites, everything. Going into
windows explorer, I see three new users listed, one for each one of the
users having problems. They are labeled with their user name appended
with ".[computername]" For an example, it looks like Billy.Adkredneck
where Adkredneck is the computer name.

When they log in, they get the basic windows opening screen complete with
the box where you can register windoes, etcc

I've deleted these new users and when trying to log in under their user
name and password, it creates the new account all over. Their original
user names and folders are all there, complete with their documents and
settings.

Any idea what's going on and how this can be corrected.

BTW, I'm self-teaching on Windows 2000, kind of a shade-tree computer
mechanic.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[Oli Restorick [MVP]]

Great.

Glad you got it sorted. Sometimes you just have to see these things as an
opportunity to go digging and learn something new.

Cheers

Oli

Oli,

Thanks for your help. The location in ther registry editor pointed me in
the right direction. I went into Profile list and noticed the three
profiles that were having trouble were all appended with .[computername].
I checked under explorer and noticed that under each profile in the
protect folder, the correct ID number was there. So I modified the three
problem profiles by deleting the .[computername] off the end and all three
are back to normal.

I'm not one to start playing in the registry, but sometimes you have to
say "What the heck - the profiles are messed up anyhow!"

You stated that the registry must have been messed around with and I
remembered that I had run Spy Sweeper the night before the problems arose
and there was a huge amount of spyware that had been found in those three
accounts. I then removed it all and I wasn't about to restore it from
quarantine to see if it would fix it. The only thing I can figure is that
whatever my darling little daughters downloaded got into the registry and
modified it enough so that when it was removed it was all messed up.

Thank you once again!! <big grin>

Rich

Hi

First off, let's get a bit of terminology straight. The folders you are
seeing under Documents and Settings are profiles, not accounts. No new
accouunts are being created.

When a user logs in, the system checks to see if the user has logged in
previously and already has a profile directory. This is done by matching
the SID (a long number uniquely representing the user) to a list of
profile
directories already stored on the system. This list is stored in the
following location in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

If the system thinks the user has never logged in before and therefore
doesn't have an existing profile, it will create a new one. First, it
will
try a folder with the same name as the user (e.g. "Billy"). If this
already
exists, it will try appending a . and the computer name or domain.
Subsequently, numbers are appended to create a unique name.

I'm not sure why your users would have become disassociated with their
profiles (I've never seen it happen, for example), but some registry
changes
or fiddling with folder permissions could have been the cause.

The registry key above might provide some userful information. I really
wouldn't go changing stuff in there, though, unless you're very sure that
your change will work and then only after having taken a full backup.

Regards

Oli

First post here so forgive the ignorance.

I use Windows 2000 Pro on my home computer to manage my kids accounts
and
grant or deny them permissions. I got tired of repairing things they
would mess up.

Anyway, two days ago, they complained to me that everything was lost
when
they logged in. Documents, settings, favorites, everything. Going
into
windows explorer, I see three new users listed, one for each one of the
users having problems. They are labeled with their user name appended
with ".[computername]" For an example, it looks like Billy.Adkredneck
where Adkredneck is the computer name.

When they log in, they get the basic windows opening screen complete
with
the box where you can register windoes, etcc

I've deleted these new users and when trying to log in under their user
name and password, it creates the new account all over. Their original
user names and folders are all there, complete with their documents and
settings.

Any idea what's going on and how this can be corrected.

BTW, I'm self-teaching on Windows 2000, kind of a shade-tree computer
mechanic.

Thanks,
Rich