XP Home Local Profile corrupt

[Rob]

I have an issue where I am forced to log into a completely new temporary
profile each time I log in. The box in question only had one profile on it
previously, and that required a login. After the problem started, no login
is required, but it is a new profile every time. Windows does show a backup
of the original profile from prior to the corruption, but I can't find any
way of recovering that profile.

In an ideal world, I'd like to restore that original profile from a backup.
Barring that, I'd like to at least get a new permanent profile setup with
the same name (it will not let a new one be created because it sees the old
one). Any advice is much appreciated.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have an issue where I am forced to log into a completely new
temporary profile each time I log in. The box in question only had
one profile on it previously, and that required a login. After the
problem started, no login is required, but it is a new profile
every time. Windows does show a backup of the original profile from
prior to the corruption, but I can't find any way of recovering
that profile.
In an ideal world, I'd like to restore that original profile from a
backup. Barring that, I'd like to at least get a new permanent
profile setup with the same name (it will not let a new one be
created because it sees the old one). Any advice is much
appreciated.

Reboot into Safe Mode.. Log in as the ACTUAL 'administrator' user.

C:\Documents and Settings\OldUsername folder --> rename it... To something
like...
C:\Documents and Settings\OldUsername.OLD

Reboot into normal mode and log in as your user.

It *should* create a new profile for your user account. All that is left
for you to do is to manually copy your My Documents contents, Favorities
contents, other files/folders you want to your new profile (not difficult if
the user in question is an administrative level user - more troublesome -
but still fairly simple if they are not adminitstrative level - as they
should be (not admin.)) I would not do a complete copy of the old profile.
Something - likely the local registry settings - but it could be anything -
is corrup in the old profile. Grab the vitals - your
files/document/favorites/etc...

 

[Rob]

I did this, and it *partially* solved the problem...

My profile largely works as it should now, with two major oddities to it:

First, despite the system being set to require a login and a password set
for the user, the user that was corrupted logs in automatically every time -
no login screen of any kind.

Second, I don't seem to be able to update drivers. Windows update ran fine,
but there is a driver update that my factory monitoring software tells me I
need (and that I know I do need and have even tried to install manually)
that runs through the install process, but the old driver remains - this
with Anti-virus turned off.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I did this, and it *partially* solved the problem...

My profile largely works as it should now, with two major oddities
to it:
First, despite the system being set to require a login and a
password set for the user, the user that was corrupted logs in
automatically every time - no login screen of any kind.

Second, I don't seem to be able to update drivers. Windows update
ran fine, but there is a driver update that my factory monitoring
software tells me I need (and that I know I do need and have even
tried to install manually) that runs through the install process,
but the old driver remains - this with Anti-virus turned off.

First - Use something like TweakUI to set the system to automatically logon
with this account.
(Yes - retype the password.)
Reboot.
After you get logged in, use TweakUI to set it so there is no automatic
logon.
Reboot.

If it did not automatically logon - you've fixed it. Something was just
'sticking'.
Let us know.

Second...

Never EVER update drivers from WindowsUpdate. You did not state that is
what you are doing - but it seems to be inferred. You did not buy your
hardware from Microsoft - so you should not get the drivers from them. You
should visit the actual manufacturers web site --> support --> software and
drivers downloads and get the driver in question. MOST of the time it will
be significantly newer than that Microsoft is providing - and many times -
for good reason!

You also may want to try a roll-back on said driver first - reboot and then
install the latest driver - but I urge you NOT to get said driver from
anyplace Microsoft (unless it happens to be a Microsoft product?)