XP Pro

[Tom M.]

I recently changed computers at work and received one that someone else was
using. I changed the user name for the account to my name and network
address.
When the computer re-booted the desk top changed and I lost all the e-mail
messages and pictures and many other files that I could still use. I tried
to change users again back to the original name and password, but it would
not change back. Are all these files still on the hard drive or were they
deleted? Any way I can access these files, or return the computer to it's
original state? I also tried system restore but it could not restore it
back.

Thank You

Tom M.

 

[thecreator]

Hi Tom,

System Restore does not effect E-mails.

The problem you created yourself. Never change User Names. Causes problems in the Windows Registry. You should log into the Adminstrator's User ID using Safe Mode. Then Create a new User ID for yourself with Computer Rights! If allowed to in your Company?

Reboot the computer and login under that User ID you created. Then Import the E-mails, Favorites, Address Book and My Documents.

Once you have your User ID set up the way you want, go Start and right-click My Computer and click Properties. Click Advanced. Under User Profiles, click Settings. Delete the other Account.

 

[John R Weiss]

I recently changed computers at work and received one that someone else was
using. I changed the user name for the account to my name and network
address.
When the computer re-booted the desk top changed and I lost all the e-mail
messages and pictures and many other files that I could still use. I tried
to change users again back to the original name and password, but it would
not change back. Are all these files still on the hard drive or were they
deleted? Any way I can access these files, or return the computer to it's
original state? I also tried system restore but it could not restore it
back.

Files stored locally (not on the network) are stored by default in some
subfolder of the C:\Documents and Settings\[username] folder:

The My Documents folder is mapped to the [username's] Documents folder.
Files can simply be cut & pasted or drag & dropped to the new My Documents
folder.

Outlook Express mail is stored in a subfolder of Application
Data\Microsoft\Identities. They can be imported into Outlook Express via
the File | Import menu, and pointing it to the appropriate Message Store.

Outlook data is stored in a single file called outlook.pst that is in a
Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook subfolder. Outlook is
picky about how a new .pst file can be associated with the current operating
setup...

Other programs' settings and data may be scattered throughout the
Application Data and Local Settings\Application Data subfolders. You may
have to do a combination of Imports and Cut & Paste operations to retrieve
them.


I recommend you COPY the Application Data and Local Settings subfolders
somewhere, then get the computer running correctly, then copy and import the
data from the appropriate folders into the appropriate new folders.