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[Docpan]

OK, so I left my computer to defrag. I came back, and it was frozen on the Windows loading screen for some unexplicable reason.

CTRL ALT DEL, Escape, nothing.

So I had to turn it off manually. Turned it back on, logged into the windows xp loading screen under username (the only one) and realize that all my personal files are not here. Desktop, shortcuts, favorites. Nothing.

I'm really pissed off at this point. Like, freaking out pissed. I check My Documents. NOTHING. Important files, and there's nothing there.

But I look at the address, and there is something odd. has the usual C:\Documents and Settings\Usernamehere, but at the end of the username is .[THENAMEOFMYCOMPUTER]

I delete the .NAMEOFCOMPUTER out, hit enter, and voila. My files are there.

So basically I pieced together windows is logging me in on a username it created itself, which is my username with the computername tagged on at the end.

How can I it back to the way it was before? Someone help me!!

 

[Docpan]

I was right. Documents and Settings has my old userfolder intact, with the new one with the computername tagged on at the end there as well.

But when I go to switch users, this is the only one selectable.

 

[gblues]

OK, so I left my computer to defrag. I came back, and it was frozen on the Windows loading screen for some unexplicable reason.

CTRL ALT DEL, Escape, nothing.

So I had to turn it off manually. Turned it back on, logged into the windows xp loading screen under username (the only one) and realize that all my personal files are not here. Desktop, shortcuts, favorites. Nothing.

I'm really pissed off at this point. Like, freaking out pissed. I check My Documents. NOTHING. Important files, and there's nothing there.

But I look at the address, and there is something odd. has the usual C:\Documents and Settings\Usernamehere, but at the end of the username is .[THENAMEOFMYCOMPUTER]

I delete the .NAMEOFCOMPUTER out, hit enter, and voila. My files are there.

So basically I pieced together windows is logging me in on a username it created itself, which is my username with the computername tagged on at the end.

How can I it back to the way it was before? Someone help me!!

Easy fix:
1. Make a new admin user and log in as that new user.
2. Set up the view so that you can see hidden files and file extensions are shown.
3. Go to C:\Documents and Settings\Username and do edit > select all
4. CTRL+click on NTUSER.DAT, NTUSER.INI, and NTUSER.DAT.LOG to de-select them
5. Click Edit > Copy
6. Go to C:\Documents and Settings\Username.COMPUTERNAME
7. Click Edit > Paste and click "Yes to all" whenever you are prompted to overwrite something.
8. Log out and log in under your original user name and all your files should be there.
9. (optional) delete the user created in step 1.

Nathan

 

[Screenboy]

Sorry to derail:

I deleted my Desktop shortcut icon (the 1 that minimizes all windows and takes you directly to the desktop) from the task bar (near the Windows 'START' button) and can't get it back.


Ive tried createing another one but it just opens a window with my desktop on and not minimize everything and go straight to the desktop, meaning if I have alot of windows open and I want to go to a clean desktop I have to minimize them individually .


Anyone help?



-SB

 

[ChrisReid]

Sorry to derail:

I deleted my Desktop shortcut icon (the 1 that minimizes all windows and takes you directly to the desktop) from the task bar (near the Windows 'START' button) and can't get it back.


Ive tried createing another one but it just opens a window with my desktop on and not minimize everything and go straight to the desktop, meaning if I have alot of windows open and I want to go to a clean desktop I have to minimize them individually .

WindowsButton + M

 

[Koshiro]

Sorry to derail:

I deleted my Desktop shortcut icon (the 1 that minimizes all windows and takes you directly to the desktop) from the task bar (near the Windows 'START' button) and can't get it back.


Ive tried createing another one but it just opens a window with my desktop on and not minimize everything and go straight to the desktop, meaning if I have alot of windows open and I want to go to a clean desktop I have to minimize them individually .


Anyone help?



-SB

For a short term measure you can just right click on the task bar and select "Show the Desktop", unless this too has disappeared?

 

[carbonbased]

Sorry to derail:

I deleted my Desktop shortcut icon (the 1 that minimizes all windows and takes you directly to the desktop) from the task bar (near the Windows 'START' button) and can't get it back.


Ive tried createing another one but it just opens a window with my desktop on and not minimize everything and go straight to the desktop, meaning if I have alot of windows open and I want to go to a clean desktop I have to minimize them individually .


Anyone help?



-SB

If the Show Desktop icon is deleted from Quick Launch, the procedure below will recreate the file.

Open Notepad and enter the following text:

[Shell]
Command=2
IconFile=explorer.exe,3
[Taskbar]
Command=ToggleDesktop

Save the new file as Show Desktop.scf then drag and drop the icon on the Quick Launch bar or whatever location you want the shortcut to appear.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/restore_show_desktop_icon.htm

First hit on Google. (I had the same issue a while ago, but I forgot exactly what the process consisted of)