Will Not Load Personal Settings

Hello,

I'm new to this forum, and know little about Windows or computers for that matter, but here's my problem.

I've been using this particular PC (Dell Dimension 3000) ever since I bought it (2 years ago), which came loaded with Windows XP SP2. After shutting it down a week ago (normal shutdown) it seems to have aquired a problem.

Every time I try to start the computer now, Windows brings up the "user names" (5 different names), but if I click on my name, it seems to just hang there trying to load up my personal settings. It will eventually change to a solid light blue screen (Blank), and just remain at that screen forever. I have to shut the power off to the PC (can't run the normal shut down, or Cntr/Alt/Del "reboot "), and then restart the PC. I can click on any other logon name other than mine, and continue on as normal, but my login name will not load the personal settings for some reason. I am the owner of the PC, and it is registered as such, but I have never assigned a password or anything like that as the Windows Administrator.

Could anyone help me fix this problem of all usernames working except mine, and try to explain what happened to cause this?

Thank You In Advance,
Wind Walker

 

Welcome to the forum Wind Walker.

From what you are describing as your problem you may have a corrupted profile. Not overly a big deal XP seems to do this once and awhile. There are a couple of things you can try.

1) logon as Administrator (safe mode only) and create a new user to logon as.
2) logon as Administrator and use system restore to try and revive your profile.

The other thing is do you save all your data in My Documents? This was a good feature in Windows but bad architecture. If your profile corrupts it takes your My Documents with it usually.

What I would do is try the second option and reboot into normal mode, hopefully everything works move your data out of your My Documents to a folder on C call it "My Files" or something (you will have to create the folder).

If you get the same thing again just create a new user. You will have all the data and no worries.

Also when was the last time you ran a defrag on the hard drive? That may help fix your problem.

 

I run scan disk & defrag all the time on the computer, along will clearing out of all cookies, IE Cashe, etc....

I also have System Mechanic 6 installed (still trying to figure all of it out), along with Mcafee System Security

I try to keep everything cleaned and run virus scans, Malware & Adware scans (removal) with Sbybot & Lavasoft programs.

If I'm reading your response correctly, I am to open the "My Documents" folder (under my name) and copy all the contents within it, and place them in a new "Folder" on the hard drive ( "C ").

Should I then DELETE the original "My Documents" folder, or just leave it there in case this dosen't work?

I would rather do it this way, as for running in "Safe Mode" is something I'm not at all familiar with, but I am willing to try anything to correct this problem.

Thanks Again,
Wind Walker

 

Cut/move the contents out of the My Documents folder.
You will not lose your data in the folder you create on "C" but you can just make a copy if thats what you want to do. You will just have to remember what copy of data you are working with.

In the event of profile corruption you can still access your data.

To get into safemode you need to press F8 just before the Windows XP logo appears on the screen when booting.

Select Safe Mode with Networking.

Microsoft has a more technical document on entering safe mode.

The easiest is to just keep pressing F8 while the machine is booting.

Also something else that I have noticed is that usually every 1-2 years most users are better off to do a data backup and rebuild (Use Restore CDs) the computer just so the computer is able to refresh. Similar to a major tune up on a car.

 

Complete instructions are in the Microsoft Knowledge Base article, How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile.

 

Thanks for the responses

I'm going to print out the instructions so I can follow them as written. I will post the results as soon as possible.


Thanks again, & have a great day,
Wind Walker