Cannot copy files to new User Profile

When I try to create a new user profile to replace a corrupt one Windows will not let me copy the files and settings from the old user profile to the new user profile !!!! Any Ideas? Anyone?

 

cannot copy files from old user profile

Hi Pete, Thanks for the response. I logged in as a different user and tried to copy files like the instructions said and I got the same thing, when I go to copy the files I get a message that says windows cannot access files because they are being used by another process elsewhere. ??????????? Any New Ideas? Thanks, Jim

 

Jim, The key issue in copying files from one profile to another is to keep in mind that neither profile can be active at the time. What that means is that you need to use a third profile to log in under and then copy from/to the two inactive profiles.

The normal way to do that is create the new profile first and then reboot and log back on to the "Administrator" account. Then you will be able to copy those files.

If you are using XP Home, you will have to boot to Safe Mode to access the Administrator account.

If you have a problem with that method, an alternate way is to create two new accounts with Administrator privileges and use one of them instead of the Administrator account as mentioned before.

Do not copy the files:
Ntuser.dat, Ntuser.bak, Ntuser.dat.log and Ntuser.ini (some may not even be present)


Go for it!

 

Another point that you may already know, you must be sure to save your Outlook Express files and Address Book by some other means before deleting the corrupt account.

You can export them using the wizard they supply in the taskbar. Open Outlook Express and click File > Export and it's fairly self explanatory.