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After reinstall old user names remains

Discussion in 'Legacy Windows' started by broni, 2007/09/13.

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  1. 2007/09/13
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst Thread Starter

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    Some time ago, I was forced to reinstall my Windows 2K (over the top).
    During reinstall, I gave my computer a new name (My Name).
    Now under Documents & Settings, I have 6 folders:
    - Administrator
    - All Users
    - All Users.WINNT
    - My Name
    - Default User
    - Default User.WINNT

    I wonder, if it would be safe to get rid of some of those folders (first three???)
     
    broni,
    #1
  2. 2007/09/13
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    broni, you need to know which set of folders are connected to the current operating system. There might also be some hidden folders in that directory that are similarly duplicated as well. NetworkService and LocalService.

    I wrote a batch to read the registry key that will show the currently used profiles.

    Details here
     
    noahdfear,
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  4. 2007/09/13
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst Thread Starter

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    This is weird...I ran your batch, and it created an empty .txt file. Nothing there. I tried twice.
     
    broni,
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  5. 2007/09/13
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    Hmm ......... maybe the regsitry path is different on Win 2000. I'll see what I can dig up and let you know something.

    You can get some of what's required by opening a command window, type set and hit enter.

    AllUsersProfile= ?
    Systemroot= ?
    UserProfile= ?

    Get a directory output from command line as well.

    dir /a:d c:\docume~1 >> c:\profiles.txt
     
    noahdfear,
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  6. 2007/09/13
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    Well, according to MS, 2000 uses the same key for the user ProfileList as XP, so my batch should be right.

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/154599/en-us

    Ughh ...... I bet you don't have reg.exe on that machine, which my batch uses for the registry query. You would have to install it with the Windows 2000 Support Tools

    Using the first link, you can get the current Profile paths manually too.
     
    noahdfear,
    #5
  7. 2007/09/13
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst Thread Starter

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    OK...
    Set command gave me all info:
    AllUsersProfile= C:\Documents and Settings\All Users.WINNT
    Systemroot= C:\WINNT
    UserProfile= C:\Documents and Settings\My Name

    Directory output gives me just all those 6 folders, I mentioned before.
     
    broni,
    #6
  8. 2007/09/13
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    Administrator should be a standard default account ....... has to stay put, which leaves All Users and Default User folders that should no longer be in use.
     
    noahdfear,
    #7
  9. 2007/09/13
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst Thread Starter

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    I checked my computer, and I don't have reg.exe, so I went to your MS link, but it says, that it applies to:
    • Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
    • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
    • Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 1
    I'm on straight Win 2K with SP4.
    Does it matter?
     
    broni,
    #8
  10. 2007/09/13
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    It shouldn't, but I'll look into it quick.
     
    noahdfear,
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  11. 2007/09/13
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    I don't see anything to suggest differently. As long as your OS cd contains Setup.exe in the Support\Tools folder you should be good to go.
     
    noahdfear,
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  12. 2007/09/13
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst Thread Starter

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    I went to:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion \ProfileList, and there I have THIS
    There is also a subkey:
    ...\ProfileList\S-1-5-21-1482476501-1580818891-839522115-1000, which shows THIS
     
    broni,
    #11
  13. 2007/09/13
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst Thread Starter

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    Let me check my Windows CD...
     
    broni,
    #12
  14. 2007/09/13
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    I don't see anything for the Administrator, but I don't feel comfortable saying it's not a necessary folder. Best wait for someone more knowledgeable about Win 2000 than I am on that one.

    All Users folder can go.
    Default User folder can go.
     
    noahdfear,
    #13
  15. 2007/09/13
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst Thread Starter

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    OK...I just installed Support Tools from my CD, but when I run your batch, it gives me empty text file again.
    However Support Tools got installed in:
    C:\Program Files\Support Tools
    reg.exe is there, but I don't know what is the path to it in your batch program.
    Maybe, I have to move reg.exe somewhere else in order to be seen by your batch.
     
    broni,
    #14
  16. 2007/09/13
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    C:\WINNT\system32
     
    noahdfear,
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  17. 2007/09/13
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst Thread Starter

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    I'm 100% sure Administrator folder existed BEFORE reinstall, and wasn't touched during reinstall, because AFTER reinstall, I even copied some data from there (like Firefox bookmarks, since new ones were almost blank), but as you suggested, I'll wait for more advice before I get rid of it.
    I'm gonna delete All Users, and Default User folders, then. I'll keep my Recycle Bin untouched for couple of days.
     
    broni,
    #16
  18. 2007/09/13
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    Sounds like a good plan. ;)

    Did the batch work after copying reg.exe to the system32 folder?
     
    noahdfear,
    #17
  19. 2007/09/13
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst Thread Starter

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    All right...now, your profiles.exe ran correctly, but you know this info already:

    DefaultUserProfile REG_SZ Default User.WINNT
    AllUsersProfile REG_SZ All Users.WINNT
    ProfileImagePath REG_EXPAND_SZ %SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\Broni S*** (My Name)
    SystemRoot REG_SZ C:\WINNT
     
    broni,
    #18
  20. 2007/09/13
    noahdfear

    noahdfear Inactive

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    Good to know it works properly though. :)
     
    noahdfear,
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  21. 2007/09/13
    broni

    broni Moderator Malware Analyst Thread Starter

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    Hey, thank you very much for your help, and I like your batch tool. It's a keeper.
    I've learned something new:D
     
    broni,
    #20
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