Can not recreate "Default User" on WinXP Pro

My problem is that I had the misfortune to delete the "Default User " folder from my "Documents And Settings ".
I was deleting a bunch of old accounts, and now I am stuck with just one working Admin-level account that I luckily did not delete.

I can not create any new accounts anymore. I heard that I just need to create a new "Default User" folder, so I did that. It worked at first - I would create a new administrator account, log in with it, get the message that system used the default settings for the new account. Then, I could use the new account as long as I didn't log out.

However, once I log out and back into the new account, the "Loading your personal settings" dialog box never goes away.
The PC just does not get past it - although it does not completely freeze.

I can do warm reboot, log back into my existing account, delete new account's folder under my "Documents And Settings" and repeat the process. I just can't make any new account work for longer than one session.

Can someone help me make a permanent new administrator account? And then, how can I make a user account? It appears that the "Default User" folder must have User permissions before it can be used to create User-level accounts.

Please help!

Thanks very much,
Mike

 

Control Panel>User Accounts>Create a new Account??

How exactly did you delete your default account? I tried just for fun and it told me it was in use and/or system file.

Johanna

 

Try logging on as "The" administrator...an account which usually doesn't appear on the logon screen and which has full control, permissions, access, etc. for everything.

To make it appear, press Ctrl/Alt/Del twice at the logon screen. If you didn't enter a password for it when you set up the computer the first time, just press the Enter key instead of entering a password.

Once logged on using this account, you can set up a permanent user account with administrator privileges in Control Panel>User Accounts.

 

One more question- when you set up the computer, did you make an Administrative password? That is another animal from the default user account, which has admin priveleges, but not ultimate authority. If you can access that account (either safe mode or two taps on control/alt/delete on the Welcome Screen) you can create or delete accounts at your pleasure.

Johanna

 

Hi Johanna,

I am able to log into the Administrator account. It works fine, but I can't use it to make a new account either. After I make a new account, I get the same story as before:
1) New admin account - can log in once with default settings, can not log in the next time. Instead, the "Loading your personal settings" dialog box never goes away and Ctrl-Alt-Del does not work.

2) New limited user account - can not log in even once. I get the generic "System can't find the file specified ".

Right now, I am frustrated. Maybe I'll just do the Windows Repair. If that brings the "real" Default User, I'll be happy even if it takes me a week to reinstall SP1 and all the security fixes.

Any ideas?

thanks,
Mike

 

Before you try the XP repair function, try Start> Run>cmd
sfc /scannow

You will probably need your XP disk.

If that doesn't help, do ALL your backups before you try the repair (you never know what will really be there when you are done! ) Don't forget you bookmarks and your address book (WAB)

FWIW, when I get MS updates, I download them from the catalog to a folder, and burn them to a cd. Then I install them from my hard drive one at a time, offline, rebooting in between. After a crash, the cd makes it faster than trying to seek and download all over again. Also, if you do decide to reinstall or repair, consider partitioning. I have never lost the data on my second partition "accidently ", only on purpose. Wish I could offer some better suggestions.

Johanna

 

A stab in the dark here but ...

Windows Explorer and check the security tab for the root (probably C:\) to make sure there is a 'user' listed there named SYSTEM and that it has full access.