Windows 7: Resetting User Folders

Big problem. I was using my computer yesterday as normal (since it is a laptop, I often put it to sleep to carry it around or if I am going to be away for a short while). When I woke it up from sleep, I was hearing a strange noise. I found out fairly quickly that the second hard drive, a Seagate Momentus 5400rpm 250GB, had failed. The main hard disk, an OCZ Agility 2 SSD 60GB that contains the operating system and a limited number of other programs, was undamaged.

However, this has still left me with a problem. The computer was set to have all of the user files on the second hard drive, the same one that failed. Now, every time I start up the computer, it sets up a temporary profile. I added a second hard drive (a spare WD Scorpio 160GB), which has the appropriate setup for the user folder, and tried setting the computer to use the user files there instead of setting up a temporary set. I even went into the registry and changed the entries to make it look at those files instead of the TEMP folder that it had set up.

This did not work. I restarted, and it still set up a temporary user profile. Go figure.

Thus, if anyone has a manner to quickly and/or easily reset the user files--even just to set them back up as they normally would be on the C:\ drive so I can reset the location to the second drive manually--I would much appreciate the help.

Not sure that it would make any difference, but specs:
OS: Windows 7 Professional x64
Model: Gateway P-7805u gaming laptop
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 @2.26GHz
RAM: OCZ 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3
Graphics: NVidia GeForce 9800M GTS
Hard Drives:
- OCZ Agility 2 Solid-state 60GB (C:\; contains OS and a few other programs)
- Western Digital Scorpio 5400rpm 160GB (E:\; desired location of user files)

Rather unique problem.
The only thing that I can think of is if you type easy transfer in search (by the start button), you may be able to tranfer using easy tranfer. Its a long shot, but its free. Give it a try

Easy transfer does not even start. It gives me an error window:

"You're currently logged on using a temporary profile. Restart your computer and try again."

Too bad, it sounded promising.

On that note, do you think that it would be possible to do something regarding creating another account and using that to fix it? I am not sure how it would work, but it might be worth consideration. This is the only account on this computer, but that can change pretty fast.

Unique problem. Rather than a new account, with doubtful results. If you can get this guy to help, its a done deal
Built-in Administrator Account - Enable or Disable[2]=User Accounts
Have the hidden administrator access easy transfer.

Went ahead and gave it a shot. Used Easy Transfer to make a transfer file and then waited another age to load the stuff onto the main drive.

Now, every time I try to log in to the main account, it logs off immediately, the screen flashes, and the user list appears again.

Guess that broke it... any other ideas?

Dont understand what happend, transferring profiles etc is what easy transfer does. At most, only profiles and other setting should have transferred to the second drive. If the Easy Transfer had worked, as it should, there should not be any additional problems

Try to get to system restore in safe mode. Go back to before the current problem. If it does not work.
Then you can
Try to get back to facory specs.
Try hitting f11 on boot. If that does not work, with the make and model we can find out online how it is done.

Possibly, the best way with the install DVD, you can reinstall or try for a repair install.

Okay, went into safe mode and did a system restore. The most recent restore point available was right before I made any edits to the registry (before Trend Micro cleaned it right before that, in fact), before I came here to ask for help. However, it will still not let me log in to my normal user profile. I had to go back into safe mode to turn on the administrator account.

I will try to see if the install disk can do anything next. Still open to suggestions on fixing the problem.

Sounds like it may just be corruption, now
Try this 3 times if errors are found
SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

If you can get in, can you set up new accounts. Start from scratch?

Get to system image, That will fix everything.

Use a clean boot, see if that gives a clue on the problem
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135

Yeah, looks like I had to go to the administrator account and basically redo my normal user account. Will need to spend some time getting everything back up to speed, but it works.

Anyway, thanks for the help!