Problem with User Profiles (Creating, Moving)

tridown · 20 May 2013

Okay so I've got a challenging problem. I didn't know where I could find help and then I remembered the forum here and signed up...

So a long time ago (I barely remember how except I went to the registry) I moved my User folder from my SSD Drive C:\User\Username to my hardrive under just B:\username (which might have been my first mistake).

That was working just fine until I tried to install one program. It drove me crazy why it kept saying it didn't have permissions. I realized the program had trouble being installed in non-default admin user profiles. So I said, fine. I really need this. I'll put my userfolder back in my C:/drive and just change the locations of all the folders in there to my B drive.

I edited the registry like several guides said (I must have used one of them the first time). Nothing worked. At one point I almost left myself without a user profile, but I managed to restore it. I'm back where I started but I noticed several things:

- I messed up my permissions and read me stuff for my User folder (some programs say they can't create stuff there). Is there a way to reset those? My restore points don't go back enough.

- If I create a new user profile, it doesn't exist. When I log on it logs me onto a temporary one and there is no sign it was ever created (in the Computer or the Advanced User Profile Settings). I tried editing the registry (the one that sets where new user profiles are created), but it didn't work so I put it back.

- I'm missing my Default User because I used to foolishly deleted C:\Users when any program made a file there, and I think that might have something to do with not putting the User Profile back in the C drive right. And I can't make a new default one because I can't make new user profiles. I also can't just make a new profile and move all my stuff there. I'm thinking of copying one from a different windows 7 pc... but I don't know how that would work.

I can't really reinstall. That'd be like 4 miserable days of work. I also have nowhere to backup anything as my harddrive is bigger than any other drives I own. That's like my last option.

Suggestions? What the hell could have gone wrong? Also is there any way to search the registry for B:\Username to see if I changed anything else?

gregrocker · 20 May 2013

If you can't create a new account then you bollixed your registry beyond repair. Why would you make such reckless changes without having a backup image to fall back upon?

Why try to sort out such a hopeless mess when you are at the top site on the web to get a perfect Clean Reinstall?

In the future copy your active User folders to the data drive to link them back using Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums keeping empty C User folder in the library to monitor it and setting data drive as Default Save Location.

tridown · 21 May 2013

Yeah, I REALLY don't want to do a clean install if there's ANY fixes I could try.

My computer runs perfectly fine. I clean it monthly, it runs just like the day I got it (it's a custom gaming laptop so it didn't come with any crapware). So yeah, my only problems are the above. It's my last option to do a clean install as that means unusable laptop for days.

gregrocker · 21 May 2013

You can try restoring all Default User folders and User Profile: User Folders - Restore Default Location - Windows 7 Forums
User Profile - Change Default Location (Option One Method 2)

I don't think a Repair Install will sort out that mess but you can try it next.

You've really ruined your install so unless there is a System Restore point or backup image going back before you made the reckless random registry edits, your only choice is to reinstall.

In the future copy the User folders to your data drive, right click each to add to the related Library - Include a Folder - Windows 7 Forums. keeping the C folder in the library to monitor it, set Default Save location in Library to data drive.

It takes half an hour to reinstall Win7, about an hour to install all Updates while you can also be installing programs and setting up your desktop. Everything is covered in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 - you will get and keep a perfect install for as long as you stick with the tools and methods given.

After you've backed everything up boot the latest installer provided, during Custom install delete all partitions, create new as you wish, format and install.

Have your wireless driver in your backup so if it isn't provided during install you can install it to get online, do all Important and Optional Windows Updates which will provide most of the rest of your drivers. Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware (Step 3)

You can copy your files back in from backup while Updates run, install your browser and customize it along with your desktop the way you want.

Install Programs over time so you can watch how performance changes. Once it's all set up and running great, save a Win7 backup image so you don't have to reinstall again.

tridown · 21 May 2013

Look I'm not going to argue how long it takes to reinstall things. I've done it before I know how long it takes. Just reinstalling Windows with all Updates takes about two hours. Moving files back where they're supposed to go, another hour. Downloading programs, finding the keys again, installing them, takes hours and hours. Meanwhile my computer is useless until everything is installed. Nevermind all the problems I'll probably run into. And then retweaking Windows to my satisfaction takes a few more hours.

Are there any fixes for my problem or not? If not you could just say so. If they exist, I'd like to try them first.

gregrocker · 21 May 2013

I gave you five or six things to try.

But your reply makes it unlikely you'll be helped any longer. We're volunteers who work hard and expect only appreciation.

This is the top tech forums on the web because we do things right, not clean up reckless messes for careless tweakers.

Unsubscribed.