What's the cleanest way to undo an ill-conceived User Profile set-up?


  1. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1)
       #1

    What's the cleanest way to undo an ill-conceived User Profile set-up?


    I'll try describing my problem as succinctly as I can:

    1) My User Profile was "CuBO." I have a partitioned Drive (C/ for programs, E/ for files);

    2) MSFT Office Outlook Help Desk was trying to troubleshoot problems I was having and suspected I had a corrupted User Profile.

    3) With my naive permission, MSFT took control of my PC, backed up my data, removed my User Profile, created a TEST User profile, and "solved" the problems I was having.

    4) As he was about to hang up and close the ticket, I asked if I could have my "CuBO" user name back. He complied and re-created CuBO. Then hung up. Never to return.

    5) Turns out, my main User Profile is still "TEST" with a subordinate and/or mirror User Profile of CuBO (forgive my lack of vernacular). I see "CuBO" but my OS knows I'm REALLY a guy named "TEST." Problem is, I see "TEST" all over the place too.

    6) So, in reality there are 2 Users: TEST and CuBO. All the files MSFT backed up for me were associated with Old CuBO. All the programs, as they came back online, behaved like CuBO left the building and they were starting over with this new guy called TEST.

    7) That was months ago after the most frustrating and infuriating bounce-around with MSFT (they had a turf war between OUTLOOK and WINDOWS - the Outlook team "broke" my Windows but didn't know how to fix it - so they sent me to Windows who wouldn't help me because my warranty was with Outlook. I force the issue and Windows was left to help me - but couldn't after several tries. They stopped trying to help me, stopped returning emails and calls), and I finally gave up and accepted my new reality.

    8) But I don't want to accept this silly reality any longer. I have app data for some programs sitting in TEST, and for other programs sitting in CuBO. Some programs have a active data in TEST Local Apps AND in CuBO Roaming Apps...etc. etc. etc. Uninstalls and Reinstalls can't be forced to ignore TEST, and a lot of old app data is just sitting in CuBO with modification dates frozen in MArch or April 2014.

    9) I don't want to be "TEST". I'm willing to start all over with a Windows upgrade (e.g., from 7 Home Premium to anything short of 8) just to be whole again, secure in my identity as "CuBO." Anyone have some kind advice that doesn't include "live with it", "accept 'TEST'", or "sue Microsoft"?

    Many thanks in advance!
      My Computer

  2.    #2

    Check in User Accounts now to see that Cubo is an Admin-level Account. You may need to use Test to change it.

    Log into Cubo and copy all of your files over to Cubo, taking all the time you need to assure you have all files and that all Programs will run correctly from Cubo - or else reinstall them from Cubo. Do not allow yourself to again be distracted by that shiny ill-begotten object known as TEST.

    Once you're happy with the way Cubo is running then go back to User Accounts and delete Test.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (version 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1)
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Hello gregrocker - many thanks, that SOUNDS elegant and right....but this is where it gets tricky and confounding, and way above my powers of comprehension: My only user account under Control Panel\User Accounts and Family Safety\User Accounts is indeed, CuBO: Administrator; Password Protected. There is no sign of a guy named TEST in the User Accounts Sign in page...

    ...until you poke around Windows Explorer and see TEST in control of a lot of stuff (see 1st attachment "C:/Users Screengrab). [FYI "CUBOSHIBA" is my PC] Copying TEST's app data over to CuBO is fine, but TEST himself becomes indestructible because somehow he IS CuBO.

    Case in point: Look at my "My Computer" persona - he is everything I want CuBO to be - EXCEPT his App Data set is a mirror image of that found in TEST, while CuBO's is nowhere in sight! (Attachment 2: "My Computer CuBO with TEST app data"). [FYI I had to give different .ICO's to the folders to understand whose folder I was actually dealing with, or which ones were in active play or not.]

    This next step I can't articulate with confidence, but maybe the 3rd attached image will reveal the heart of the matter. Look at the properties of CuBO's app data for itunes, which hasn't been active since TEST usurped iTunes in April. I don't what this next sentence means, but the "object name" is C:\Users\CuBO\AppData\Apple etc., but the Group or User names contains this Siamese Twin: "CuBO (CuBOshiba\TEST)" (See Attachment 3, "Huh?").

    And that's where I start sinking fast into the quicksand of confusion. It had MSFT scratching their heads, and all they could offer me was, "well, our guy should have eliminated TEST after the TEST and set you up with CuBO, but he didn't, so you're stuck,because now we can't get rid of him, but since everything is working, we can't help you any more."

    I want to stop there and see if I've provided enough additional info to get the forum past where MSFT gave up?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails What's the cleanest way to undo an ill-conceived User Profile set-up?-c-users-screen-grab.jpg   What's the cleanest way to undo an ill-conceived User Profile set-up?-my-computer-cubo-test-app-data.jpg   What's the cleanest way to undo an ill-conceived User Profile set-up?-huh..jpg  
      My Computer

  4.    #4

    It looks like the Account was either deleted or had its name changed which leaves remnants that can be Deleted. Nothing there is still active if you're not running under Test account.

    If you changed the User account name then the old one hangs around unless you take special steps explained in depth in User Profile Folder - Change User Account Folder Name
      My Computer


 

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