Can't Access "Default User" folder in Users Folder

And that is because of my unintentional hacking and fiddling with the junction called "Default User" that IDIODICALLY shows up in the "Users" folder despite the fact "Hide protected system files" is checked in folder options. What bull...

Anyway, someone please answer my previous question...does Startup Repair affect any personal data? I didn't see an answer in the link for Startup Repair provided by Thorsen.

And what is really my best option now, considering system restore failed me? To give better information, when I create a new user account, it cannot even load up. The User Service fails and it logs right off to the switch user menu.

I'm doing that now.

Would anyone know what the repair install would do in my specific case? Say the "Default User" junction, as well as the "Default" folder were deleted completely...would the repair install just remake those?

And if they were edited, would the repair install just re-edit them back to what they were initially (what they contained, and their security settings)

Just wondering that's all. I know I can just try it but I'm deciding between doing a clean install or a repair.

logicearth said:

Do you have more then one account already established? Like Administrator or another user? If so just copy one of the user account folders and rename it to "Default" or setup a virtual machine with Windows 7 and copy the "Default" folder to the host machine. Really all you actually need are the NTUSER.DAT (Registry) files.

I, by-the-way, have no "Default User" junction on my machine any longer. I don't need that level of compatibility.

Except that the copy of NTUSER from another account is branded with their account code, software settings and customizations they've made. That is literally the HKEY_CURRENT_USER branch of the registry.

Fine, I'll try the repair install first, then the clean install if it doesn't fix the problem.

Boy, do I seriously wish on the first page notsograymatter's post came AFTER logicearth's, because logicearth's post is what told me I should even go near what I did...and notsograymatter's post told me how to take access of something I SHOULDN'T have tried getting access to, no offense to NSGM, just saying.

Over at Vista forums, I got the following reply:

"The attached is what your Users\Default folder should contain (produced using following command):

C:\Windows\System32>dir c:\users\default /A /s > "C:\Users Default.txt"

I think the only critical file is NTUSER.DAT (but I wouldn't bet the farm on it). You can create the others directly or by copying from your own Users folder. You could also try copying the NTUSER.DAT file from Windows\System32\Config\SystemProfile.

If the actual Users\Default folder still exists in your Recycle bin, I'd try checking to see if any/all of these files are still there, but that's unlikely, and restoring that folder directly instead of the "Users\Default User" folder. The only entry "Users\Default User" needs is the junction point redirecting to the Users\Default folder.

The Repair option might do it for you. If it doesn't work as is, I'd try deleting the whole Users\Default folder and retrying.

Otherwise, sounds like a reinstall if you need to add a User ID...

Keep in mind that I'm flying by the seat of my pants here; as I said, screwing around with these folders is dangerous, and often brings the "law of unintended consequences" into play."



Is this guy saying what I think he is? If I just go to that address on my computer, and copy+paste an unnaffected version of the text file (his) that it would re-create the junction that was destroyed?

Wandering Flame said:

Boy, do I seriously wish on the first page notsograymatter's post came AFTER logicearth's, because logicearth's post is what told me I should even go near what I did...and notsograymatter's post told me how to take access of something I SHOULDN'T have tried getting access to, no offense to NSGM, just saying.

Well... this is a volunteer forum, nobody gets trained or paid for the advice they offer here... Even worse we are divorced from the problem; that is, we're not sitting at the computer where we can really see what's going on... We're all going to be right sometimes and wrong others. The best we can do is offer you choices and opinions so the old saying applies: Caveat Emptor.

Just do bear in mind that ALL of us have sincerely tried to help you with your problem... I didn't see anyone attempting to misguide you or hassle you.