Old default location 'C:\Users\(existing user account)recreated again

Slartybart said:

Download cCleaner standard version (FREE)
Press the Run button on the download action bar
Do not select to install any additional software if offered (toolbars,etc) - untick the check box

Launch cCleaner and select the registry menu pick on the left - press the scan button.
Press the column header Data to sort the entries.
Important! Remove the tick from the checkbox in the selected column header. This should clear all checkboxes. The intent is to have nothing selected - empty checkboxes.

Thanks a lot,
No results were found. Thus, what do you mean with 'Remove the tick from the checkbox'

Pay attention here: scroll through the list looking for C:\Users\Public
Right click the entry
Select Open in Regedit
Rename the key or modify the value to D:\Users\Public

Close Regedit after you've made the change

You absolute meant in the results of the scanning with 'CCleaner', I would need to scroll through the list looking for 'C:\Users\Public'. If so, I would be saying that no results at all were found after scanning.

Or otherwise, you meant I will need to open the 'Regedit', then under which entry will need to look for 'D:\Users\Public'?

When you have changed all references of C:\Users\Public to D:\Users\Public found by cCleaner, run another Registry scan to make sure.

As you may have known from our discussion that I have two new 'old' user accounts' folders recreated 'public' and 'existing' accounts. Which means Registry had an try for the new 'old' folder 'C:\Users' for both 'Public' and 'Mohammad'.





The new 'old' folder for the public account was created in the 'C:\Users\Public' after installing Sharp printer drivers which created a folder 'Printer Status Monitor' in the Documents folder; Thus, only the 'Documents' folder(screen shot below) in the public user was created in the new 'old' folder.



The new 'old' folder for the existing account 'Mohammad' was created in the 'C:\Users\Mohammad' after installing HP support assistant, and iSkysoft software. Only the 'App' folder(screen shot below) was created by these two program in the new 'old' folder 'C:\Users\Mohammad'


As a result, Why will I only need me to change the 'C:\Users\Public', and what about the 'C:\Users\Mohammad'?

Here's a trick I use to see if the registry has an try for the new 'old' folder.

Rename the folder that was created by the install or update.
I'll use C:\Users\Public as an example.
Rename C:\Users\Public to C:\Users\x-Public

As you may have known from our discussion that I have two new 'old' user accounts' folders recreated 'public' and 'existing' accounts.
As a result, Why will I only need me to rename the 'C:\Users\Public', and what about the 'C:\Users\Mohammad'?

Moreover, ListCuser-b.txt created by running the command below doesn't contain any tries for the new 'old' folder. 'C:\Users\Public'

C:
cd C:\Users
dir /a /s > ListCuser-b.txt
(cd C:\Users, dir /a /s > ListCuser-b.txt')

However, 'ListCuser-b.txt' only contains tries for the new 'old' folder. 'C:\Users\Mohammad'for the existing account, If I need a command to create 'ListCuser-b.txt' containing any tries for the new 'old' folder 'C:\Users\Public', which is for the public folder, what one will be? Dost this below give me 'listCuser-b.txt' for the 'C:\Users\Public'? However, running that command gave me 'Access is denied'





Look here in the contents of the ListCuser-b.txt for the new 'old' folder. 'C:\Users\Mohammad'::

HTML Code:

 Volume in drive C is OS Partition
 Volume Serial Number is DBB3-CF00

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad

09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          .
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          ..
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          AppData
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData

09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          .
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          ..
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          Local
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local

11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          .
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          ..
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          Hewlett-Packard
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          iSkysoft
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard

11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          .
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          ..
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          HP Support Framework
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard\HP Support Framework

11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          .
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          ..
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          Reg
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard\HP Support Framework\Reg

11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          .
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          ..
11/03/14  12:53 AM               312 RegistrationInfo.xml
               1 File(s)            312 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\iSkysoft

09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          .
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          ..
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          ISHelper
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\iSkysoft\ISHelper

09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          .
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          ..
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

     Total Files Listed:
               1 File(s)            312 bytes
              23 Dir(s)  260,947,603,456 bytes free

Really good information - thanks.

I only provided one folder to be used as an example for both. I should have stated both user profiles on C:\, sorry for any confusion.

Let's try this - I'll explicitly state both folders.
Navigate to C:\Users
rename Mohammad to x-Mohammad
rename Public to x-Public (or preferably undo move C:\Users\Public to new location - your call, I previously offered some guidance based on how you use Public)
run cCleaner registry scan again
If cCleaner does not find anything this time, then there's nothing left to do. You can leave the folders in C:\Users renamed or delete them.

This example might clear things up for you - the entries found on my machine are not important. You'll be looking for any entries with C:\Users\Public or C:\UserMohammad in the data column.

As we've discussed, the files created in the 'new' old user profiles are not important and will not affect normal operation of your machine.

C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard\HP Support Framework\Reg\RegistrationInfo.xml
-> extended markup for registering your printer - if you have or do not care to register the printer, the file serves no other purpose

C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\iSkysoft\ISHelper
-> an empty folder that was most likely part of an Install Shield (IS) install

Regarding C:\Users\Public access denied or not showing up in a directory list:
I don't have a clue!
dir /a /s (directory list /all files (including system and hidden) /sub directories) should have listed everything under C:\Users
I looked back through the thread and saw that you ran the dir command twice; once under C:\Users and a 2nd time under C:\Users\Mohammad. There was a bit of confusion as to where the output went at that time, but that got cleared up with help from Kari. If you want, you can try running the command again:
Open an elevated command prompt (right click ... run as administrator)
Type the following commands

C:
cd Users
dir /a /s > %TEMP%\ListCuser-b.txt
exit

Open %TEMP%\ListCuser-b.txt - if you only see C:\Users\Mohammad, let me know - there's something amiss and that needs to be addressed.

I want to let you know that most of this is just cleanup work, your system has been running four (4) weeks since you started the thread. I think you were only asking a question "Why were these folders created in C:\Users". That question has been answered
1) some programs default to C:\Users even though they should use the information from the registry; resolution: none
2) some configuration files reference C:\Users; resolution: change the configuration file to point to D:\Users).

A secondary question "Can I remove the folders and will my system operate normally" has also been answered
Yes, you can remove or rename the folders and your system will operate normally.

I think you have a good handle on the issue; I don't think there's much left to do here, I do want to be sure that you're comfortable with what you have.

See what the 'new' cCleaner tells you - if there are no entries to fix, then let the machine run as it is for a week or two. If all is well, you can close this thread.

Thanks,

Bill
.

Slartybart said:

Regarding C:\Users\Public access denied or not showing up in a directory list:
I don't have a clue!
dir /a /s (directory list /all files (including system and hidden) /sub directories) should have listed everything under C:\Users
I looked back through the thread and saw that you ran the dir command twice; once under C:\Users and a 2nd time under C:\Users\Mohammad. There was a bit of confusion as to where the output went at that time, but that got cleared up with help from Kari. If you want, you can try running the command again:
Open an elevated command prompt (right click ... run as administrator)
Type the following commands

C:
cd Users
dir /a /s > %TEMP%\ListCuser-b.txt
exit

Open %TEMP%\ListCuser-b.txt - if you only see C:\Users\Mohammad, let me know - there's something amiss and that needs to be addressed.

Running that command while on 'C:\Users\Mohammad' didn't give me 'C:\Users\ public' in the 'ListCuser-b.txt'

However, running that command while on 'C:\Users' gave me a ListCuser-b.txt containing all new 'old' users' folders



This is 'ListCuser-b.txt' attached with this reply. Could you have a look at it to see its entries if there are something would be affected after deleting all those new 'old' users folder. I really saw other 'C:\Users\All Users\'

Open %TEMP%\ListCuser-b.txt - if you only see C:\Users\Mohammad, let me know - there's something amiss and that needs to be addressed.

Yes, in that listcurser-.txt created by this command below while on ''C:\Users\Mohammad', I only saw 'C:\Users\Mohammad'






Look here in the contents of the ListCuser-b.txt, you will only see new 'old' folder. 'C:\Users\Mohammad':

HTML Code:

 Volume in drive C is OS Partition
 Volume Serial Number is DBB3-CF00

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad

09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          .
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          ..
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          AppData
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData

09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          .
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          ..
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          Local
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local

11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          .
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          ..
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          Hewlett-Packard
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          iSkysoft
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard

11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          .
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          ..
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          HP Support Framework
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard\HP Support Framework

11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          .
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          ..
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          Reg
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\Hewlett-Packard\HP Support Framework\Reg

11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          .
11/03/14  12:53 AM    <DIR>          ..
11/03/14  12:53 AM               312 RegistrationInfo.xml
               1 File(s)            312 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\iSkysoft

09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          .
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          ..
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          ISHelper
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

 Directory of C:\Users\Mohammad\AppData\Local\iSkysoft\ISHelper

09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          .
09/24/14  01:29 AM    <DIR>          ..
               0 File(s)              0 bytes

     Total Files Listed:
               1 File(s)            312 bytes
              23 Dir(s)  260,947,603,456 bytes free

Things look ok to me, thanks for the feedback.

If you have not already done so, please rename C:\User\Mohammad to C:\Users\Mohammad_x

Bill
.

"... move your documents, movies, music, etc..." I recommend "telling" each program that creates a text file, doc file, xls file, etc. etc to place their creations in a created-by-OP folders on ddrive. Moving your created files from default user My Documents should be no problem either.

Here's another problem I did not see discussed above [I have bad eyesight, so might have missed it]:
If/when it comes time to do a full-image backup of cdrive, OP will have to also do a full-image backup of ddrive, 'cause of the userStuff movement described above. If/when it comes time to do a full-image restore of cdrive, OP will have to also do a full-image restore of ddrive 'cause of the userStuff movement described above. I hope OP will do parallel backups every week 'cause the parallel restore will overwrite anything and everything on cdrive and ddrive.

I suspect before 2012 becomes 2015 -- OP will be reconstructing Windows on cdrive, leaving all Windows user defaults alone, creating data folders on ddrive, "telling" all programs that will listen to make their creations on ddrive in provided data folders, moving My Documents created works from cdrive to ddrive.

In summary: I hope OP will do parallel backups every week 'cause parallel restores will overwrite[*] anything and everything on cdrive and ddrive.[*] "Bomb" everything back to whatever date the last parallel bacups were.