A bit unexpected

Otacon · 14 Sep 2009

Greetings, first post in your lovely forum. My apologies for the long intro, but I figured any bit of info to help. I'm usually pretty good about Googling my problems and fixing them from there, but this time I'm a bit stumped. Plus, with a new OS like 7, Microsoft was unable to help me, without charging me, anyway.

I'm a second year at college, a Computer Network Engineer major, and we've recently learned how to set up shared folders on a network. I have my own system built from scratch, you can find my specs in my profile, so I'm not a complete newbie with PC's. I installed the RTM of 7 after they released it on the MSDN for my school. I installed it, and after a mishap with my sound card that your friendly board members helped fix, I came again for this problem. This time asking myself...

I was unaware that the wired/wireless network I had set up at home counted as a genuine network, so with the knowledge in hand, I set out to make a shared folder on my network. It went well save for the fact I couldn't see my Dad's PC on the Homegroup, a problem I know how to fix, but have yet to get around to.

After changing a few options on my own system like starting my own Homegroup, changing sharing options for various folders that shouldn't have been, various options I cannot remember and things like that, I rested easy, knowing all was working with the shared folder.

Here's the problem, things started not working. I would attempt to open Thunderbird, Firefox, and Stickynotes, only for it to report things like profile errors and just plain can't open errors. I cleared Appdata regarding the programs, and they started working again.

Things were okay for a few days, and now I can't seem to save in the Libraries. At all. The message is as follows, "You can't save here. Please choose another location.". I thought it a bit strange, googled it, Vista had the same problem, tried the, "X the window, try again, and voila!", to no avail.

Then other things like Mirror's Edge started having trouble saving at all, too. Then UltraMon stopped showing my backgrounds when I tried to change them, ultimately showing nothing but black. iTunes, which reported something about a locked .itl file, which was fixed by deleting my library in the My Music folder in the library. And a strange error with my games icon, though not in the official games folder. I have a separate folder for all my game shortcuts, and some icons will just drop out sometimes. It seems to have fixed itself, so that's good.

In my attempts to fix all these issues, most of all the Library issue, I've noticed it seems to occur with only my account. I made another temp account and it reports no issues then.

I have also changes permissions for a few more things, again, nothing. And finally, I saw the Users group for the C:/ drive and how it didn't have full access, changed that, did nothing, changed it back. I also left the Homegroup and joined again, nada.

So, once again, sorry for the very verbose opening, but my question is this. Anyone know what's going on or how to fix it? My professor doesn't have my experience in Windows 7 or Vista, Microsoft is no good, and google is turning up nothing.

Thanks for anything you can do to help.

Captain Zero · 14 Sep 2009

Hi Otacon, allow me to be first to welcome you to SevenForums.

First, a big thank you, from ALL of us for;

A - Being literate
B - Specs in Profile (that alone is worth repping you)
C - Being literate
D - Having the presence of mind to research your issue

Let me take a stab at it but I have a few questions regarding your current setup.. The build of Win7 your running is a crucial piece to the puzzle. To locate that, open an elevated prompt and type 'winver', we need the build number.

Also, bear in mind that 'Homegroups' and files that are traditionally shared are somewhat different, they're entirely different stacks. Homegroups functions on the IPV6 stack, whereas, IPV4 is used for traditional networking. This is done for redundancy, Homegroups only function on Win7 (and possibly on Vista?).

With regard to the problems you're having, sometimes, too much knowledge is a bad thing. I think we've all done it before - poked around, looking for that elusive setting, toggled a few things here, enabled a few things there. By the end of it, we're not sure what the hell we did or why we did it.

*raised hand* Guilty as charged.

Point is, maybe it's time for a rebuild. lol Sorry if that's not helpful, but I know I've hosed my share of installs only to reinstall and try again. 9/10 times it's easier than trying to back-track or CTRL-Z something you might have done 2 weeks ago. You mentioned deleting your Appdata and if you're having to do that, it's a bad sign. Something may very well re-write faulty values to that location and thereby replicate the problem. It's not a longterm solution, is my point.

Barring that, post the specific build number you're using, it may very well be a known issue. Again, welcome to the forums.

First post and I had to rep you, well done.

Otacon · 14 Sep 2009

Thanks for replying so quickly!

To answer your question, I have build 7600.

I wouldn't mind rebuilding too much, I had to do it a bunch of times when my sound card literally stopped me from opening anything besides Explorer. Programs, installers, uninstallers, you name it. Thanks to you guys, I fixed it, so I wouldn't have any qualms about doing it once more, this time, doing it right.

I should probably finish revising this essay first, heh.

But when I go to make a new Workgroup/shared folder, is there a guide in particular you would recommend? Something that would tell me how to share folders across the network, as well as in the Workgroup. Printers, and other random files are a must. I would also need to share a file or two with an XP laptop (Dad's).

Thanks again for all your help. Here's hoping this can be fixed before we have to rebuild.

And repping you for being so quick to respond and hospitable to a newbie to the forum.

zigzag3143 · 14 Sep 2009

Otacon said:

Thanks for replying so quickly!

To answer your question, I have build 7600.

I wouldn't mind rebuilding too much, I had to do it a bunch of times when my sound card literally stopped me from opening anything besides Explorer. Programs, installers, uninstallers, you name it. Thanks to you guys, I fixed it, so I wouldn't have any qualms about doing it once more, this time, doing it right. Its always going to give you the most efficient system

I should probably finish revising this essay first, heh. nah its not long enough to be an essay<g>

But when I go to make a new Workgroup/shared folder, is there a guide in particular you would recommend? Something that would tell me how to share folders across the network, as well as in the Workgroup. Printers, and other random files are a must. I would also need to share a file or two with an XP laptop (Dad's).There are tons of tutorials here to setup wifi, share, and almost anything you want to know written by our very own Brink

Thanks again for all your help. Here's hoping this can be fixed before we have to rebuild.

And repping you for being so quick to respond and hospitable to a newbie to the forum.

Dont worry about rep'ing us we just want to get you working. If someone really helps, or you think they deserve it then go for it.

Now lets start getting data as to wahts wrong with your system.
Make sure you back up anything you will need first
First thing you can try that is safe is to run a system file check. You go to search type cmd, and in the cmd window type sfc /scannow.

After that lets go into event viewer. Type event viewer insearch and go to the windows log>application tab. If there are any errors (lines with red in the left column) use the built in snipping tool. Type snip insearch to tak a screenshot of the errors and upload them to us. You upload them by using the attachment icon (shaped like a paperclip) in the reply form

lets start there

Ken

ultraplanet · 14 Sep 2009

Otacon said:

I've noticed it seems to occur with only my account. I made another temp account and it reports no issues then.

Otacon - welcome. I would suggest that if this temp account is working this is a good sign because you can just delete your profile and start over.

BACKUP all your data like you were going to do a fresh install. No need to delete your account just its profile in the C:\users folder. Logon on as the temp account and go the the users folder and delete the folder with your account name. BACKUP your important data first.

After you delete your profile just logon on again using your account and your profile will be recreated. Then just copy your data back again.

Otacon · 14 Sep 2009

zigzag3143 said:

Otacon said:

Thanks for replying so quickly!

To answer your question, I have build 7600.

I wouldn't mind rebuilding too much, I had to do it a bunch of times when my sound card literally stopped me from opening anything besides Explorer. Programs, installers, uninstallers, you name it. Thanks to you guys, I fixed it, so I wouldn't have any qualms about doing it once more, this time, doing it right. Its always going to give you the most efficient system

I should probably finish revising this essay first, heh. nah its not long enough to be an essay<g>

But when I go to make a new Workgroup/shared folder, is there a guide in particular you would recommend? Something that would tell me how to share folders across the network, as well as in the Workgroup. Printers, and other random files are a must. I would also need to share a file or two with an XP laptop (Dad's).There are tons of tutorials here to setup wifi, share, and almost anything you want to know written by our very own Brink

Thanks again for all your help. Here's hoping this can be fixed before we have to rebuild.

And repping you for being so quick to respond and hospitable to a newbie to the forum.

Dont worry about rep'ing us we just want to get you working. If someone really helps, or you think they deserve it then go for it.

Now lets start getting data as to wahts wrong with your system.
Make sure you back up anything you will need first
First thing you can try that is safe is to run a system file check. You go to search type cmd, and in the cmd window type sfc /scannow.

After that lets go into event viewer. Type event viewer insearch and go to the windows log>application tab. If there are any errors (lines with red in the left column) use the built in snipping tool. Type snip insearch to tak a screenshot of the errors and upload them to us. You upload them by using the attachment icon (shaped like a paperclip) in the reply form

lets start there

Ken

I'm running the scan now. Here's hoping it fixes whatever is wrong.

Thanks for the tip on the tutorials. I'll be sure to check them out in the very near future.

And just to clarify, it's my fault I didn't specify what essay, but I have an essay to revise for class tomorrow. My bad.

Thanks again for all the quick responses. This forum rocks!

And to ultraplanet, I'll give it a try just before I reformat, if nothing else. Thanks!

zigzag3143 · 14 Sep 2009

Brink is ine of the admins here and has a great knack for knowing what tutorials are needed and writing them so even I can understand them

Captain Zero · 14 Sep 2009

zigzag3143 said:

Dont worry about rep'ing us we just want to get you working. If someone really helps, or you think they deserve it then go for it.

What Ken said, certainly. It's appreciated but not necessary.

The goal is to ensure you're up and running, asap. You have some additionally good advice, let's see how that works out and continue from there.

Again, welcome to the group.

Otacon · 15 Sep 2009

So I've taken ultraplanet's advice and deleted my User profile. I logged back into my account, and was greeted to relief.

Everything was fixed! Only one problem, and it's a new one.

I was given a temporary profile, that won't become permanent. So I lose everything again every time I restart or log out!

The User file is called, "TEMP". Any idea how to make it permanent? We're so close!

Maybe a registry key or something to change?

Captain Zero · 15 Sep 2009

Unless I'm mistaken, those strings are contained here;

Code:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

Obviously, alter those at your own peril. Good luck.