Cannot copy user profile

[Jack C]

Frustration. Windows 7 Home premium. I have done everything I can think of and am stumped. The old XP way of creating the new user account, logging into it to create a profile, then copying one profile to another doesn't work. Perhaps there is a good reason. In desperation I even enabled the built in administrator account in cmd prompt and logged on as that user. But the copy area is still greyed out.
Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Maybe what I want to do will not work in the cheaper version of the OS.
I know MS is interested in security, but I never had a problem in years of using XP.

Jack

 

[Ztruker]

The source and target accounts cannot be logged on when you do this. They both need to be logged off.

When you tried it with Administrator from Safe more, were both of the accounts logged off?

Where are you trying to copy from and to? In Win 7, all accounts are under C:\Users, not C:\Documents and Settings.

 

[Jack C]

The source and target accounts cannot be logged on when you do this. They both need to be logged off.

When you tried it with Administrator from Safe more, were both of the accounts logged off?

Where are you trying to copy from and to? In Win 7, all accounts are under C:\Users, not C:\Documents and Settings.

I did not try it with Administrator from Safe Mode, but will do so and report back. I wasn't aware Safe Mode was necessary. With regard to the copy from and to, it didn't make any difference since the "copy" section was greyed out n any case.
I learned after a while where the profiles are located. I still think the win 7 Windows Explorer is a mess and am using Explorer++ to try to get something which to me is more logical. The other libraries etc seem superfluous to me, but maybe they are helpful for people who are file management handicapped. Just complaining, sorry.
I very much appreciate the reply.
Jack

 

[Jack C]

cannot copy user profile

AS suggested, I tried in Safe mode, but all of the "copy" windows are greyed out except for the default profile. I've now tried with the special Administrator account, in Safe and regular mode, and all the tricks I can think of.
I'm still wondering if this version of Win7 (home premium) does not have that capability.
Jack

 

[Ztruker]

This has nothing to do with the version. There is something else causing this.

What, exactly, are you doing?

From Windows Explorer, navigate to C:\Users.
Double click on the profile you want to copy from.
Select all then deselect the files you are not supposed to copy (in XP there were 3, in Windows 7 not sure how many or what they are).
Right click on the selected files.

Is this where you see Copy grayed out so it can't be selected?

 

[Jack C]

Thanks for your reply, Ztrucker. What I was trying to do was to copy one profile to a new one, much as one would do with a corrupted profile. I simply wanted to change another person's name on the profile to mine. In the past (Win XP), I would create a new user account, reboot to create the user profile for the new account. Then reboot with a different profile from the two I am working on. At that point, under (Win7) control panel|system|advanced|system profiles....There is a list of the user profiles. In the right column is "copy", just as in XP. But all the "copy" commands are greyed out except for the default user profile.
(Not to make matters more confusing,but it is not this way in my Win 7 Pro machine!)
I've tried everything to get the "copy" column "ungreyed" for the profile I want to copy, but no success.
So I just manually copied all the stuff I wanted into the new profile. Just time consuming, but no great problem.
I agree something else must be going on on the Win 7 home premium system, but I can't imagine what it is. I may never find out.
Problem is solved, but intellectual curiosity persists!
Many thanks for your help.

Jack

 

[Ztruker]

Never knew that capability existed! I always did it manually as I described above. Live and learn!

It appears this is deliberate in Win 7. I did find this which may allow you to do what you want, either via the tool mentioned (have not tried it) or the process described:

Windows 7: Copy A Modified User Profile Over The Default Profile

 

[Jack C]

Many thanks, Ztrucker. I looked at the "enabler" site and have downloaded the program. My immediate problem is solved, but I will plan to work with that program on the next Win 7 glitch I run into, if it fits into that area.

I'm still uncomfortable with what I perceive of as Windows 7 "mothering" me, not letting me delete files because "you don't have privileges to do this" etc even though I am logged to a profile with admin privileges. (Sorry that's off topic .. just complaining.

But Win 7 (and its successors) are obviously here to stay, so I better keep up.
Thanks again.

Jack

 

[Ztruker]

Windows 7 is doing this to try to make it difficult for viruses and other malware to attack your computer. I think it's a waste of time and the first thing I do after installing Win 7 is to disable UAC. Just my opinion. I know others disagree.

 

[Jack C]

I'm interested. How do you disable UAC?

Jack

 

[Ztruker]

I do it this way.

Open System Configuration by pressing the Windows key (next to the left Ctrl key) and the R key. This opens the Run dialog.
Type msconfig and press Enter.
Click on Tools tab then select Change UAC Settings then click on the Launch button. That opens User Account Control Settings. Move the slider all the way to the bottom.
Click OK then Apply and OK.

Also see here: Four methods to disable UAC in Windows 7

 

[Jack C]

All done. Many thanks. Bye, UAC.

Jack

 

[override94]

UAC

Remember, this is Windows 7. Use your search function, it will save you time. To modify UAC settings, simply type "uac" into the start menu search bar and "Change User Account Control Settings" will appear. I love the Windows search function. It saves so much time for finding settings.