Turned the laptop on last night and logged in as myself no problems, but straight away things looked different. Main desktop is missing bits and bobs, no favourites in my START panel, and no access to my original documents, pictures etc. I'm logged in as me, but if I go through 'my computer' to access my user account the icon shows it's locked. It's all in there but not really accessible as it stands. Is this a harddrive out, copy it all over and start again or am I missing something lol. I've done a scan, virus and malware and only came back with Optional Advanced System Protector that I got rid of. Any other ideas??
i've had the same before luck for me it fixed it self but i'm sure you can create a new user account and copy the files across there is a how to on the windows site sure john will explain it better than i have
If you have any trouble copying the user account path try a linux live install cd or usb like Ubuntu 14.04 LTS under the Try Ubuntu option. XP used to be good for that pre Advanced Format HDDs. I would check the HDD as well with HDDScan. What is the drive and how old is it?
If you have System Restore switched on, just go back to the previous restore point. It won't affect any of your files.
System Restore was off by default on my laptop thats the problem i had first time i had a problem was a bit late to make one then
if a system restore doesn't work, remove the hard drive and put it back in, it might have been knocked, main culprit for my laptop problems.
Drive is around 6 month old WD 500gig. I tried the system restore with no luck. I'll pull the drive tonight and put it back and see what happens, if nothing I'll back it up and reformat, reload windows. I needed to clean it out so it gives me the excuse I need.
when you say you go in via my computer, do you mean you manually browse into c->users->username and theres a padlock icon? any error messages? you may not see certain folders as windows has hidden and system files/folders hidden by default to see them go tools -> folder option -> view then select 'show hidden files, folders and drives' and untick 'hide protected operating system files' if your menu bar isnt visible tap the left alt key to show it then have a look in the users folder, if you see 2 folders with your username one with a .1 after it or similar windows has made you a new profile folder due to some kind of corruption, usually when it does this its down to the user registry. anyway, go inside your original user folder and you'll see all you desktop, favourites, documents, music, porno, local hooker contact detail folders and such so you can just manually move your stuff into your new account. the worst thing about this happenign is you loose theuser registry settings, but its not a big deal just have to redo some of your program settings, reset backdrop and such. if you really need any of your old user registry settings back you can try opening the registry file, but this probably isnt needed in this case as all the important gear such as licence and program install information will be in the main registry database. Let us know how you get on!
Sorry for the late reply. Yeah, when I go through 'My Computer' C:users/username etc everything is there but locked. I browse some of it, but not all of it. Anyway. I copied the whole user account onto a my PC in a new folder, formatted my laptop and was about to put it back on when my PC has done the same as my laptop, so it's looking like a virus. I've not had chance to run a check on it yet due to time contraints but I'm 99% sure thats what it is, seeing asI copied the whole lot over lol I'll keep you in the loop
aha, maybe a permissions thing happening as well, if so try this: right click the folder -> properties -> security -> advanced in this here window check 'system', 'administrators' and your username have 'full control' under permissions. if not, click 'change permissions' button if present then double click each entry and tick the 'full control' 'allow' box at the top and in the 'apply to' drop down box set 'this folder, subfolders and files' and click ok. once all 3 are done tick the box 'replace all child object permissions with...' and click ok. it should go thru and fix everything, some folders may come up 'access denied' but keep going and hopefully job done you'll need to be an administrator on your machine to do the above and it'll probably pop up the UAC prompt to ask if you're really sure etc
yah but maybe the virus has messed with the default permissions so you need to add em back, fingers crossed its an easy fix anyway!
I have had this before. Virius removed but it screws up the permissons. It just need to be reset and it's ok again.
