Help Needed - Computer Defaulting to TEMP User

[Krebs]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Arggh! Help Needed Identifying/Eliminating TEMP User

Guessing my father's computer must've been visited by some brand of
evil -

A user folder called TEMP has appeared, and can be seen under Documents
And Settings:
- All Users
- Default User
- Owner
- TEMP

All files, folders, programs, address book etc.. are (and always have
been) in "Owner". Owner is the only user profile on the computer, yet
when WinXP is booted, it seems as if TEMP is the active user - The
sparse TEMP desktop appears, there is no access to email, etc. If I
run Outlook Express, I get the welcoming screen as if it was never used
before. I cannot access the TEMP user.. If I try to log off and
change users, I can't... The only choice offered is Owner.

I was going to copy files and folders from Owner to TEMP, but I don't
think this solves the problem.

(Have updated and run Norton Anti-Virus, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search &
Destroy - All reads fine)

How can I repair this so Owner is once again the sole user when Windows
boots? Simple words & concepts appreciated...
Help please and TIA!
- Krebs

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Krebs wrote:
> Arggh! Help Needed Identifying/Eliminating TEMP User
>
> Guessing my father's computer must've been visited by some brand of
> evil -
>
> A user folder called TEMP has appeared, and can be seen under
> Documents And Settings:
> - All Users
> - Default User
> - Owner
> - TEMP
>
> All files, folders, programs, address book etc.. are (and always have
> been) in "Owner". Owner is the only user profile on the computer, yet
> when WinXP is booted, it seems as if TEMP is the active user - The
> sparse TEMP desktop appears, there is no access to email, etc. If I
> run Outlook Express, I get the welcoming screen as if it was never
> used before. I cannot access the TEMP user.. If I try to log off and
> change users, I can't... The only choice offered is Owner.
>
> I was going to copy files and folders from Owner to TEMP, but I don't
> think this solves the problem.
>
> (Have updated and run Norton Anti-Virus, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search &
> Destroy - All reads fine)
>
> How can I repair this so Owner is once again the sole user when
> Windows boots? Simple words & concepts appreciated...
> Help please and TIA!

The original profile is corrupt. Create a new one as an adminstrative user
(TEMP may be one) and log in with that user.. Take ownership of the old
OWNER folder and copy the files you need - not everything - because there
are settings in there that are corrupt obviously - but the documents and
such.. Then rebuild the desktop/start menu from that user as well..

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Krebs,
Give this a go. From XP's main menu, select Control Panel. Then select User Accounts. Then pick Change the way users log on or off.
Un-check the Use the Welcome screen. Apply changes. Logoff and restart.

(You may or may not have to do this in Safe Mode). This change hopefully will allow selecting (typing in) Owner account.

Make very sure you have eradicated all malware.
See The Parasite Fight Quick Fix Protocol at <http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm>

--
Maurice N
MVP Windows - Shell / User
-----

Krebs wrote:
> Arggh! Help Needed Identifying/Eliminating TEMP User
>
> Guessing my father's computer must've been visited by some brand of
> evil -
>
> A user folder called TEMP has appeared, and can be seen under
> Documents And Settings:
> - All Users
> - Default User
> - Owner
> - TEMP
>
> All files, folders, programs, address book etc.. are (and always have
> been) in "Owner". Owner is the only user profile on the computer, yet
> when WinXP is booted, it seems as if TEMP is the active user - The
> sparse TEMP desktop appears, there is no access to email, etc. If I
> run Outlook Express, I get the welcoming screen as if it was never
> used before. I cannot access the TEMP user.. If I try to log off and
> change users, I can't... The only choice offered is Owner.
>
> I was going to copy files and folders from Owner to TEMP, but I don't
> think this solves the problem.
>
> (Have updated and run Norton Anti-Virus, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search &
> Destroy - All reads fine)
>
> How can I repair this so Owner is once again the sole user when
> Windows boots? Simple words & concepts appreciated...
> Help please and TIA!
> - Krebs

 

[Krebs]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Shenan,
Many thanks for the speedy advice.
Hope to get that machine up and running soonest!
- Krebs

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> The original profile is corrupt. Create a new one as an adminstrative user
> (TEMP may be one) and log in with that user.. Take ownership of the old
> OWNER folder and copy the files you need - not everything - because there
> are settings in there that are corrupt obviously - but the documents and
> such.. Then rebuild the desktop/start menu from that user as well..
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

[Krebs]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Hey Maurice,
Thanks for the quick reply - it's much appreciated.
Let's see if can get that machine up and running today.
- Krebs

Maurice N ~ MVP wrote:
> Krebs,
> Give this a go. From XP's main menu, select Control Panel. Then select User Accounts. Then pick Change the way users log on or off.
> Un-check the Use the Welcome screen. Apply changes. Logoff and restart.
>
> (You may or may not have to do this in Safe Mode). This change hopefully will allow selecting (typing in) Owner account.
>
> Make very sure you have eradicated all malware.
> See The Parasite Fight Quick Fix Protocol at <http://www.aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm>
>
> --
> Maurice N
> MVP Windows - Shell / User
> -----

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

I am confused..........
Bear with me......I create a new user (admin)
question....how do I "take ownership of the old owner folder"
what does that mean ?

also.... in working on a fix ...we created a new user
but there was no (new)identity in the (new) local settings
how can that be ??

TIA
Salmon Dave


Shenan Stanley wrote:
> Krebs wrote:
> > Arggh! Help Needed Identifying/Eliminating TEMP User
> >
> > Guessing my father's computer must've been visited by some brand of
> > evil -
> >
> > A user folder called TEMP has appeared, and can be seen under
> > Documents And Settings:
> > - All Users
> > - Default User
> > - Owner
> > - TEMP
> >
> > All files, folders, programs, address book etc.. are (and always have
> > been) in "Owner". Owner is the only user profile on the computer, yet
> > when WinXP is booted, it seems as if TEMP is the active user - The
> > sparse TEMP desktop appears, there is no access to email, etc. If I
> > run Outlook Express, I get the welcoming screen as if it was never
> > used before. I cannot access the TEMP user.. If I try to log off and
> > change users, I can't... The only choice offered is Owner.
> >
> > I was going to copy files and folders from Owner to TEMP, but I don't
> > think this solves the problem.
> >
> > (Have updated and run Norton Anti-Virus, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search &
> > Destroy - All reads fine)
> >
> > How can I repair this so Owner is once again the sole user when
> > Windows boots? Simple words & concepts appreciated...
> > Help please and TIA!
>
> The original profile is corrupt. Create a new one as an adminstrative user
> (TEMP may be one) and log in with that user.. Take ownership of the old
> OWNER folder and copy the files you need - not everything - because there
> are settings in there that are corrupt obviously - but the documents and
> such.. Then rebuild the desktop/start menu from that user as well..
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Krebs wrote:
> Arggh! Help Needed Identifying/Eliminating TEMP User
>
> Guessing my father's computer must've been visited by some brand of
> evil -
>
> A user folder called TEMP has appeared, and can be seen under
> Documents And Settings:
> - All Users
> - Default User
> - Owner
> - TEMP
>
> All files, folders, programs, address book etc.. are (and always
> have been) in "Owner". Owner is the only user profile on the
> computer, yet when WinXP is booted, it seems as if TEMP is the
> active user - The sparse TEMP desktop appears, there is no access
> to email, etc. If I run Outlook Express, I get the welcoming
> screen as if it was never used before. I cannot access the TEMP
> user.. If I try to log off and change users, I can't... The only
> choice offered is Owner.
>
> I was going to copy files and folders from Owner to TEMP, but I
> don't think this solves the problem.
>
> (Have updated and run Norton Anti-Virus, Ad-Aware, Spybot Search &
> Destroy - All reads fine)
>
> How can I repair this so Owner is once again the sole user when
> Windows boots? Simple words & concepts appreciated...
> Help please and TIA!

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> The original profile is corrupt. Create a new one as an
> adminstrative user (TEMP may be one) and log in with that user..
> Take ownership of the old OWNER folder and copy the files you need -
> not everything - because there are settings in there that are
> corrupt obviously - but the documents and such.. Then rebuild the
> desktop/start menu from that user as well..

Salmon Dave wrote:
> I am confused..........
> Bear with me......I create a new user (admin)
> question....how do I "take ownership of the old owner folder"
> what does that mean ?
>
> also.... in working on a fix ...we created a new user
> but there was no (new)identity in the (new) local settings
> how can that be ??

First - create your new user:
HOW TO: Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279783

Make it an "Administrative User".
Log in as the user at least ONCE to allow the creation of the files/folders
for the user - before you log in - you have only created the "idea" of the
user - the building of the profile in C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME
does not happen until you log in.

Now - reboot.

Log in as the new user.

Take ownership of all of the files/folders under c:\documents and
settings\owner:
HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

How to disable simplified sharing & set permissions
on a shared folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307874

Once you have taken ownership of the files/folders, you should be able to
browse them. I would copy files from the OWNER user to the new user
folders.. But not from any of these directories or their sub directories:

Application Data
Cookies
Desktop
Favorites
Local Settings
NetHood
PrintHood
Recent
Templates
UserData
WINDOWS

And not ANY NTUSER.* file(s).

Reboot again - log in as the "new" user.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html