Full reinstall leaves profile

LiamMcilveen · 02-10-2007, 01:24 PM

My PC had so much installed that it wen't too slow to handle. I Reinstalled my OS which is all well and good except that it left the previous profile.

I chose the same system network name as before and it created my new profile directory as User.System.000. Previously it was User.System and that profile is still there but unusable.

What I want to do is safely remove the previous profile User.System as it has no use anymore and rename User.System.000 because it will just make things more complicated for me and it looks ugly.

Can either of these things be done without having to do a huge system change around which is beyond a moderately skilled user.

talldude123 · 02-12-2007, 09:30 PM

Did you do a full system wipe, and re-install Windows 2000?

Is your copy of Windows 2000 from a manufacturer such as HP or Emachines, or is it a retail copy bought from Best Buy or Newegg?

If it was an OEM (Manufacturer) version, they may have it automatically create an account, which you have explained.

LiamMcilveen · 02-13-2007, 08:48 PM

It was a New Zealand Company called Serious Computers who used to make customs to your specifications. When I bought the computer I received all the install disks and drivers and installed myself.

The very first user account was "liam" which was before I assigned a network name for my workgroup. after the first reinstall I input the system network name I had before. The directory for the user was then liam.[networkname]. After my system got loaded down again I decided for another reinstall, as before I input the network name and instead of overriding the old profil directory it added .000 to the end making it - liam.networkname.000.

To reinstall I put in the intel boot disk and selected install then I chose full install I think or something along those lines. The idea to wipe the registry etc... but keep my harddrive files.

Although the old profile directories are still visible and I can still copy the cookies, start menu, and favourites into the new one I can't log into them. (Understandably).

So I have to old user directories that I have no use for and wish to get rid of.

I also wish to rename the current .000 to remove the .000 but I don't know what it would do or if it is even possible which is what I'm asking.

Chevy · 03-07-2007, 08:23 PM

It's best at this point to back up your data, make sure you have all the device drivers ready, and do a clean install. That is, boot to the CD, and format the partition before installing.

LiamMcilveen · 03-07-2007, 09:34 PM

Ohh ok, I am not sure I really want to do yet another install/format just to fix the profile directories. But I will definitely come back here if and when I plan to. Thankyou all very much for your support.

02-10-2007, 01:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
LiamMcilveen Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 18 OS: Win2k	Full reinstall leaves profile My PC had so much installed that it wen't too slow to handle. I Reinstalled my OS which is all well and good except that it left the previous profile. I chose the same system network name as before and it created my new profile directory as User.System.000. Previously it was User.System and that profile is still there but unusable. What I want to do is safely remove the previous profile User.System as it has no use anymore and rename User.System.000 because it will just make things more complicated for me and it looks ugly. Can either of these things be done without having to do a huge system change around which is beyond a moderately skilled user.

03-07-2007, 08:23 PM	#4 (permalink)
Chevy Semi-Retired Manager, Microsoft Support Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Notlob Posts: 5,172 OS: Vista Ultimate My System	It's best at this point to back up your data, make sure you have all the device drivers ready, and do a clean install. That is, boot to the CD, and format the partition before installing. __________________ “My philosophy, like color television, is all there in black and white” -M. Python

02-12-2007, 09:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
talldude123 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Victoria, BC, Canada Posts: 23 OS: Windows XP Home SP2	Did you do a full system wipe, and re-install Windows 2000? Is your copy of Windows 2000 from a manufacturer such as HP or Emachines, or is it a retail copy bought from Best Buy or Newegg? If it was an OEM (Manufacturer) version, they may have it automatically create an account, which you have explained.

02-13-2007, 08:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
LiamMcilveen Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 18 OS: Win2k	It was a New Zealand Company called Serious Computers who used to make customs to your specifications. When I bought the computer I received all the install disks and drivers and installed myself. The very first user account was "liam" which was before I assigned a network name for my workgroup. after the first reinstall I input the system network name I had before. The directory for the user was then liam.[networkname]. After my system got loaded down again I decided for another reinstall, as before I input the network name and instead of overriding the old profil directory it added .000 to the end making it - liam.networkname.000. To reinstall I put in the intel boot disk and selected install then I chose full install I think or something along those lines. The idea to wipe the registry etc... but keep my harddrive files. Although the old profile directories are still visible and I can still copy the cookies, start menu, and favourites into the new one I can't log into them. (Understandably). So I have to old user directories that I have no use for and wish to get rid of. I also wish to rename the current .000 to remove the .000 but I don't know what it would do or if it is even possible which is what I'm asking.

03-07-2007, 09:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
LiamMcilveen Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 18 OS: Win2k	Ohh ok, I am not sure I really want to do yet another install/format just to fix the profile directories. But I will definitely come back here if and when I plan to. Thankyou all very much for your support.