Documents and Settings Folder 2

[Accessdabbler]

Inside my Documents and Settings Folder there are 4 folders. The first is Administrator. No problem.

However, there are 2 Users folders. One is "All Users". The other is "All Users.Win2000". What is the difference between the two? Why are both of them there?

The last folder is my name. I always logon as the Administrator but I probably logged on using my own name when I first installed Win2K. Can I just delete this folder? I don't see my name listed in the "Users and Passwords" icon in the Control Panel. Shouldn't I be able to find myself listed as a User somewhere in Win2000?

Could someone please clarify? Thanks.

 

[OzDog]

There is actually another folder (hidden) called "Default User" and as the name suggests, this contains the defualt settings for new user profiles.

You can see a list of profiles stored on the machine by going into "System" in the COntrol Panel, then "User Profiles" tab.

Yes, you can safely delete inactive profiles (such as the one you mentioned).

Not sure why both "all users" are there - it's not the case on any of the Win2K workstations on my corp WAN. Cheers,
Sam

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[Accessdabbler]

My drive is partitioned into 3 parts. 1 NTFS and 2 FAT32. This system is a dual-boot computer with Win98SE.

Would this explain the "All Users" folders? Which is the normal "All Users" folder (All Users or All Users.Win2000)?

 

[OzDog]

Yup that's it. Exactly why. The machine needs a way of differentiating 98 from 2000.

2000 is the first OS from MS to do this, the others just had big problems. Cheers,
Sam

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[AFTech81]

By the way, the default for W2K is "All Users". Brian
USAF
Network +, Win2k Pro

 

[mjinks61]

It is possible the computer has logged into a domain named "win2000".
On my machine, i have my user name on twice, one as xxxxx and the other as xxxxx.domain name. One is for when i am logging on to the local machine, and the other is used when i log into the company domain.
Good luck, and Happy Computing

 

[Accessdabbler]

That's possible. When I first installed Win2K I may have set it up on a domain at first (not sure why, it's the only Win2K system I have). Can't remember.

 

[mjinks61]

when your ctrl/alt/del login box comes up, look in the drop down menu below where you type in your password. usually, it would only show your username (on local machine). If it has been on a domain, you will see an option to log into user name (on win2000) domain. Good luck, and Happy Computing

 

[OzDog]

Macjr58 & AFTech81, This is a link to the Microsoft MSDN website, specifically an article on Profiles.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...ry/en-us/policy/policy/profiles_directory.asp

Let me summise...

The All Users folder contains setting common to all users (like start menu and dektop icons - "Accessories" folder and "Windows Explorer" shortcut in the start menu would be examples of this).

The Default User folder contains default settings for a new user (ie one without a profile).

The <username> folder contains settings for a user called <username>.

When a user logs on the system checks for the existence of a profile (ie - is this user's name in the Documents & Settings folder). If it is, the system loads it, otherwise it copies the &quot;Default User&quot; to <username> and loads that.

Of course the &quot;Default User&quot; contains registry settings that tell the system that this is a new user, so you get extra icons such as &quot;Connect to the Internet&quot; appear on the desktop.

With apologies, and without trying to sound rude or arrogant AFTech81 - you are wrong, and Macjr58 - you have hidden files hidden. Check your Tools -> Folder Options in Windows Explorer. I am a NT4 & Win2K MCSE and Citrix CCEA. My job is Citrix & Windows server administration and deployment, and I have to know this stuff inside out because of the massive impact on Citrix Metaframe.

While I'm at it - Mjinks61 - Absolutely. It could be, and MS do it that way, however, as the system has never been on a domain (thanks to AccessDabbler's follow up post) I would say it's the multiple operating systems. Cheers,
Sam

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[Accessdabbler]

It's all coming together now.

However, one last (?) question. In a book I am reading it suggested changing the name &quot;Administrator&quot; for security reasons. I did this and a new folder appeared in the Documents and Settings folder. However, the Adminstrator folder still appears and cannot be deleted (I can no longer log on using the name &quot;Administrator&quot. Nor, it appears, can it be renamed.

Is Windows2000 still using this folder? I've noticed that cookies have begun appearing in here that should be appearing in the new Administrator folder. Little puzzled I am.

 

[OzDog]

Hmm, you are right, you should be able to delete it. Check in the Locl Users and Groups under Computer Management that there is no Profile Path set on the Profile tab.

Do you mean in that last post that the when you log on as &quot;NewAdmin&quot; (or whatever) and then go to a website that the cookies from said site end up in the Documents and Settings Folder? That would be really weird and something I have not seen. Maybe someone else has.

When you try to delete this folder (or rename it) you will need to be another Administrator. So, I would suggest creating a new account (I will use &quot;OzDog&quot; as an example) then adding it to the Administrators group. Reboot the system to make sure that the Administrator profile is un-loaded properly (this can be a problem sometimes) and then login as OzDog and try to delete the old Administrator profile.

Try it out and let us know - talk to you soon. Cheers,
Sam

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[Accessdabbler]

Ok, here is the weird part.

I just deleted ALL the cookies from the Administrators folder AND from the <My Name> folder. I also moved all the entries in the Favorites folder (in Administrators) to the Favorites folder in <My Name>. Clicking Start > Favorites brings up an empty list!

Returning to

http://www.tek-tips.com,

the cookie is missing so I have to log on. No problem. However, the new cookie does not go to the <My Name> folder, it goes to the Administrator folder!

I click Start > Shutdown and in the list is the option to &quot;Log Off <My Name>&quot;. There is no &quot;Log Off Administrator&quot;.

It would appear that I am logged on as <My Name> but from Windows point of view, that is just a nickname for Administrator. Any attempt to rename or delete the C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator folder gives an error message (This folder is a system folder required by Windows, blah blah blah). There IS a folder called <My Name> though.

I went to the Local Users and Groups section and there are 3 users listed:

1. Guest - disabled
2. <My Name> - I set myself up as Administrator
3. <MyDadsName> - My dad's Win98SE computer is on another desk hooked up to my small network (no, I don't live with my parents, I'm borrowing their computer while they're away for a couple months).

There is NO ADMINISTRATOR account.

This is really puzzling. Especially when I'm trying to understand how all these rights and permissions work in Win2K.

 

[Accessdabbler]

Hmm, all hell has apparently broken loose!

I tried to run MSN Messenger and a message box popped up &quot;Windows Installer Preparing to install...&quot;. After a minute I get an error message that the installer program cannot run. I tried to start the Windows Installer under services but get an access denied message! BAH!!

There's some real bad voodoo magic going on here.

Again, I think that Windows have somehow gotten confused about the <My Name> account. Maybe I should rename it back....

 

[wolluf]

Accessdabbler,

How did you rename the Administrator account? (eg, I would run lusrmgr.msc, click on the users folder, right click on Administrator and choose the rename option). And where are you looking for the Administrator account? Suggest trying the above if that's not it. And what has happened to the renamed Administrator account?

After renaming Administrator, you may need to explicitly set which profile folder it will use (profile tab, after running lusrmgr.msc again).

btw - running lusrmgr.msc is basically same as Local Users and Groups from Computer management or snap-in for mmc, so you should already be seeing everything that's there...

 

[Accessdabbler]

I renamed the account just as you mentioned. I just tried to change it back.

I think I am screwed!

I am unable to run MSN Messenger and I can't even remove it. When I try, I get the message box &quot;Windows Installer Preparing to remove....&quot;. After about a minute I get the message:

&quot;The Windows Installer service could not be accessed. Contact your support personnel to verify that the Windows Installer service is properly registered.&quot;

Pushing OK, I get another box saying &quot;Unable to run this command&quot;.

Hmm, considering I AM the support personnel this advice is no help.

I checked the permissions on the file &quot;msiexec.exe&quot; and it gives permission to anyone and everyone to use it (including the dog I don't have).

I think my system has gotten completely f***** up. Can I just plop in the Win2K CD and go a repair re-install?

 

[wolluf]

Hopefully repair will sort you out. Do you have an ERD from when it was working (as repair doesn't always find 2k installations without one)? I suppose you could create one without updating the registry info if not (as you obviously don't want to save a screwed registry for repair to work from).

 

[Accessdabbler]

Well, I threw in my Win2K CD and did an &quot;Upgrade to Win 2000&quot; install over my existing install.

After applying a critical update everything seemed fine. Except, IE6 was running at 56-bit cipher. Going to Windows Update showed no pending updates required. Weird.

Fortunately I have SP1 and SP2 on CD so I re-installed them. IE6 is back to 128-bit cipher.

The good news is that MSN Messenger will run now (though I did get the Windows Installer pop up again but, after holding my breath, MSN did run. Whew.

Checking my WinVer, I'm running SP2 but Windows Update doesn't give me the option to install SP3. Odd. Anyway, found SP3 and am downloading it now.

Where does Windows put a log file on my computer that makes it think SP3 is already installed?

 

[Accessdabbler]

LOL, tried to install SP3 but it gave me some error (I didn't write it down, I was too busy crying/laughing). According to WinVer, I'm running SP2.

Oh man my head hurts.

The good news is that I really need a new HD (running low). Now would be a REAL good time to get one.

 

[Tracey]

thats what my system says too, and i have available service packs and hotfixes applied.

interesting to note that i have NOT been messing with my windows folders lol

 

[OzDog]

Holy $h!t - sounds like you had a busy night!

Hope all is A-OK Cheers,
Sam

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