User no longer appears in user accounts (XP Home)

[harris79]

I was trying to give different security permissions to different users via run > control userpasswords2 and I managed to mess up 1 user. Now the user doesn't appear in the welcome screen, in the user accounts or even in tweak UI.

This is clearly the same problem described in thread779-1022090, which I wish I had read first

However if I press ctrl-alt-del twice I get to the classic login screen where I can use the username and password to get in. If I then go to user accounts it says the user is a guest.

I have tried using lusrmgr.msc but this not available in XP home.

Luckily the account I messed up is my own and is not an administrator , but anyone has any advise how the get the account back to normal I would be grateful.

Steve

Steve

 

[linney]

Does the Guest have a folder in Documents and Settings, and does that or any other folder there have your lost user files?

See "To copy a user profile" in Help and Support.

811151 - How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

You may need to read this MSKB and be aware that changing any Access Permissions (Security tab) is done via Safe Mode in XP Home.

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP (Q308421)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q308/4/21.asp

 

[bcastner]

If you used control userpasswors2 to manage user accounts in XP Home it is possible to assign the user to Groups that are not native to XP Home, such as Power User.

XP Home will not enumerate groups that it does not support, such as Power User.

That is why the use of control userpassword2 is unsupported under XP Home, or as the MSDN Library states:

When you use Start / Run / control userpasswords2 / OK to add a user in Windows XP Home Edition, you receive errors similar to:

The user could not be added because the following error has occurred, The group name could not be found: When creating a new user and make it member of the 'Power Users' group.

The group membership for <ComputerName\UserName> could not be updated : When updating an existing user, adding him to the 'Power Users group'.

DO NOT use the Userpasswords2 applet to add or modify users in Windows XP Home Edition. This tool is reserved for Windows XP Professional Edition.

The Userpasswords2 applet allows access to the Power Users group which is NOT a built-in group in Windows XP Home Edition.

To add or edit a user in Windows XP Home Edition, use Control Panel / User Accounts, which does NOT show the Power Users group.

The only "workaround/fix" is to create another user, and copy the older user profile. Do not use the older username as it still exists in your now corrupted SAM database. Follow these instructions:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

It would require a clean install of XP Home to remedy this problem completely.

And stop using Control Userpasswords2 as an account manager in XP Home.

.

 

[harris79]

Thanks for the advise.

Linney, I haven't lost any files, once I log in I can see all my files etc.

Bcaster, I found this knowledgebase artice when I was googling for the problem, ironically however

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315231

suggests the use of "control userpasswords2" in XP Home, albeit not for this particular issue. It seems as if MS are not really sure if it should be used or not!

However as it is my account and everything within it seems to work properly, I think I'll just leave it as it is. I never really liked the welcome screen anyway, but the wife and kids do. So it looks like everyone is happy(ish).

Steve

 

[bcastner]

You can use it for setting Autologon.
You can safely use it for Passport issues.

Nothing elese. In particular, you damage the SAM if you use the user and group management aspects of the utility as you have.

Its use under XP Home is unsupported. I am sure you can find and article in the KB that will list Home inappropriately at the bottom. I have found articles were Home was listed where the KB was discussing purely domain issues; or where the Simple File Sharing model was not being used.

Even linney messes up the Home vs. Pro distinction regularly.