XP Service pack 2 nightmare

[PCVirgin]

Scenario:

I had a Dell Laptop in perfectly good working order and I was prompted to install XP SP2. Once installed the machine went into meltdown. Nothing worked, so I tried to uninstall SP2. This only half worked. I went into panic mode (and before you say why not just restore, I forgot)and reinstalled SP1. Success, well partially. The machine now works but I am classed as a new user and not the same person as before according to XP. All my emails, files and folders from before are 'deleted'. I can find some of the software loaded but not all of it works.

I used a recovery tool to 'find' and restore some of the deleted data. Ok so far. My problem is I can retrieve the data but some of the software is still not working ie CD writer.

Some of the windows settings arent right also.

How can I get all my settings back to normal and make the machine think its the old me and not the new me?

 

[gpalmer711]

Your old user files and setting should still be on the machine.

Take a look at the following and see if it helps.

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

Greg Palmer
Free Software for Adminstrators

http://www.palmersoft.co.uk

 

[PCVirgin]

I couldnt do that because the old identity is 'hidden' and therefore not part of the identities to copy. If I try to recovery it where would I recover it to?

Also I have emails from the old identity that I want to recover. Do you know what folder the Microsoft Outlook emails live in?

Also my factory installed cd writer no longer works, do you know how I can find the driver/DLLs for it?

 

[Stevehewitt]

Don't suppose your backed up?

Sounds like a good old formatting and reinstall should sort it out!

 

[Wxguesser]

Did you have system restore turned on before the SP1 reinstall? If so just go back to that point and see what needs to be done from there. At least you should be able to log in as your old you and then it could be determined what fixes need to be done.
As far as Outlook and its email files, do a search for .msg files. That is the format Outlook saves emails in. The search should point you to the correct folder(s).

If that is not a viable solution, you may have to take Steve's advice and do the format reinstall thing.

If you purchased the Dell new, you should have received the CD's necessary to do a complete reinstall or at least the backup files on the harddrive that allows you to make a copy of the reinstall files. If not, you will have to contact Dell to get the driver files you need for the reinstall. They may also have some solutions to your problem as well.

Just my .02

Jim W.