how to restore an account unknown settings in Windows XP Pro
I installed a new Windows 2003 standard server as a PDC. I used to have a Windows NT server PDC, but have replaced that. I am using active directory on the Windows 2003 server and i created the same domain name as what my old Windows NT PDC server had to keep everything simple.
Now my Windows XP clients, when they log into the domain, which is the domain of the new Windows 2003 PDC server, when the desktop comes up in Windows XP, ALL my settings, documents, etc are gone. It acts like I have a brand new user name, which I don't have. All the user names are the same as the old server, the only thing that changed was the server. Not even the domain name changed as I kept that the same. I do see if i go into the properties of my computer on an XP pro client, and go to advances to see the profiles, I see there is Account Unknown with a data size of 353mb. I believe that is where all my documents, settings, shorcuts, etc are at. How do I retrieve that so I can use them again and not have to reset everything up and lose all my settings and documents? I looked in the C:\Documents and Settings and all I see for a folder for example is Steve.BUISINESS. I do see a STEVE folder as well, but I don't see my documents in there. Please let me know how I can retrieve my old settings and documents on my XP clients. thanks!
Now my Windows XP clients, when they log into the domain, which is the domain of the new Windows 2003 PDC server, when the desktop comes up in Windows XP, ALL my settings, documents, etc are gone. It acts like I have a brand new user name, which I don't have. All the user names are the same as the old server, the only thing that changed was the server. Not even the domain name changed as I kept that the same. I do see if i go into the properties of my computer on an XP pro client, and go to advances to see the profiles, I see there is Account Unknown with a data size of 353mb. I believe that is where all my documents, settings, shorcuts, etc are at. How do I retrieve that so I can use them again and not have to reset everything up and lose all my settings and documents? I looked in the C:\Documents and Settings and all I see for a folder for example is Steve.BUISINESS. I do see a STEVE folder as well, but I don't see my documents in there. Please let me know how I can retrieve my old settings and documents on my XP clients. thanks!
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Ah i forgot, have a look into the directories in "Documents and Settings" and try to figure out, in which folder your old files are, but i guess they are in the directory "Steve", because it was the old profile directory.
ASKER
where is the ntuser.dat file? is that somewhere in the steve folder which is under documents and settings or is it somewhere else? Also no other directories or anything to be copied like in c:\windows or anything?
No, only the profile directories have to completely copied after changing or upgrading the domain controller.
The ntuser.dat file exists in every profile directory, in "Steve" and "Steve.BUSINESS", too. But, you have to be logged on as Local administrator to copy the whole directories including ntuser.dat properly, otherwise the ntuser.dat file is locked and cannot be copied.
The ntuser.dat file exists in every profile directory, in "Steve" and "Steve.BUSINESS", too. But, you have to be logged on as Local administrator to copy the whole directories including ntuser.dat properly, otherwise the ntuser.dat file is locked and cannot be copied.
ASKER
that worked perfectly and all is back to normal. Thanks a ton!!!!
No prob. ;)