How do I recreate the Default User account in Windows Vista?

ASKER

How will that impact the data on my pc? It's been a few days since I deleted it and there are new data files I've created and saved since then.

System restore wont remove data. another option is to make a copy of another account and rename it 'default user'.
Richi

ASKER

I'll try it. I'll copy the Public folder. Will the folder name be 'Default' or 'Default User'? What do I need to name the folders inside such as Pictures, Music, etc? Currently these are Public Pictures and Public Music.

ASKER

I just checked on the system restore and I have no restore points. I also can't rename the copied folder Default User. With it named Default, new profiles are not created properly. Any other ideas?

Its called "Default User".
I have attached a jpg showing contents of my df.

default-user.JPG

You may need to restart the pc, then change the folder name.

ASKER

Can you send a jpg of the folders inside the Default User so I can rename them properly?

above

Step 1: Log On as local administrator
Step 2: Right Click on My Computer or Computer in the Vista Start Menu and Click Properties
Step 3: Click Advanced Systems Settings in the Left Tool Bar
Step 4: Click the Settings Button located in the User Profiles Grouping
Step 5: Create a folder named Default in the User's folder on your C: Drive
Step 6: Select a profile other than the one you logged in as, and click the copy to button
Step 7: Click browse and navigate to the default folder you created in step 5
Step 8: Click Ok

This should successfully recreate the default user profile, and will be the profile you load when creating new users.

The default user profile in Vista is just named Default, just to be clear on that.

opps, oh yeah. sorry :(

Just making sure the OP wasn't confused haha

ASKER

OK. Trying to follow your steps here's what I get:

Step1-Step4 are good.

Step5 - When I click on Settings a User Profiles window pops up. From here I added a folder through Windows Explorer in my Users folder called Default.
Step6 - Back to the User Profiles window from Step5 the only profile listed is the one I am signed in under and when I highlight it the option to Copy to is grayed out.

I am logged in as the Administrator.

Do you have another user account already created on the computer??

If not make a copy of your administrator folder, and call it default, then make its attributes hidden.

ASKER

I have Public. Will this work? If not I'll copy my Admin account. Will I have to delete my data in the new account created?

Copy your admin folder. After you copy it, make sure there are no documents in it, or anything on the desktop. If there are, then you will be adding them to all of your new users.

"I just checked on the system restore and I have no restore points. I also can't rename the copied folder Default User. With it named Default, new profiles are not created properly. Any other ideas?"
It seems you were here a while ago... What do you mean by there not created properly?

ASKER

The user folder was not created so I was unable to logon. I kept getting an error message that "Windows User Service...". When I looked under User, there was no folder for the user I created.

I had only copied the Public folder and renamed it Default. I'll try copying the admin folder and, clearing the data and hiding the attributes.

If that still does not work, put the Windows Vista DVD in, and Repair the Windows Installation. You will not loose any data doing a repair, it will simply fix any errors you may be experiencing.

ASKER

Copying did not work. I'll have to do the repair. If my data is good, will I lose any programs or system/security updates that have been recently installed?

You wont lose programs but you may lose a few microsoft updates.

richijenkin is correct, the only thing you may lose are a few updates.

ASKER

There is no repair option. I have a bootable sector on my HD and a restore disk that came with my PC. Both only give options to restore from a specific point or restore to factory defaults. No options to repair. I'm running Vista Ultimate. What can I do? Is there a repair within the OS somewhere?

You need to obtain a copy of the Windows Vista Ultimate Disc, and use that to do the repair.

ASKER

Is the repair option only available after I select restore? Once I saw there was no repair option on the initial screens I stopped. I didn't want to enter restore and risk losing everything.

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ASKER

It's an HP. My wife has a Vista Home machine that came with an upgrade copy of Ultimate. It says it is for 32-bit. My version is 64-bit. I'm guessing I can't use it correct?

That would be correct. You might be able to find a copy of the x64 version on the internet if you look hard enough.

ASKER

I'm gonna do without. Not ideal, but I'll just have to manage without the ability to create additional user id's for sign-on. I appreciate all the help.