Personal Files restoration and Users in Vista
I had to rebuild a Vista system and, in preparation, saved a bunch of doc files, etc.
After the system was rebuilt, I started with a single login name "Sally" and copied the files that had come off the original computer into a folder:
C:\Users\Sally\Sally_Data
So far so good.
Now I add a User "Tom".
But the system tells me that this User already exists and promptly shows Tom as a User!!!
Now I go to look for files under C;\Users that refer to Tom and don't see any!!
Well, there were "Tom" files included in the copy to Sally_Data so I have to figure that this is where the system found "Tom".
argggghhhh this is a brand new clean system and now it seems to be hopelessly confused already.
How to fix? Why does this happen?
After the system was rebuilt, I started with a single login name "Sally" and copied the files that had come off the original computer into a folder:
C:\Users\Sally\Sally_Data
So far so good.
Now I add a User "Tom".
But the system tells me that this User already exists and promptly shows Tom as a User!!!
Now I go to look for files under C;\Users that refer to Tom and don't see any!!
Well, there were "Tom" files included in the copy to Sally_Data so I have to figure that this is where the system found "Tom".
argggghhhh this is a brand new clean system and now it seems to be hopelessly confused already.
How to fix? Why does this happen?
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was there a user tom fodler in the ones you copied? it may have found it
ASKER
Yes, there was. "FOUND" seems dangerous but I'm sure that's what happened.
After a reboot the User/Tom files were showing but not with any of the data that was in the "found" User/Tom files.
After a reboot the User/Tom files were showing but not with any of the data that was in the "found" User/Tom files.
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ASKER
That's interesting. How does one tell which is a "SYSTEM" folder?
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ASKER
OK. So let's say that avoiding these damn things is an objective. Yet, I want to copy things like My Documents.
What is recommended practice?
What is recommended practice?
not sure about what you just want - but i'll try; correct me if i'm on the wrong track
my documents, you can copy to that folder - but avoid to copy the "my documents" folder also; i mean, i copy the contents of the folder - to avoid repetitive results
my documents, you can copy to that folder - but avoid to copy the "my documents" folder also; i mean, i copy the contents of the folder - to avoid repetitive results
ASKER
OK. It's a little bit more work but fine - that's a good suggestion. I was working at the next level up and wanting to grab just folders in their entirety.
I will say that I've had trouble copying ALL the files in a folder. Some got skipped without warning or the copy process stopped without warning. I was left with partially-filled folders and didn't know it.
Yes, I could use WinDiff and that's what I did but the process should be more reliable I should think.
I will say that I've had trouble copying ALL the files in a folder. Some got skipped without warning or the copy process stopped without warning. I was left with partially-filled folders and didn't know it.
Yes, I could use WinDiff and that's what I did but the process should be more reliable I should think.
>> Some got skipped without warning << i never had that - looks like a problem to me
ASKER
nobus: You bet it was a problem! Had to use WinDiff to sort it out. But there didn't seem to be an obvious cause. I don't maintain the computers (hardware) so I don't know the history. Maybe one failed and was replaced.
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