Question Lost my original desktop setup

[mikehende]

Hey guys, I just turned on my pc and now seeing a new windows desktop. I saw something was up immediately when turning on the pc, the icon was a lot bigger showing this:

https://i.postimg.cc/SQC1ycvH/IMG-5379.jpg

and when the desktop loaded it immediately showed a new Microsoft Edge setup screen.

I restarted the pc but same deal. I didn't notice any option to bypass that MS Edge setup so I had to complete it. Then I saw the Windows desktop but my folders is now missing and when I open Chrome, I am not seeing the different chrome 'Profiles' I had all this time.

So it's like a new windows setup, anything I can do to get back my pc as I had it before this please?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

This will happen when a user's profile has become corrupted, Windows will create a new temporary profile (New one on every boot). When this happens you have no choice but to delete the old profile and let Windows create a fresh one.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...ndows-10/cad9b914-03eb-4e6e-b568-7dc66c1331f4

 

[mikehende]

This will happen when a user's profile has become corrupted, Windows will create a new temporary profile (New one on every boot). When this happens you have no choice but to delete the old profile and let Windows create a fresh one.
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...ndows-10/cad9b914-03eb-4e6e-b568-7dc66c1331f4

Thanks, I am trying but I am not see these options, maybe they might be outdated? What I am gathering is I should select "Local Account" instead of Microsoft Account option, is this correct please?

1. Press Windows + R keys to open the "Run" window;
2. Copy and paste the command

netplwiz

and press ok;

3. Click on the "Add" option;
4. Select the option "Do not sign in to a Microsoft account";
5. Choose a name and password for this profile and then proceed;
6. After the new profile is created, go back to the "User Accounts" screen, click on your user and then on "Properties". Select the "Group Membership" tab;
7. Mark the profile as Administrator and click on Ok;
8. Login with the new account;

 

[ex_bubblehead]

The provided link is just an example. You will have to adjust as necessary.

 

[mikehende]

The provided link is just an example. You will have to adjust as necessary.

But is that the direction I will need to go to choose the 'Local Account' option and next question please, will this method give me back access to my old desktop so I will be able to copy all desktop folders?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

The procedure as linked works when followed to the letter. If it doesn't work for you then you'll have to search out a different one more suited to your specific situation. There is no single solution to this problem.

 

[mikehende]

The procedure as linked works when followed to the letter. If it doesn't work for you then you'll have to search out a different one more suited to your specific situation. There is no single solution to this problem.

Hey, worked like a charm, was easy enough, THANK YOU!!

 

[mikehende]

The procedure as linked works when followed to the letter. If it doesn't work for you then you'll have to search out a different one more suited to your specific situation. There is no single solution to this problem.

So the issue is back again but this time the procedure in the link does not work. I then tried these instructions below from the net but that too does not work. When I sign into the new account I see this first prompt so I close it then see the 2nd screenshot below, anything else please?

Option 1:​

If your original account is listed in C:\Users\YourOriginalUsername, there’s a good chance it’s just a matter of fixing some system settings to get you logged back in. You can try modifying the registry to tell Windows to use your original profile again.

Here’s how:​

1. Log into the temporary profile that Windows is loading now.
2. Open the Registry Editor:
   
   • Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
3. Navigate to the Profile List in the Registry Editor:
   
   • In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:
     
     
     CopyEdit
     <span><span>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList<br></span></span>
4. Find Your Original Profile:
   
   • Under the ProfileList folder, you’ll see a bunch of entries with long alphanumeric strings (like S-1-5-21-xxxxxxxxxx).
   • Look through these to find the one that corresponds to your original profile.
     
     • If your profile is corrupted, it will often have a .bak at the end of the string (e.g., S-1-5-21-xxxxxx.bak).
5. Rename Keys (If .bak Exists):
   
   • If you see an entry with .bak at the end, right-click on the entry without .bak and choose Rename. Add .old to the end of that entry (e.g., S-1-5-21-xxxxxx.old).
   • Now, right-click the entry with .bak and rename it to remove the .bak (e.g., S-1-5-21-xxxxxx).
   • This essentially switches the original profile back into active use.
6. Check the ProfilePath Key:
   
   • Click on the entry that corresponds to your original account.
   • In the right pane, look for the ProfileImagePath entry.
   • Make sure it points to the correct location: C:\Users\YourOriginalUsername.
7. Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC.

After your PC restarts, Windows should log you into your original profile again.