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Windows XP won't load my personal settings ; what can I do to fix this ?
At start-up I receive a message stating Windows can't load my personal profile settings. It will load normally, but it's as if I just took my computer out of the box and plugged it in. Everything is like day one to me, asks me to register, take a XP tour , Dell survey etc. etc. I have the generic DELL desktop, and Windows screen saver.
When I go online all my favorites are no longer there and I get prompt if I want to use yahoo as my homepage.
This happens every time now and im growing frustrated.
Can somebody suggest a course of action before I spend hundreds of dollars buying a new CPU.
DELL Dimension 4600, WINDOWS XP(HOME) with SP2
5 Answers
- Daryl SLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
Whenever a user logs into the computer, it creates a profile for that user. If a user is logging in for the first time, he is given the default profile. What happened was that your profile became corrupted (damaged). It is not uncommon for that to happen. Your old profile is still there, however. It is in a folder DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS > USERNAME (username being whatever the name is that you log in under). If you open that folder and you have set your folders to display hidden files and folders (CONTROL PANEL > FOLDER OPTIONS > VIEW > SHOW HIDDEN FILES AND FOLDERS) then you will see the folder for favorites, cookies, desktop, etc. You can actually copy and paste these into the profile that you are using now (which can also be found in Documents and Settings). Hope this helps and don't buy another computer over this. It isn't a hardware problem.
- JavLv 51 decade ago
Not loading your personal settings is typical when your Windows system has not been activated, or at least not correctly. If you already did this by yourself and already passed up the trial period, your OS might need a repair from the installation CD. You can ask for help in the computer/electronics store where you bought it, so it's unnecessary to buy a new one, as you just don't buy a new car every time it runs out of gasoline.
- Anonymous5 years ago
You probably have a virus or a trojan horse that attacked your Windows. Since you cant get into Windows you would have to run Windows in safe mode and then run a anti-virus software and scan your computer from there. To run Windows in safe mode, you would have to press F8 when the computer starts, just press F8. Do this before you even see the Windows Logo.
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- 1 decade ago
That's odd that it repeats itself. Either way your settings will have to be re set. You will probably have to re-install windows XP on your computer. You can try to "repair" your existing copy by booting from the Windows XP, pressing enter to install when ready. Press F8 when it asks you to agree to the license, after this step it will ask you if you want to Repair your copy of windows. Do so by pressing R. This should save your programs, and maybe even your settings depending on if they are still un-corrupt)
Hope this helps!!
PS DO NOT BUY A NEW COMPUTER! This one still works fine!!
