Windows XP

C

ChrisB

I have a problem with Outlook 2003 which I have been told might be fixed by
setting up a new Windows Profile.

I need some advice on this.

I am currently (incorrectly I know) using the Administrator Profile. When I
go to set up a new User it prompts me that I need to set up an Administrator
before I can do this! I am logged on as Administrator - the only profile
that I have. I did briefly set up another Admin Profile but the original
one disappeared - which could be normal activity - and I wasn't sure how to
get all my programs back correctly without losing anything so I did a System
Restore to a previous date and am hoping to get some advice on how best to
resolve this without losing any work!

I believe it's possible that the Administrator Profile is damaged.

I hope someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks

Chris
 
R

relic

ChrisB said:
I have a problem with Outlook 2003 which I have been told might be
fixed by setting up a new Windows Profile.

I need some advice on this.

I am currently (incorrectly I know) using the Administrator Profile. When
I go to set up a new User it prompts me that I need to set up an
Administrator before I can do this! I am logged on as Administrator
- the only profile that I have. I did briefly set up another Admin
Profile but the original one disappeared - which could be normal
activity - and I wasn't sure how to get all my programs back
correctly without losing anything so I did a System Restore to a
previous date and am hoping to get some advice on how best to resolve
this without losing any work!
I believe it's possible that the Administrator Profile is damaged.

I hope someone can point me in the right direction.
Click to expand...

Just do a clean install.
 
C

ChrisB

Clean install of what? Windows or Outlook?

I wasn't that keen to completely reinstall Windows unless I had to - would
that not mean reinstalling everything again?

I am familiar with reinstalling Win98 - but can I just reinstall WinXP over
the top of current installations?
 
C

ChrisB

On thinking about it, I guess you must mean clean install of Windows.

Would appreciate your help with this. If possible, I don't want to start
from scratch as I have so much on my laptop and it will take a lot of work
to get it all back on.

The problem I have with Outlook is a relatively minor one - but irritating
enough to want to sort it out - even if it does mean reinstalling Windows
again!

And I am concerned that my Administators account does not appear to be
behaving normally - which I guess will cause me problems eventually.

Regards

Chris
ChrisB said:
Clean install of what? Windows or Outlook?

I wasn't that keen to completely reinstall Windows unless I had to - would
that not mean reinstalling everything again?

I am familiar with reinstalling Win98 - but can I just reinstall WinXP
over the top of current installations?
Click to expand...
 
R

relic

ChrisB said:
On thinking about it, I guess you must mean clean install of Windows.

Would appreciate your help with this. If possible, I don't want to
start from scratch as I have so much on my laptop and it will take a
lot of work to get it all back on.

The problem I have with Outlook is a relatively minor one - but
irritating enough to want to sort it out - even if it does mean
reinstalling Windows again!

And I am concerned that my Administators account does not appear to be
behaving normally - which I guess will cause me problems eventually.

Regards

Chris
Click to expand...

First, are you sure you are using the Administrator account. Boot into Safe
Mode and see if you have a second account.

If you do, use it to make a new account with Admin privileges and delete the
corrupt one.

If you don't, you can attempt to repair your installation by doing a
reinstall. When you select to install on top of the current installation it
will offer to do a "Repair" if it isn't too bad, or a re-install. Both will
need the XP Updates reinstalled, a Reinstall of XP will need most of your
applications reinstalled.
 
C

ChrisB

Thanks for this.

I am definitely using the Admin Account. I set up the laptop myself and
remember wonder if I should set up a new User and decided not to!

However, I cannot copy it or do anything with it because it won't let me and
as I said before, when I set up a new User, it asks me to set up an
Administrator first!

I have tried setting up a new Administrator but have two problems:

1. Once I have done this, I cannot see the old one at all. I have no
access to the files either - although I have got a backup. But I cannot get
to any of my programs etc.

2. I cannot delete the old one either - via any means - because it appears
not to exist!

If I do a reinstall and it all goes pear-shaped, will I be able to still do
a System Restore back to the old date?

Many thanks again for your help
 
C

ChrisB

Just as an update, I did log in as Safe Mode. I am logged in as
Administrator. However, when I go to Users and ask to set up a new User, I
am prompted that I need to set up an Administrators profile before i can do
this!

This has now become a worry for me. I am currently ignoring my original
Outlook problem as this is clearly a bigger issue.

I called Dell and spoke to their software services (which you have to pay
for). Their systems were down(!) at this time so they couldn't help - but
they did say they could fix it and were aware of the issue. I might need to
pay to get this sorted out I think. I suspect it will require a complete
reinstall.

But if anyone has come across this in the meantime, I would appreciate
feedback.

Thanks

Chris
ChrisB said:
Thanks for this.

I am definitely using the Admin Account. I set up the laptop myself and
remember wonder if I should set up a new User and decided not to!

However, I cannot copy it or do anything with it because it won't let me
and as I said before, when I set up a new User, it asks me to set up an
Administrator first!

I have tried setting up a new Administrator but have two problems:

1. Once I have done this, I cannot see the old one at all. I have no
access to the files either - although I have got a backup. But I cannot
get to any of my programs etc.

2. I cannot delete the old one either - via any means - because it
appears not to exist!

If I do a reinstall and it all goes pear-shaped, will I be able to still
do a System Restore back to the old date?

Many thanks again for your help
Click to expand...
 
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