Re: User Login creating new account named [username].[computername]

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From: Oli Restorick [MVP] (oli_at_mvps.org)
Date: 08/01/04 

Date: Sun, 1 Aug 2004 15:47:58 +0100

Hi

First off, let's get a bit of terminology straight. The folders you are
seeing under Documents and Settings are profiles, not accounts. No new
accouunts are being created.

When a user logs in, the system checks to see if the user has logged in
previously and already has a profile directory. This is done by matching
the SID (a long number uniquely representing the user) to a list of profile
directories already stored on the system. This list is stored in the
following location in the registry.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

If the system thinks the user has never logged in before and therefore
doesn't have an existing profile, it will create a new one. First, it will
try a folder with the same name as the user (e.g. "Billy"). If this already
exists, it will try appending a . and the computer name or domain.
Subsequently, numbers are appended to create a unique name.

I'm not sure why your users would have become disassociated with their
profiles (I've never seen it happen, for example), but some registry changes
or fiddling with folder permissions could have been the cause.

The registry key above might provide some userful information. I really
wouldn't go changing stuff in there, though, unless you're very sure that
your change will work and then only after having taken a full backup.

Regards

Oli

"AdkRebel" <AdkRebel@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:D0F529A8-D9AC-4F28-AD0B-9F908858CD68@microsoft.com...
> First post here so forgive the ignorance.
>
> I use Windows 2000 Pro on my home computer to manage my kids accounts and
> grant or deny them permissions. I got tired of repairing things they
> would mess up.
>
> Anyway, two days ago, they complained to me that everything was lost when
> they logged in. Documents, settings, favorites, everything. Going into
> windows explorer, I see three new users listed, one for each one of the
> users having problems. They are labeled with their user name appended
> with ".[computername]" For an example, it looks like Billy.Adkredneck
> where Adkredneck is the computer name.
>
> When they log in, they get the basic windows opening screen complete with
> the box where you can register windoes, etcc
>
> I've deleted these new users and when trying to log in under their user
> name and password, it creates the new account all over. Their original
> user names and folders are all there, complete with their documents and
> settings.
>
> Any idea what's going on and how this can be corrected.
>
> BTW, I'm self-teaching on Windows 2000, kind of a shade-tree computer
> mechanic.
>
> Thanks,
> Rich

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