Re: MSN Dial Up Wiped Out Mysteriously

Sounds like the profile may be corrupt. You may see something like;

C:\Documents and Settings\user000
C:\Documents and Settings\user

If the profile is corrupt, you can rename the profile(while logged on as
local admin), then when the user logs on again a new profile will be created
from the image in \default user. You can then copy over the items you need
from the renamed profile. Copy the folder contents not the folders
themselves. When your sure you have all you need, you can delete the renamed
profile(s). Use the import function of your e-mail software. Don't overwrite
ntuser.dat

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Head in the clouds" wrote:
| Home, stand-alone Dell Dimension 4100 with ~700 Mhz processor & 40 Gig
hard
| drive, 52 dial-up modem to MSN ISP. Spybot-cleaned & Windows Updates fully
| up-to-date. Early warning signs? About 10 days ago my desktop icons,
1-click
| icons & tray icons began occassionally blinking & winking w/o apparent
cause.
| Couple days later Opera browser (latest non-Beta version) wouldn't
bookmark
| from menu bar, only shortcut menu. Last shut down prior to incident
produced
| "program not responding" -- had to use power button to shut down.
|
| Upon next
| start up my complete Network & Dial Up folder contents were missing.
| Unable
| to access Internet now.
|
| Other symptoms:
| --Internet Connection Wizard
| "Country/region" selection box in 3rd step blank. Clicking on it ends
Wizard
| set-up w/message box "icwconn1.exe has generated errors and will be closed
by
| Windows. You will need to restart the program. An error log is being
| created." Impossible to re-create an Internet Connection using Wizard
| (selecting manual/LAN).
| --Clicking on Search/Files & Folders from Start menu
| produces nothing -- no response.
| --Clicking on Add/Remove Programs from Start
| Menu produces only blank/empty box. May be unable to add/remove
| programs.
| --Got an "Error 711: Remote Access Dialer will not start" notice
| when trying to do something (forget what). When I looked up error 711 in
help
| manual, it wouldn't show page!
| --Dial Up/Download program/page on one of my
| applications appears completely wiped out
| --Missing programs are not in
| Recycle Bin or anywhere else on drive (C), desktop, My Computer, etc.
|
| I had
| just run an up-to-date Spybot and installed the latest security pack from
| MSN/Windows Update on the 12th. All was operating well and normally. And
then
| had the trouble shutting down and, upon later powering up found all these
| problems.
|
| I tried a few soft & hard reboots to no effect. Re-ran Spybot,
| which found no problems. I ran a disk scan/check from Windows Explorer,
both
| automatic and thorough, and it did not find any problems or restore the
Dial
| Up contents or fix other symptoms above.
|
| I am totally perplexed. Am I victim
| of a voltage spike from t-storms over the last 10 days (I do have/use a
spike
| protector strip.)? Virus that snuck past Spybot/Windows Update? I haven't
| opened any unscanned email attachments or downloaded any questionable
| software.
|
| I'm a bit afraid to try an emergency repair (disc) or a reload of
| Windows 2000 for fear of losing files, folders, and favorites.
|
| Any
| suggestions/ideas/fixes would be greatly appreciated Oh Gods of the Ether.
| Thanks.


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