After reboot, looks like brand new install?

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My mom called last night (I haven't yet looked at her computer, trying
to get some info before I head over there later in the week).

She said that she rebooted, since her printer queue was backed up.

When she restarted, she said it looked like a brand new install of
XP. Said Welcome to Windows XP. She has lost some icons on the
desktop. she said that she was not asked for a new username though.
And said her incredimail, had to be reset up and that it wouldn't take
the new setup, that it was temporary. She said she called Charter and
they helped her get that going. But appears to have lost her address
book.

I don't know what her file structure looks like, to see if she
actually did lose files in the my computer area (if her username did/
did not change)

Any ideas of what might have happened. And what I might do to see if
files are indeed gone, or just under another user? (I'll be cheking
user accounts to see what that shows).

She is ok computer savvy (69 years old), and usually just does
spreadsheets, or documents, and then surfs and email. Nothing
spectacular.

Thanks
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: After reboot, looks like brand new install?
    ... There are a few fixes, but keep in mind Windows is now using a temporary profile every time the machine starts, so if she's reconfigured her email and such, and reboots, that configuration will be lost and she'll be back to square one. ... I had her check user accounts: ... she said that she was not asked for a new username though. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: After reboot, looks like brand new install?
    ... I had her check user accounts: ...  But appears to have lost her address ... actually did lose files in the my computer area (if her username did/ ...   Nothing ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: After reboot, looks like brand new install?
    ... data is in the old account folders. ...  But appears to have lost her address ... actually did lose files in the my computer area (if her username did/ ...   Nothing ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics)
  • Re: Unable to view the username and password at the logon
    ... If it is XP Pro, you can hit CTL-ALT-DEL twice there and get a screen to ... and make sure the box 'Users must give a Username' is checked. ... User accounts, select 'change the way users logon' and uncheck 'use ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Att:>MALKE-Winlogon
    ... If you are getting an error that the password or username is incorrect, then the password or username is incorrect. ... Go to the User Accounts Applet and look at the user name. ... So that's your first step - check that you have the correct username entered in the Automatic Logon. ... If the usernames match, then go to the User Accounts applet and change your password. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)