xp corrupted user profile

[KDLA]

During the boot of my HP laptop this morning, I got a message saying that my user profile had been corrupted, and could not be loaded. I've created another, but really need to access the Outlook Express email folders that I had under the previous account (I've transferred all the "My Documents" to the new profile.) How do I do that?

Also, does anyone know why the profile became corrupted? Can it be restored?
I ran a virus scan and nothing was found. Also, I cleaned the registry, but that didn't fix things either.

The error I got (before repairing the HIVE using an MS fix) was that the profile was corrupted due to an i/o error. The error I get know is that I don't have the system resources to open the profile -- even though I keep the registry pretty clean and have 2/3 of my hard drive free.

Thanks,
KDLA

[Major Payne]

Did you try logging in as Administrator and moving dbx files to new profile email folder? You must have admin priviledges to access all files. Might try it in safe mode, if this doesn't work.

Files get corrupted in all kinds of ways. Was there a chance your PC shut down before all your settings were saved. People like to hit the power off button too soon. Might do a scan disk (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=315265) on bootup too. Here's some good info on IE/OE repair:

Repair or Reinstall Internet Explorer6 and Outlook Express 6 (http://www.theeldergeek.com/repair_reinstall_ie_and_oe_6.htm)

If you think you need to do a repair of Win XP:

How to Repair Windows XP (http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=138&hl=start/run+commands)

Have you got auto restore on? You could try restoring your PC back to a date where all was good.

HTH,

Ron

[KDLA]

Hi, Ron -
Thanks for the info. I did have auto restore on, but I couldn't use the date in time because I had changed several files/folders right after that in Outlook. I was afraid the Restore would delete this data before I could access it.

I've looked for the .dbx file but cannot locate it. It may be hidden somewhere odd -- when I created the new user admin account, it started hiding all my folders again. It's taking a while to find things.

[Major Payne]

The main thing is to log into the admin account in safe mode and do a search for all files using *.dbx for all drives you may have stored these on. You have to have admin priviledges to get into other files/folders as each user's files/folders is protected Usually the file extensions aren't hidden for Outlook Express or Outlook. Just system files.

Let me know how it goes.

Ron

[KDLA]

Thanks, again -
I was able to find the files once I enabled the search to look in the hidden files, also.
I'm not sure what happened, but my computer's not been the same since, even after cleaning the registry, repairing the HIVE, checking for viruses/spyware, defragmenting, and removing several programs.
(I think it MAY be due to a Windows Update, but I can't be for sure. I just remember the little yellow shield saying I had updates waiting right before all this happened.)
The problem occurs usually five minutes after I've gotten on, things start freezing up. I'm often on the Internet when this happens; I've reinstalled Fx three times, but that doesn't seem to be it. I've tried optimizing the RAM, but that doesn't always help, either.
Any ideas?

[aj_nsc]

Backup all files and FORMAT

[Major Payne]

Thanks, again -
I was able to find the files once I enabled the search to look in the hidden files, also.Hi:
Knew I forgot to mention to do this. :o Freezing can be caused by several things. Even overheating. Some updates have been know to cause this, too. Can you look up the updates by name which were installed around the time your freezing problems started? Just tick the box to show updates in the Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel. There are some that need to be uninstalled, but I'll have to track down which ones again.

I am usually on GeekstoGo.com where a lot of people have had similar problems. GTG has a very good Malware section, too, that will make sure you are clean. Not all the checks using the apps mentioned will find or clean Malware.

[bathurst_guy]

I think outlook express stores its stuff in C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Application Data\Microsoft\Outlook Express or somewhere around there in hidden files.

[Ness_du_Frat]

Maybe it's a stupid idea, but try a system scan with something like Norton System Works or something similar.
Try a disk defragmentation, disk scan, registry scan.
I've never heard of such an error, even when you shut down your computer right in the middle of something. The only real problem can happen if the computer crashed while it's writing really important data. Then, it won't start...
I'm not much help, sorry :( I hope you can get your settings and personal folders back. I would do a backup of the settings and personal folders in safe mod, logged in as an admin. Other than that... nothing much.

[KDLA]

Thanks, everyone. The information was very helpful. I got it up and running, again, only losing a few outlook emails.

I think I've got it isolated -- it's either an outdated video driver (effecting the laptop when in stand by mode), or not enough RAM (512 right now).

Fx, with all my extensions running and with multiple tabs open, cripples my poor little laptop - even using it in Safe Mode taxes the machine. It, with a couple of added programs like Fireworks and Notepad ++ opened, causes a lock up. Hopefully the increase in RAM (I'll probably add 1GB + 256MB to the 512) will help with that.

:)
KDLA

[Ness_du_Frat]

If you have 512 MRam and Win XP, I don't see where the problems lies, except if you have something like a 266Mhz processor...
I've been running Win XP Pro with Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Win media player, eMule, word, iexplorer, firefox, opera and outlook running at the same time (sometimes with Illustrator as well) on my 512 MRam Pentium 2.4Ghz, and I've never encountered any problem...
Now, I added 512 MRam, but it was only to do some filters on HUGE photoshop files (talking about 7000x5000 px files with 30 layers, here).
Anyway, I'm glad you could fix it !