[Stefan1]

After being prompted to update AVG Anti-Virus by restarting, it took my computer forever to restart and now that it has it's deleted everything. The installed programs are still there but my files, internet history, etc missing. It's actually not deleted, but my files are stored under another username or something, but I only sign in with on with one username. I have no idea what's going on. I tried a System Restore, but no restore points have been made.

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Before doing any of the following, make a backup of your registry. I suggest you install ERUNT to do this.

As you said, your files are still there. Sounds like your user profile has lost it's connection with where it's data is stored. If you are comfortable with using regedit, try this by booting to Safe Mode by pressing F8 during boot. Login as Administrator, no password.

The key is a registry hack that redirects Windows back to the ProfileImagePath of the original profile.

Click on Start then Run. type <font color=red]regedit</font] and press Enter or click OK.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

Once there, you will see the SID's listed for all of the profiles on the machine. Within the Key for each SID there is an entry called "ProfileImagePath" that will look like

%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\UserName...

Scroll through the SID's until you find the one with the screwy name, like

%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\youruserid.2

This is just an example, could be something else weird.

Just edit the Key to remove the ".2", and it will point the user back to their old profile...

Got this from TechRepublic.com

Also some excellent information here: http://www.lockergno...p-user-profile/

[Ztruker]

Before doing any of the following, make a backup of your registry. I suggest you install ERUNT to do this.

As you said, your files are still there. Sounds like your user profile has lost it's connection with where it's data is stored. If you are comfortable with using regedit, try this by booting to Safe Mode by pressing F8 during boot. Login as Administrator, no password.

The key is a registry hack that redirects Windows back to the ProfileImagePath of the original profile.

Click on Start then Run. type <font color=red]regedit</font] and press Enter or click OK.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

Once there, you will see the SID's listed for all of the profiles on the machine. Within the Key for each SID there is an entry called "ProfileImagePath" that will look like

%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\UserName...

Scroll through the SID's until you find the one with the screwy name, like

%SystemDrive%\Documents and Settings\youruserid.2

This is just an example, could be something else weird.

Just edit the Key to remove the ".2", and it will point the user back to their old profile...

Got this from TechRepublic.com

Also some excellent information here: http://www.lockergno...p-user-profile/

[Stefan1]

Does this work for Windows 7?

[Ztruker]

I have not tried it on Win 7 as I've never had the need, but the registry structure is the same so it should work. You can certainly look at the registry keys under ProfileList and see if any look screwy.

Make sure you backup the registry before doing this by starting regedit, click on Computer then File / Export or, since you are only changing on key, just export the ProfileList key then make the change.