I lost my original desktop configuration.
I lost my original desktop configuration.
Hey guys, just turned on my PC and noticed a fresh Windows desktop. Right away I saw something was wrong—the icon looked much larger than usual, and the desktop loaded a brand new Microsoft Edge setup screen. Even after restarting, the same issue persisted. I didn’t find any way to skip the MS Edge setup, so I had to go through it. Later I realized my folders are missing from the Windows desktop, and when I open Chrome I can’t see the different Chrome profiles I used before. It feels like a completely new Windows setup. Any suggestions on how to restore things to how they were before?
This occurs when a user's profile becomes damaged, prompting Windows to generate a new temporary profile each time the system boots. In such cases, you must remove the existing profile and allow Windows to create a new one.
But is that the path I should take to select the 'Local Account' choice and then, will this approach restore access to my previous desktop so I can copy all desktop directories?
So the problem is recurring once more, but this time the steps in the link aren’t functioning properly. I also attempted these directions online, but they didn’t resolve the issue. After signing in with the new account, I encounter this initial message, close it, and then view the second screenshot below—any further assistance would be appreciated?
Option 1:
If your original account is saved under C:\Users\YourOriginalUsername, it’s likely just a matter of adjusting certain system settings to regain access. You might want to edit the registry to instruct Windows to use your original profile again. Here’s how:
Log into the temporary profile that Windows is currently loading.
Open the Registry Editor:
Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to the Profile List folder in the Registry Editor.
In the Registry Editor, go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
Find Your Original Profile:
Within the ProfileList folder, you’ll see multiple entries with lengthy alphanumeric codes (such as S-1-5-21-xxxxxxxxxx).
Scan these to locate the one matching your original profile.
If your profile is damaged, it often ends with a .bak extension (e.g., S-1-5-21-xxxxxx.bak).
Rename Keys (If .bak Exists):
If you spot an entry ending with .bak,
right-click that entry without the .bak and select Rename.
Append .old to the end of that name (e.g., S-1-5-21-xxxxxx.old).
This effectively restores the original profile for use.
Check the ProfilePath Key:
Select the entry linked to your original account.
In the right pane, verify the ProfileImagePath points to C:\Users\YourOriginalUsername.
Close the Registry Editor and restart your computer.
Once restarted, Windows should automatically log you back into your original profile.