Deleting Profiles (.PWL)

[Paradoxdb3]

Hi everyone. It's me again...the "INTERMEDIATE" user! It seems the more I
explore Windows 98, the more I have questions I have no answers to. I've
been stuck in a Windows 98 rutt for the last 5 years or so (that is, I ALWAYS
did the same things over and over again...never really explored the operating
system's features). I finally just learned how to create profiles which
alllow each profile to have specific desktop settings and such. I have since
deleted a profile via the USER option in Control Panel and ended up
re-creating it a few times (because NOW I'm exploring, you see!).

Anyway, I've noticed that my free disk space has been getting smaller and
smaller. From about 500MB free to close to 300MB. Everytime I re-create a
user, should it overwrite the old one, or am I somehow taking up disk space
by creating, deleting and re-creating users?

I should mention that I'm a pro at reformatting my HDD but I want to avoid
doing that at all costs. How can I regain the lost MB's? By the way, I
haven't been installing new programs or anything, althought I did install an
unofficial patch for Windows 98 SE, then removed it, and then re-applied it.
But my understaning is that it would simply overwrite any files and registry
settings from before, not create new ones all together, right?

Oh, and on a totally different topic...what's with all the spam finding its
way in here? I think some of it should be removed. One link takes you to a
porn site.

 

[MEB]

"Paradoxdb3" <Paradoxdb3@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:98C19727-7E68-4062-B876-AF691D319A6E@microsoft.com...
| Hi everyone. It's me again...the "INTERMEDIATE" user! It seems the more
I
| explore Windows 98, the more I have questions I have no answers to. I've
| been stuck in a Windows 98 rutt for the last 5 years or so (that is, I
ALWAYS
| did the same things over and over again...never really explored the
operating
| system's features). I finally just learned how to create profiles which
| alllow each profile to have specific desktop settings and such. I have
since
| deleted a profile via the USER option in Control Panel and ended up
| re-creating it a few times (because NOW I'm exploring, you see!).
|
| Anyway, I've noticed that my free disk space has been getting smaller and
| smaller. From about 500MB free to close to 300MB. Everytime I re-create
a
| user, should it overwrite the old one, or am I somehow taking up disk
space
| by creating, deleting and re-creating users?

You may be losing space because you are creating separate items for EACH of
the users. IIRC, that was your original intent, so you could have different
backgrounds, programs, and such.

Did you check to make sure you do not still have folders named for each of
the Profiles in your Windows folder? Like Bob1, Bob2, etc., and did you
check for the old pwl, acl, and pcb files?

|
| I should mention that I'm a pro at reformatting my HDD but I want to avoid
| doing that at all costs. How can I regain the lost MB's? By the way, I
| haven't been installing new programs or anything, althought I did install
an
| unofficial patch for Windows 98 SE, then removed it, and then re-applied
it.
| But my understaning is that it would simply overwrite any files and
registry
| settings from before, not create new ones all together, right?
|
| Oh, and on a totally different topic...what's with all the spam finding
its
| way in here? I think some of it should be removed. One link takes you to
a
| porn site.

This is an unmonitored and unfiltered [supposedly] News Group. Someone
always tries to warn of Spam or worse when its noticed.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
________

 

[MrBill]

Everytime a profile is created a ton of files/directories not to mention
registry keys are created. The files created can be found in
C:\WINDOWS\Profiles. Each user will have a copy of the "default" active
directory folders. The folders probably were populated unless the profile was
created with the the default options turned off.
The folders are populated with copies of the contents of default users
folders.
That can add up to alot of space, especially if these folders arent cleaned
up.

To locate this profile folder:
Each user will have 1 subdirectory containing the active directory folders.
Example:
User "Win98isgreat" will have a folder called:
C:\Windows\Profiles\Win98isgreat
Inside that folder there will be the active directory folders....Desktop,
Temporary Internet Files, History and so fort.h. When user "Win98isgreat"
logs on, they will point to this folder. When another user logs on, they will
point to their folder. Active directory folders are not shared - they are
specific to a given user. The DEFAULT
folder is used when no user logs on.

You can trim out any unnecessary files contained in these folders. Just be
careful not to ramdomly delete stuff in the Start Menu folder (that one
contains the desktop icons and Start Menu stuff).

After great effort, I actully reconfigured my Win98Se system to have a
profile setup exactly like at NT/XP/2000 system. This required hours of
hacking through the registry and would not be recomended to anyone other than
an expert. Still, you can prune junk found in these profile folders. I found
tons of internet garbage in folders for infrequently used profiles.

Hope this helps and explains why so much free disk space disappears when a
new profile is created or not cleaned up.

"Paradoxdb3" wrote:

> Hi everyone. It's me again...the "INTERMEDIATE" user! It seems the more I
> explore Windows 98, the more I have questions I have no answers to. I've
> been stuck in a Windows 98 rutt for the last 5 years or so (that is, I ALWAYS
> did the same things over and over again...never really explored the operating
> system's features). I finally just learned how to create profiles which
> alllow each profile to have specific desktop settings and such. I have since
> deleted a profile via the USER option in Control Panel and ended up
> re-creating it a few times (because NOW I'm exploring, you see!).
>
> Anyway, I've noticed that my free disk space has been getting smaller and
> smaller. From about 500MB free to close to 300MB. Everytime I re-create a
> user, should it overwrite the old one, or am I somehow taking up disk space
> by creating, deleting and re-creating users?
>
> I should mention that I'm a pro at reformatting my HDD but I want to avoid
> doing that at all costs. How can I regain the lost MB's? By the way, I
> haven't been installing new programs or anything, althought I did install an
> unofficial patch for Windows 98 SE, then removed it, and then re-applied it.
> But my understaning is that it would simply overwrite any files and registry
> settings from before, not create new ones all together, right?
>
> Oh, and on a totally different topic...what's with all the spam finding its
> way in here? I think some of it should be removed. One link takes you to a
> porn site.

 

[MEB]

Opps, sorry, your detail was much more informative.

--
MEB
http://peoplescounsel.orgfree.com
________


"MrBill" <MrBill@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:427BAF4D-7FA2-466C-B389-0F893C07F601@microsoft.com...
| Everytime a profile is created a ton of files/directories not to mention
| registry keys are created. The files created can be found in
| C:\WINDOWS\Profiles. Each user will have a copy of the "default" active
| directory folders. The folders probably were populated unless the profile
was
| created with the the default options turned off.
| The folders are populated with copies of the contents of default users
| folders.
| That can add up to alot of space, especially if these folders arent
cleaned
| up.
|
| To locate this profile folder:
| Each user will have 1 subdirectory containing the active directory
folders.
| Example:
| User "Win98isgreat" will have a folder called:
| C:\Windows\Profiles\Win98isgreat
| Inside that folder there will be the active directory folders....Desktop,
| Temporary Internet Files, History and so fort.h. When user "Win98isgreat"
| logs on, they will point to this folder. When another user logs on, they
will
| point to their folder. Active directory folders are not shared - they are
| specific to a given user. The DEFAULT
| folder is used when no user logs on.
|
| You can trim out any unnecessary files contained in these folders. Just be
| careful not to ramdomly delete stuff in the Start Menu folder (that one
| contains the desktop icons and Start Menu stuff).
|
| After great effort, I actully reconfigured my Win98Se system to have a
| profile setup exactly like at NT/XP/2000 system. This required hours of
| hacking through the registry and would not be recomended to anyone other
than
| an expert. Still, you can prune junk found in these profile folders. I
found
| tons of internet garbage in folders for infrequently used profiles.
|
| Hope this helps and explains why so much free disk space disappears when a
| new profile is created or not cleaned up.
|
| "Paradoxdb3" wrote:
|
| > Hi everyone. It's me again...the "INTERMEDIATE" user! It seems the
more I
| > explore Windows 98, the more I have questions I have no answers to.
I've
| > been stuck in a Windows 98 rutt for the last 5 years or so (that is, I
ALWAYS
| > did the same things over and over again...never really explored the
operating
| > system's features). I finally just learned how to create profiles which
| > alllow each profile to have specific desktop settings and such. I have
since
| > deleted a profile via the USER option in Control Panel and ended up
| > re-creating it a few times (because NOW I'm exploring, you see!).
| >
| > Anyway, I've noticed that my free disk space has been getting smaller
and
| > smaller. From about 500MB free to close to 300MB. Everytime I
re-create a
| > user, should it overwrite the old one, or am I somehow taking up disk
space
| > by creating, deleting and re-creating users?
| >
| > I should mention that I'm a pro at reformatting my HDD but I want to
avoid
| > doing that at all costs. How can I regain the lost MB's? By the way, I
| > haven't been installing new programs or anything, althought I did
install an
| > unofficial patch for Windows 98 SE, then removed it, and then re-applied
it.
| > But my understaning is that it would simply overwrite any files and
registry
| > settings from before, not create new ones all together, right?
| >
| > Oh, and on a totally different topic...what's with all the spam finding
its
| > way in here? I think some of it should be removed. One link takes you
to a
| > porn site.

 

[Paradoxdb3]

Thanks MrBill for the informative lesson on how to maintain each user's
specific folder! One more piece to the puzzle! I never knew about the
C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\USERNAME folders. And even though your post was very
helpful, I am still wondering what happens when a profile is deleted through
the USERS option in Control Panel. Does that delete the specific folders for
that particular user? And what if I re-create the user I just deleted? Does
the re-created user get another new specific folder, or are the old folders
simply over-written? Let me use an example:

I've created a user named DAN. Now, DAN has his own desktop settings with
his own wallpaper, desktop icons, sound schemes, yada yada yada. Everytime
DAN enters his password and logs onto Windows, he'll be seeing all those
specific settings. A few days later, DAN gets his own computer, so I go to
the Control Panel and delete his profile, since his settings are no longer
needed on my computer. But will his specific folders and registry entries
still on my computer? Okay, now on to part two...

Now DAN needs a profile set up on my computer again, because his new
computer is being repaired, and he needs one right away. So I set up another
profile named DAN and he gets to use my computer for the next week or so. Is
profile DAN going to overwrite the old and deleted DAN profile files and
registry entries? Or will he be given the specific folder,
"C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\DAN1"? Hope this makes sense! Thanks again!

"MrBill" wrote:

> Everytime a profile is created a ton of files/directories not to mention
> registry keys are created. The files created can be found in
> C:\WINDOWS\Profiles. Each user will have a copy of the "default" active
> directory folders. The folders probably were populated unless the profile was
> created with the the default options turned off.
> The folders are populated with copies of the contents of default users
> folders.
> That can add up to alot of space, especially if these folders arent cleaned
> up.
>
> To locate this profile folder:
> Each user will have 1 subdirectory containing the active directory folders.
> Example:
> User "Win98isgreat" will have a folder called:
> C:\Windows\Profiles\Win98isgreat
> Inside that folder there will be the active directory folders....Desktop,
> Temporary Internet Files, History and so fort.h. When user "Win98isgreat"
> logs on, they will point to this folder. When another user logs on, they will
> point to their folder. Active directory folders are not shared - they are
> specific to a given user. The DEFAULT
> folder is used when no user logs on.
>
> You can trim out any unnecessary files contained in these folders. Just be
> careful not to ramdomly delete stuff in the Start Menu folder (that one
> contains the desktop icons and Start Menu stuff).
>
> After great effort, I actully reconfigured my Win98Se system to have a
> profile setup exactly like at NT/XP/2000 system. This required hours of
> hacking through the registry and would not be recomended to anyone other than
> an expert. Still, you can prune junk found in these profile folders. I found
> tons of internet garbage in folders for infrequently used profiles.
>
> Hope this helps and explains why so much free disk space disappears when a
> new profile is created or not cleaned up.
>
> "Paradoxdb3" wrote:
>
> > Hi everyone. It's me again...the "INTERMEDIATE" user! It seems the more I
> > explore Windows 98, the more I have questions I have no answers to. I've
> > been stuck in a Windows 98 rutt for the last 5 years or so (that is, I ALWAYS
> > did the same things over and over again...never really explored the operating
> > system's features). I finally just learned how to create profiles which
> > alllow each profile to have specific desktop settings and such. I have since
> > deleted a profile via the USER option in Control Panel and ended up
> > re-creating it a few times (because NOW I'm exploring, you see!).
> >
> > Anyway, I've noticed that my free disk space has been getting smaller and
> > smaller. From about 500MB free to close to 300MB. Everytime I re-create a
> > user, should it overwrite the old one, or am I somehow taking up disk space
> > by creating, deleting and re-creating users?
> >
> > I should mention that I'm a pro at reformatting my HDD but I want to avoid
> > doing that at all costs. How can I regain the lost MB's? By the way, I
> > haven't been installing new programs or anything, althought I did install an
> > unofficial patch for Windows 98 SE, then removed it, and then re-applied it.
> > But my understaning is that it would simply overwrite any files and registry
> > settings from before, not create new ones all together, right?
> >
> > Oh, and on a totally different topic...what's with all the spam finding its
> > way in here? I think some of it should be removed. One link takes you to a
> > porn site.

 

[PCR]

Paradoxdb3 wrote:
| Thanks MrBill for the informative lesson on how to maintain each
| user's specific folder! One more piece to the puzzle! I never knew
| about the C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\USERNAME folders. And even though your
| post was very helpful, I am still wondering what happens when a
| profile is deleted through the USERS option in Control Panel. Does
| that delete the specific folders for that particular user? And what
| if I re-create the user I just deleted? Does the re-created user get
| another new specific folder, or are the old folders simply
| over-written? Let me use an example:
|
| I've created a user named DAN. Now, DAN has his own desktop settings
| with his own wallpaper, desktop icons, sound schemes, yada yada yada.
| Everytime DAN enters his password and logs onto Windows, he'll be
| seeing all those specific settings. A few days later, DAN gets his
| own computer, so I go to the Control Panel and delete his profile,
| since his settings are no longer needed on my computer. But will his
| specific folders and registry entries still on my computer? Okay,
| now on to part two...
|
| Now DAN needs a profile set up on my computer again, because his new
| computer is being repaired, and he needs one right away. So I set up
| another profile named DAN and he gets to use my computer for the next
| week or so. Is profile DAN going to overwrite the old and deleted
| DAN profile files and registry entries? Or will he be given the
| specific folder, "C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\DAN1"? Hope this makes sense!

It sounds to me like MrBill & MEB know more than I about it, & very soon
you may too. Nevertheless...

I meant to warn you off User Profiles when I first saw you mention them,
but refrained thinking some folk might actually have a reason for it.
(You might.) But, not only will they bloat you for all the reasons
MrBill & MEB have said, but it is also true some applications (SpyBot I
believe is one) will insinuate their .logs & such into each & every
profile you run or install them into-- & some of these files are huge!
Also, the Registry will bloat for the same reason!

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156826/en-us
How to Disable and Delete User Profiles

I think that article is just the tip of the iceberg, & it speaks of
doing the deletes you ask of manually! What do you see in the
Windows\Profiles folder now, after you have already added & removed some
Profiles?

Remember... after Registry entries are removed, the Registry is not
necessarily any smaller. It must be compacted first in DOS...

(1) "START button, Shut Down, Restart in MS-DOS Mode"
(2) ScanReg /Fix /Opt
(Do step 2 twice more.)

However, that won't work for a Registry around 9 MB huge. The Registry
is the total size of System.dat & User.dat. And you may well have more
than one User.dat now! (I'm not sure how that factors in.)

Here are 79 additional scary articles about User Profiles...!...

http://support.microsoft.com/search...20&ast=1&ast=2&ast=3&ast=8&ast=9&mode=a&adv=1

| Thanks again!
|
| "MrBill" wrote:
|
|> Everytime a profile is created a ton of files/directories not to
|> mention registry keys are created. The files created can be found in
|> C:\WINDOWS\Profiles. Each user will have a copy of the "default"
|> active directory folders. The folders probably were populated unless
|> the profile was created with the the default options turned off.
|> The folders are populated with copies of the contents of default
|> users folders.
|> That can add up to alot of space, especially if these folders arent
|> cleaned up.
|>
|> To locate this profile folder:
|> Each user will have 1 subdirectory containing the active directory
|> folders. Example:
|> User "Win98isgreat" will have a folder called:
|> C:\Windows\Profiles\Win98isgreat
|> Inside that folder there will be the active directory
|> folders....Desktop, Temporary Internet Files, History and so fort.h.
|> When user "Win98isgreat" logs on, they will point to this folder.
|> When another user logs on, they will point to their folder. Active
|> directory folders are not shared - they are specific to a given
|> user. The DEFAULT
|> folder is used when no user logs on.
|>
|> You can trim out any unnecessary files contained in these folders.
|> Just be careful not to ramdomly delete stuff in the Start Menu
|> folder (that one contains the desktop icons and Start Menu stuff).
|>
|> After great effort, I actully reconfigured my Win98Se system to have
|> a profile setup exactly like at NT/XP/2000 system. This required
|> hours of hacking through the registry and would not be recomended to
|> anyone other than an expert. Still, you can prune junk found in
|> these profile folders. I found tons of internet garbage in folders
|> for infrequently used profiles.
|>
|> Hope this helps and explains why so much free disk space disappears
|> when a new profile is created or not cleaned up.
|>
|> "Paradoxdb3" wrote:
|>
|> > Hi everyone. It's me again...the "INTERMEDIATE" user! It seems
|> > the more I explore Windows 98, the more I have questions I have no
|> > answers to. I've been stuck in a Windows 98 rutt for the last 5
|> > years or so (that is, I ALWAYS did the same things over and over
|> > again...never really explored the operating system's features). I
|> > finally just learned how to create profiles which alllow each
|> > profile to have specific desktop settings and such. I have since
|> > deleted a profile via the USER option in Control Panel and ended
|> > up re-creating it a few times (because NOW I'm exploring, you
|> > see!).
|> >
|> > Anyway, I've noticed that my free disk space has been getting
|> > smaller and smaller. From about 500MB free to close to 300MB.
|> > Everytime I re-create a user, should it overwrite the old one, or
|> > am I somehow taking up disk space by creating, deleting and
|> > re-creating users?
|> >
|> > I should mention that I'm a pro at reformatting my HDD but I want
|> > to avoid doing that at all costs. How can I regain the lost MB's?
|> > By the way, I haven't been installing new programs or anything,
|> > althought I did install an unofficial patch for Windows 98 SE,
|> > then removed it, and then re-applied it. But my understaning is
|> > that it would simply overwrite any files and registry settings
|> > from before, not create new ones all together, right?
|> >
|> > Oh, and on a totally different topic...what's with all the spam
|> > finding its way in here? I think some of it should be removed.
|> > One link takes you to a porn site.

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net

 

[Paradoxdb3]

Thanks for the "How To Delete Profiles" article! So many gems to find! I
looked in the registry where the article says the profiles entries are kept
and saw them. Then I went to the control panel and went to the passwords
option and set all users to use one password, again just as the article said.
After that, I was prompted to reboot, which I did. Upon start up, you get
the usual login screen where you can type in a name you want and a password
if you want to (where it also says, "Tip: If you don't enter a password, you
won't get this prompt again".) I didn't choose a password, because I like
when Windows loads automatically! So, I went back to the article where the
next step is to remove the old profile registry entries manually. But I
didn't follow instructions here, because it seemed strange that I had to
manually remove the registry entries, then delete the folders in
C:\Windows\Profiles. So instead, I went back to Control Panel, and chose the
Users option. Then from there, I deleted the individual profiles. It did
everything automatically for me that the article said I could do manually!
It removed the registry entries and the folders (I think). Everything went
perfectly! Thanks again!

"PCR" wrote:

> Paradoxdb3 wrote:
> | Thanks MrBill for the informative lesson on how to maintain each
> | user's specific folder! One more piece to the puzzle! I never knew
> | about the C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\USERNAME folders. And even though your
> | post was very helpful, I am still wondering what happens when a
> | profile is deleted through the USERS option in Control Panel. Does
> | that delete the specific folders for that particular user? And what
> | if I re-create the user I just deleted? Does the re-created user get
> | another new specific folder, or are the old folders simply
> | over-written? Let me use an example:
> |
> | I've created a user named DAN. Now, DAN has his own desktop settings
> | with his own wallpaper, desktop icons, sound schemes, yada yada yada.
> | Everytime DAN enters his password and logs onto Windows, he'll be
> | seeing all those specific settings. A few days later, DAN gets his
> | own computer, so I go to the Control Panel and delete his profile,
> | since his settings are no longer needed on my computer. But will his
> | specific folders and registry entries still on my computer? Okay,
> | now on to part two...
> |
> | Now DAN needs a profile set up on my computer again, because his new
> | computer is being repaired, and he needs one right away. So I set up
> | another profile named DAN and he gets to use my computer for the next
> | week or so. Is profile DAN going to overwrite the old and deleted
> | DAN profile files and registry entries? Or will he be given the
> | specific folder, "C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\DAN1"? Hope this makes sense!
>
> It sounds to me like MrBill & MEB know more than I about it, & very soon
> you may too. Nevertheless...
>
> I meant to warn you off User Profiles when I first saw you mention them,
> but refrained thinking some folk might actually have a reason for it.
> (You might.) But, not only will they bloat you for all the reasons
> MrBill & MEB have said, but it is also true some applications (SpyBot I
> believe is one) will insinuate their .logs & such into each & every
> profile you run or install them into-- & some of these files are huge!
> Also, the Registry will bloat for the same reason!
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156826/en-us
> How to Disable and Delete User Profiles
>
> I think that article is just the tip of the iceberg, & it speaks of
> doing the deletes you ask of manually! What do you see in the
> Windows\Profiles folder now, after you have already added & removed some
> Profiles?
>
> Remember... after Registry entries are removed, the Registry is not
> necessarily any smaller. It must be compacted first in DOS...
>
> (1) "START button, Shut Down, Restart in MS-DOS Mode"
> (2) ScanReg /Fix /Opt
> (Do step 2 twice more.)
>
> However, that won't work for a Registry around 9 MB huge. The Registry
> is the total size of System.dat & User.dat. And you may well have more
> than one User.dat now! (I'm not sure how that factors in.)
>
> Here are 79 additional scary articles about User Profiles...!...
>
> http://support.microsoft.com/search...20&ast=1&ast=2&ast=3&ast=8&ast=9&mode=a&adv=1
>
> | Thanks again!
> |
> | "MrBill" wrote:
> |
> |> Everytime a profile is created a ton of files/directories not to
> |> mention registry keys are created. The files created can be found in
> |> C:\WINDOWS\Profiles. Each user will have a copy of the "default"
> |> active directory folders. The folders probably were populated unless
> |> the profile was created with the the default options turned off.
> |> The folders are populated with copies of the contents of default
> |> users folders.
> |> That can add up to alot of space, especially if these folders arent
> |> cleaned up.
> |>
> |> To locate this profile folder:
> |> Each user will have 1 subdirectory containing the active directory
> |> folders. Example:
> |> User "Win98isgreat" will have a folder called:
> |> C:\Windows\Profiles\Win98isgreat
> |> Inside that folder there will be the active directory
> |> folders....Desktop, Temporary Internet Files, History and so fort.h.
> |> When user "Win98isgreat" logs on, they will point to this folder.
> |> When another user logs on, they will point to their folder. Active
> |> directory folders are not shared - they are specific to a given
> |> user. The DEFAULT
> |> folder is used when no user logs on.
> |>
> |> You can trim out any unnecessary files contained in these folders.
> |> Just be careful not to ramdomly delete stuff in the Start Menu
> |> folder (that one contains the desktop icons and Start Menu stuff).
> |>
> |> After great effort, I actully reconfigured my Win98Se system to have
> |> a profile setup exactly like at NT/XP/2000 system. This required
> |> hours of hacking through the registry and would not be recomended to
> |> anyone other than an expert. Still, you can prune junk found in
> |> these profile folders. I found tons of internet garbage in folders
> |> for infrequently used profiles.
> |>
> |> Hope this helps and explains why so much free disk space disappears
> |> when a new profile is created or not cleaned up.
> |>
> |> "Paradoxdb3" wrote:
> |>
> |> > Hi everyone. It's me again...the "INTERMEDIATE" user! It seems
> |> > the more I explore Windows 98, the more I have questions I have no
> |> > answers to. I've been stuck in a Windows 98 rutt for the last 5
> |> > years or so (that is, I ALWAYS did the same things over and over
> |> > again...never really explored the operating system's features). I
> |> > finally just learned how to create profiles which alllow each
> |> > profile to have specific desktop settings and such. I have since
> |> > deleted a profile via the USER option in Control Panel and ended
> |> > up re-creating it a few times (because NOW I'm exploring, you
> |> > see!).
> |> >
> |> > Anyway, I've noticed that my free disk space has been getting
> |> > smaller and smaller. From about 500MB free to close to 300MB.
> |> > Everytime I re-create a user, should it overwrite the old one, or
> |> > am I somehow taking up disk space by creating, deleting and
> |> > re-creating users?
> |> >
> |> > I should mention that I'm a pro at reformatting my HDD but I want
> |> > to avoid doing that at all costs. How can I regain the lost MB's?
> |> > By the way, I haven't been installing new programs or anything,
> |> > althought I did install an unofficial patch for Windows 98 SE,
> |> > then removed it, and then re-applied it. But my understaning is
> |> > that it would simply overwrite any files and registry settings
> |> > from before, not create new ones all together, right?
> |> >
> |> > Oh, and on a totally different topic...what's with all the spam
> |> > finding its way in here? I think some of it should be removed.
> |> > One link takes you to a porn site.
>
> --
> Thanks or Good Luck,
> There may be humor in this post, and,
> Naturally, you will not sue,
> Should things get worse after this,
> PCR
> pcrrcp@netzero.net
>
>
>

 

[PCR]

Paradoxdb3 wrote:
| Thanks for the "How To Delete Profiles" article! So many gems to
| find! I looked in the registry where the article says the profiles
| entries are kept and saw them. Then I went to the control panel and
| went to the passwords option and set all users to use one password,
| again just as the article said. After that, I was prompted to
| reboot, which I did. Upon start up, you get the usual login screen
| where you can type in a name you want and a password if you want to
| (where it also says, "Tip: If you don't enter a password, you won't
| get this prompt again".) I didn't choose a password, because I like
| when Windows loads automatically! So, I went back to the article
| where the next step is to remove the old profile registry entries
| manually. But I didn't follow instructions here, because it seemed
| strange that I had to manually remove the registry entries, then
| delete the folders in C:\Windows\Profiles. So instead, I went back
| to Control Panel, and chose the Users option. Then from there, I
| deleted the individual profiles. It did everything automatically for
| me that the article said I could do manually! It removed the registry
| entries and the folders (I think). Everything went perfectly!

Well, I'm glad to hear it! I guess the manual measures mentioned in the
article only apply if/when something goes wrong with the Control Panel
method you have discovered! Now that they are gone, I would steer clear
of this thing, unless you decide you actually do need it. I do remember
it was all hell for LuckyStrike that week long ago he tried to get rid
of them!

You may be in a precarious position the next five days, until all of
your Registry backups are replaced-- the ones in C:\WINDOWS\SYSBCKUP. If
one of those is restored for some reason, you'd get back the Registry
entries, but the folders will still be gone.

| Thanks again!
|
| "PCR" wrote:
|
|> Paradoxdb3 wrote:
|> | Thanks MrBill for the informative lesson on how to maintain each
|> | user's specific folder! One more piece to the puzzle! I never
|> | knew about the C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\USERNAME folders. And even
|> | though your post was very helpful, I am still wondering what
|> | happens when a profile is deleted through the USERS option in
|> | Control Panel. Does that delete the specific folders for that
|> | particular user? And what if I re-create the user I just deleted?
|> | Does the re-created user get another new specific folder, or are
|> | the old folders simply over-written? Let me use an example:
|> |
|> | I've created a user named DAN. Now, DAN has his own desktop
|> | settings with his own wallpaper, desktop icons, sound schemes,
|> | yada yada yada. Everytime DAN enters his password and logs onto
|> | Windows, he'll be seeing all those specific settings. A few days
|> | later, DAN gets his own computer, so I go to the Control Panel and
|> | delete his profile, since his settings are no longer needed on my
|> | computer. But will his specific folders and registry entries
|> | still on my computer? Okay, now on to part two...
|> |
|> | Now DAN needs a profile set up on my computer again, because his
|> | new computer is being repaired, and he needs one right away. So I
|> | set up another profile named DAN and he gets to use my computer
|> | for the next week or so. Is profile DAN going to overwrite the
|> | old and deleted DAN profile files and registry entries? Or will
|> | he be given the specific folder, "C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\DAN1"? Hope
|> | this makes sense!
|>
|> It sounds to me like MrBill & MEB know more than I about it, & very
|> soon you may too. Nevertheless...
|>
|> I meant to warn you off User Profiles when I first saw you mention
|> them, but refrained thinking some folk might actually have a reason
|> for it. (You might.) But, not only will they bloat you for all the
|> reasons MrBill & MEB have said, but it is also true some
|> applications (SpyBot I believe is one) will insinuate their .logs &
|> such into each & every profile you run or install them into-- & some
|> of these files are huge! Also, the Registry will bloat for the same
|> reason!
|>
|> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/156826/en-us
|> How to Disable and Delete User Profiles
|>
|> I think that article is just the tip of the iceberg, & it speaks of
|> doing the deletes you ask of manually! What do you see in the
|> Windows\Profiles folder now, after you have already added & removed
|> some Profiles?
|>
|> Remember... after Registry entries are removed, the Registry is not
|> necessarily any smaller. It must be compacted first in DOS...
|>
|> (1) "START button, Shut Down, Restart in MS-DOS Mode"
|> (2) ScanReg /Fix /Opt
|> (Do step 2 twice more.)
|>
|> However, that won't work for a Registry around 9 MB huge. The
|> Registry is the total size of System.dat & User.dat. And you may
|> well have more than one User.dat now! (I'm not sure how that factors
|> in.)
|>
|> Here are 79 additional scary articles about User Profiles...!...
|>
|>
http://support.microsoft.com/search...20&ast=1&ast=2&ast=3&ast=8&ast=9&mode=a&adv=1
|>
|> | Thanks again!
|> |
|> | "MrBill" wrote:
|> |
|> |> Everytime a profile is created a ton of files/directories not to
|> |> mention registry keys are created. The files created can be found
|> |> in C:\WINDOWS\Profiles. Each user will have a copy of the
|> |> "default" active directory folders. The folders probably were
|> |> populated unless the profile was created with the the default
|> |> options turned off. The folders are populated with copies of the
|> |> contents of default users folders.
|> |> That can add up to alot of space, especially if these folders
|> |> arent cleaned up.
|> |>
|> |> To locate this profile folder:
|> |> Each user will have 1 subdirectory containing the active directory
|> |> folders. Example:
|> |> User "Win98isgreat" will have a folder called:
|> |> C:\Windows\Profiles\Win98isgreat
|> |> Inside that folder there will be the active directory
|> |> folders....Desktop, Temporary Internet Files, History and so
|> |> fort.h. When user "Win98isgreat" logs on, they will point to this
|> |> folder. When another user logs on, they will point to their
|> |> folder. Active directory folders are not shared - they are
|> |> specific to a given user. The DEFAULT
|> |> folder is used when no user logs on.
|> |>
|> |> You can trim out any unnecessary files contained in these folders.
|> |> Just be careful not to ramdomly delete stuff in the Start Menu
|> |> folder (that one contains the desktop icons and Start Menu stuff).
|> |>
|> |> After great effort, I actully reconfigured my Win98Se system to
|> |> have a profile setup exactly like at NT/XP/2000 system. This
|> |> required hours of hacking through the registry and would not be
|> |> recomended to anyone other than an expert. Still, you can prune
|> |> junk found in these profile folders. I found tons of internet
|> |> garbage in folders for infrequently used profiles.
|> |>
|> |> Hope this helps and explains why so much free disk space
|> |> disappears when a new profile is created or not cleaned up.
|> |>
|> |> "Paradoxdb3" wrote:
|> |>
|> |> > Hi everyone. It's me again...the "INTERMEDIATE" user! It seems
|> |> > the more I explore Windows 98, the more I have questions I have
|> |> > no answers to. I've been stuck in a Windows 98 rutt for the
|> |> > last 5 years or so (that is, I ALWAYS did the same things over
|> |> > and over again...never really explored the operating system's
|> |> > features). I finally just learned how to create profiles which
|> |> > alllow each profile to have specific desktop settings and such.
|> |> > I have since deleted a profile via the USER option in Control
|> |> > Panel and ended up re-creating it a few times (because NOW I'm
|> |> > exploring, you see!).
|> |> >
|> |> > Anyway, I've noticed that my free disk space has been getting
|> |> > smaller and smaller. From about 500MB free to close to 300MB.
|> |> > Everytime I re-create a user, should it overwrite the old one,
|> |> > or am I somehow taking up disk space by creating, deleting and
|> |> > re-creating users?
|> |> >
|> |> > I should mention that I'm a pro at reformatting my HDD but I
|> |> > want to avoid doing that at all costs. How can I regain the
|> |> > lost MB's? By the way, I haven't been installing new programs
|> |> > or anything, althought I did install an unofficial patch for
|> |> > Windows 98 SE, then removed it, and then re-applied it. But my
|> |> > understaning is that it would simply overwrite any files and
|> |> > registry settings from before, not create new ones all
|> |> > together, right?
|> |> >
|> |> > Oh, and on a totally different topic...what's with all the spam
|> |> > finding its way in here? I think some of it should be removed.
|> |> > One link takes you to a porn site.
|>
|> --
|> Thanks or Good Luck,
|> There may be humor in this post, and,
|> Naturally, you will not sue,
|> Should things get worse after this,
|> PCR
|> pcrrcp@netzero.net

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net

 

[Paradoxdb3]

> You may be in a precarious position the next five days, until all of
> your Registry backups are replaced-- the ones in C:\WINDOWS\SYSBCKUP. If
> one of those is restored for some reason, you'd get back the Registry
> entries, but the folders will still be gone.


I suppose alternatively I could run scanreg five times and backup after
prompted! I think that would also replace old backups. Thanks for bringing
that to light!

 

[PCR]

Paradoxdb3 wrote:
|> You may be in a precarious position the next five days, until all of
|> your Registry backups are replaced-- the ones in
|> C:\WINDOWS\SYSBCKUP. If one of those is restored for some reason,
|> you'd get back the Registry entries, but the folders will still be
|> gone.
|
|
| I suppose alternatively I could run scanreg five times and backup
| after prompted! I think that would also replace old backups. Thanks
| for bringing that to light!

Absolutely. Good thinking. Maybe also first copy the existing ones into,
say-- C:\REGBCKUP. It's always good to have such a folder, anyhow,
although the backups do become less useful the older they get.

It's certainly a good idea to copy the current ones to such a folder
just before doing a series of "ScanReg /Restore"-- every restore will
wipe out the oldest one I do believe!


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net