Windows 10 Update 1903 renames User fiolder

Hi David

My name is Andre Da Costa; an Independent Consultant, Windows Insider MVP and Windows & Devices for IT MVP. I'm here to help you with your problem.

You can follow the steps in the following article how to rename the User folder under C:\User

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/change-account...

See the section:

'What about Your User Folder Name?'

Information in the above link is sourced from a trusted Microsoft MVP blog.

Hi David. I'm Greg, an installation specialist and 9 year Windows MVP here to help you.

Sometimes if the User account gets corrupted and cannot start, Windows will sign you into a temporary account. A Temp Account cannot be used as a normal account. I'll give you everything that can be done to repair or replace your account, based on helping countless others get through it.

1. Try restarting the PC a few times to see if it can sign into your account.
2. Check at C:\Users if you can see your old account with its files intact. If not check at C:\Windows.old to see if files were archived there during a version install that fails.

If so copy the files out externally so they are safe. Files should always be backed up if you value them at all. You can copy or drag them to an external USB flash or hard drive, or into Onedrive (up to 5gb free) or Google Drive (up to 15gb free).

3. From the temp account can try to repair the old account using one of these methods:

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/48012-fix-y...

https://winaero.com/blog/windows-10-youve-been-...

4. If not then you can try to create a new Admininstrator Local Account to see how it works: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for....
5. If necessary to try to repair the old account or create a new Account you may need to enable and Sign into the Hidden Administrator account used only for emergencies, using one of these methods: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2969-enable....
6. If no other method works you may need to create Windows installation media to boot into to access the Command Prompt at boot to perform Option 5 above: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m.... Detailed steps to boot media are in the tutorial in Step 12 below.
7. Once the new account is created: sign into the new account, move your files over, test that all programs run. If you decide to keep it then you can delete the old accounts when ready in Settings > Accounts > Family and other Users.
8. If the install is too corrupted for even a new account to run well or you want to invest the time in trying to fix the old account, then go over this checklist to make sure the install is set up correctly, optimized for best performance, and any needed repairs get done: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...
9. If any steps cannot be performed normally then try them in Safe Mode with Networking or Safe Mode: https://www.digitalcitizen.life/4-ways-boot-saf...
10. If nothing else works to fix the install try running a Repair Install which reinstalls WIndows while keeping your files, programs and most settings in place, by installing the Media Creation Tool and choosing from it to Upgrade Now. This will solve most problems and also bring it up to the latest version which you need anyway and by the most stable method. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/m...
11. If those fail then you can do a Reset: http://www.laptopmag.com/articles/reset-windows...
12. Or you can use the bootable media from Step 6 to do the vastly superior Clean Install which should get you past all difficulties as it has hundreds of thousands of others who have followed the steps in this link and never come back to report another problem: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

Make sure during the booted install to follow the illustrated steps to delete all partitions down to Unallocated Space to get it cleanest, then click Next to let it auto-create the needed partitions, format them and begin install - this makes it foolproof.

If you have files that aren't backed up you can use the same bootable media to rescue your files using this method: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki...

You will get and keep the best possible install to the exact extent you stick with the steps, tools and methods in the linked tutorial. It's a better install than any amount of money could buy.

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. I will keep working with you until it's resolved.

If you receive a popup asking if this solved your problem please ignore it, as it will remove my ability to help you and others may also not help. Please wait until after the issue is resolved to answer the popup or mark your question answered to help others.

______________________________________________

Standard Disclaimer: There are links to non-Microsoft websites. The pages appear to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the sites that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the sites before you decide to download and install it.

Hi David

Before you do anything or move any files around

Restart your PC 3 or 4 times, this will fix this issue a lot of the time . ..

Otherwise:

Please open Windows File Explorer

Navigate to C:\Users

Do you see two user folders that look like yours?

Open those folders and check inside Pictures, Documents . . . etc. and see if your files are there

If your files are there:

Create a new user profile with Admin privileges

Log into the new user profile

Copy all your data from the old profile to the new profile (Documents Library, Pictures Library . . . etc.)

If you still have not found your files, look for a Windows.old folder on your C Drive, expand that to open the users folder contained inside - check there for your files, icons . . .etc.

If you do find your files . . . etc. there, copy them out as soon as possible as Windows will remove the Windows.old folder in time

NOTE VERY IMPORTANT: Do Not copy your files into the Temporary profile you are currently in, when the situation is corrected, your files will be deleted with the Temporary Profile and will not be recoverable !!

My understanding is that Andre's solution only works with Win10 Professional. Win 10 Home users are left with the user.000 all over the registry. For me that is over 8500 entries.

Hetman explains this in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J\_rTOA4gXJI

Don't watch the video, he explains it all in the text below the video.

Microsoft need to provide a troubleshooting fix for this. I think this is a very widespread issue.

Uninstalling the updates doesn't fix this issue.

Some programs now don't work and many short cuts no longer work because the paths have changed.

Oh no!!  I've just hit this, and find that Outlook no longer sends emails . . . GREAT Microsoft.  Should I phone them for a solution, or will they just say 'create a new profile' etc . . .which I DON'T want to do.  I want my old settings back.