Accounts are logging into the default desktop but it is behaving strange

cloa513 · Feb 13, 2026

Probably because we lost power several times, no accounts at least main one and adminstrator will log into their own profile.
The keyboard symbol inputs are broken. Cannot type an at symbol.
I checked the registry and couldnt see anything wrong.
I created a new profile and trying to fix it up. No sure yet if all customization will stay- only changed language so far.

I an using my normal main and contrary to online advice I saved a file and it is still there after logging out and in so what is going on? . I had a few program error messages but the file finally worked.

glasskuter · Feb 13, 2026

I'm sorry but I really can't understand what exactly is happening.

cloa513 said:
no accounts at least main one and adminstrator will log into their own profile.

If you mean neither account will login, describe what happens or what messages you get.

cloa513 said:
I an using my normal main and contrary to online advice I saved a file and it is still there after logging out and in so what is going on? . I had a few program error messages but the file finally worked.

then you say

cloa513 said:
I an using my normal main and contrary to online advice I saved a file and it is still there after logging out and in.

In that first sentence above you said you couldn't login to Main account, now you say you can. Which is it?
Was your desktop intact with that main account?
What program(s)? What kind of program errors? Error messages?

glasskuter · Feb 13, 2026

cloa513 said:
I checked the registry and couldnt see anything wrong.

And just how did you do that? What exactly were you looking for in the registry.

We have to have all the details in order to help you. Screenshots too if possible.

cloa513 · Feb 13, 2026

glasskuter said:
I'm sorry but I really can't understand what exactly is happening.

If you mean neither account will login, describe what happens or what messages you get.

then you say

In that first sentence above you said you couldn't login to Main account, now you say you can. Which is it?
Was your desktop intact with that main account?
What program(s)? What kind of program errors? Error messages?

I got some error messages before trying to log in. Something like profile error- it was Japanese and only briefly displayed.
This a Japanese computer and operating system.
The computer says it is getting ready and then wait during log in.

With whatever account, I log into- its showed the account as logged in- the default profile that has the computer basic desktop background slideshow FMV.
All the primary folders- Downloads,. Documents, Pictures, Video are all just about empty.

The only difference between accounts is whatever changes I make when logged in.

Is resetting a good solution?

glasskuter · Feb 14, 2026

cloa513 said:
All the primary folders- Downloads,. Documents, Pictures, Video are all just about empty.

A reset and keep files will only keep the files you see and will remove 3rd party apps.
A reset and remove everything puts the device like it came out of the box.

I would be concerned about the missing files before doing a reset.
If you were using MS accounts and syncing to Onedrive, go to Onedrive on the web for each of the MS accounts involved. Are your files there?
If not, have you backed up your files locally?

Have you made ANY changes to Onedrive on your computer recently?

cloa513 · Feb 14, 2026

glasskuter · Feb 14, 2026

Ok, that tells me that is the profile for "Michael" which would indicate a local account, correct? This is your main account. Correct?

you can login to Michael and reach the desktop. Corrrect?
Are there missing icons on the desktop Yes or No?
Go to Michael's user folders, The folders are there but the files are gone? Correct?
Right click on your documents user folder. Select properties> location tab. What is the full path name listed under "location"?

Do the exact same thing for your other user folders that have missing files and give me the answers.

cloa513 · Feb 14, 2026

glasskuter said:
Ok, that tells me that is the profile for "Michael" which would indicate a local account, correct? This is your main account. Correct?

you can login to Michael and reach the desktop. Corrrect?
Are there missing icons on the desktop Yes or No?
Go to Michael's user folders, The folders are there but the files are gone? Correct?
Right click on your documents user folder. Select properties> location tab. What is the full path name listed under "location"?

Do the exact same thing for your other user folders that have missing files and give me the answers

Correct that I can log in.
Yes there missing icons on the desktop- probably but I really do not about the missing ones or rearrangement
Michael user folders contain the files as expected- none of the temp folders nor any of the local folders contain much at all.
C:\Users\Michael.DESKTOP-SEFNG7O

antspants · Feb 14, 2026

Scrap my comment. I was looking at it wrong.

antspants · Feb 14, 2026

User profile names are generally restricted to 5 characters.

Example: c:\users\micha\ then the user folders (desktop etc)
Or c:\users\micha\onedrive\ then the user folders (desktop etc)

How did you manage C:\Users\Michael.DESKTOP-SEFNG7O ??

glasskuter · Feb 14, 2026

antspants said:
How did you manage C:\Users\Michael.DESKTOP-SEFNG7O ??

That is a very good question.

cloa513 said:
Michael user folders contain the files as expected

Now do what I asked and right click on documents>properties>location tab and tell me the location.
Do same for desktop, pictures, and videos user folders Do ANY of these folders have onedrive in their folder path

glasskuter · Feb 14, 2026

@antspants knows why I am asking these questions. If he's not around, or , unless someone else picks it up and solves your problem, I'll pick it up in the morning. I'm really tired so have to go to bed.

If his main user folder structure pans out to be correct, and his files are present in that account. then the way I see it is he'll have to verify the path for the folders in each of his 5 other accounts if there's any chance to find the missing files.

OP be sure to specify any user account that uses a Microsoft account.

cloa513 · Feb 14, 2026

antspants said:
User profile names are generally restricted to 5 characters.

Example: c:\users\micha\ then the user folders (desktop etc)
Or c:\users\micha\onedrive\ then the user folders (desktop etc)

How did you manage C:\Users\Michael.DESKTOP-SEFNG7O ??

C:\Users\Michael.DESKTOP-SEFNG7O
That was the computer corruption of the registry.

But why were the other users corrupted?
I fixed Michael User now.
They all have correct paths.

I am now having trouble testing the log in for other accounts- they just hang- either before login or after.

glasskuter · Feb 14, 2026

There is no telling how deep this registry corruption goes. I can only suggest that you restore an image if you have one , a clean install if you don't. You could try a repair install but I think it would fail at the migration stage. Since there's all the missing files I'd go straight to a clean install if I didn't have an image..

Once you get your system straightened out, you might consider going into your bios settings and set to stay off after power failure. I also suggest you use a good quality surge protector.

antspants · Feb 14, 2026

cloa513 said:
I am now having trouble testing the log in for other accounts- they just hang- either before login or after.

Have you checked how a new user account behaves?

Add Local User Account in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to create and add a local account as a user on the PC in Windows 11. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser favorites, and...

www.elevenforum.com

cloa513 · Feb 14, 2026

I just tested H and it is a corrupted profile.

I added a new profile before- Mike. Do new profiles start as default?

antspants · Feb 14, 2026

I don’t know if glasskuter has anything up her sleeve, but at this point, because I can’t work out what is going on or how a power surge affected the registry??? I would seriously consider salvaging every personal file you can and placing them on a USB or external drive and reinstalling Windows. I don’t think messing in the registry was the answer.

But… there are plenty smarter than me on this forum, so maybe the person who may have seen this before, just hasn’t popped in yet.

cloa513 · Feb 14, 2026

antspants said:
I don’t know if glasskuter has anything up her sleeve, but at this point, because I can’t work out what is going on or how a power surge affected the registry??? I would seriously consider salvaging every personal file you can and placing them on a USB or external drive and reinstalling Windows. I don’t think messing in the registry was the answer.

But… there are plenty smarter than me on this forum, so maybe the person who may have seen this before, just hasn’t popped in ye

Maybe power surge rather power loss- Our house was only designed for one storey and my wife's mother lives upstairs with lots power hungry devices like two air-conditioners and an oven and she is so non-aware of careful management of what devices to use and many times hit the main circuit breaker so far this Winter. Somehow it never hits just her subarea circuit breaker.

glasskuter · Feb 14, 2026

@antspants There's too much going on here. Glasskuter has nothing up her sleeve other than what was suggested in post #14.
Starting out with a clean slate is the only sure way to fix it and know it's been fixed. Whatever has gotten all user accounts corupted, whether it be power surge (?), possibly a windows upgrade gone wrong, or a gremlim.

It's times like these an image can save one's bacon.

cloa513 · Feb 21, 2026

Check Disk finally ran. This was after we lost power in the house.

Accounts are logging into the default desktop but it is behaving strange

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