Win 11 - profile folders changed to other user who isn't even on this PC


jdubcodez

Member
Local time
12:29 PM
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6
OS
Windows 11 Pro
I've been around for a little while, been doing software development since the 90's, I've never seen this happen. I recently reinstalled Windows 11, complete refresh.

So I have several folders pinned to Quick Access in File Explorer, like Downloads which is in a different location on my D drive, my local "my documents" folder, i.e. not the one that gets mapped to OneDrive now. So I log in this morning and all of the folders that were pointing to either c:\users\{me}\foldername are now pointing to c:\users\{mywife}\foldername, the strange part is, {mywife} account is not even on this PC and wasn't on before I reinstalled.

The only thing I can think of is when I reinstalled, I used a disk that was previously in my laptop where {mywife} account is on there. Perhaps since I didn't do a deep format, Windows is somehow picking up remnants from the previous install? I'm digging through some logs, event logs, etc. now to see if I can pinpoint anything. Will post if I find something.

Anyways, anyone else had something like this happen before? Thanks.
 

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Windows 11 ProIntel Core I7 · 6700K @ 4.032GB Crucial Ballistix Sport LT DDR-2400NV GeForce RTX 3050
OS
Windows 11 Pro
Computer type
PC/Desktop
Manufacturer/Model
Custom Build
CPU
Intel Core I7 · 6700K @ 4.0
Motherboard
ASUS Z170 Pro
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32GB Crucial Ballistix Sport LT DDR-2400
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NV GeForce RTX 3050
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Acer EI322QUR 32", MSI G274QPF 27"
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WD Black SN770 1TB (OS), Samsung 860 Evo 500GB (Data), 850 Evo 500GB (Data), WD10EZEX-00BN5AO (Temp/Data),WD80EFPX-68C4ZN0 (Backup)
PSU
Antec EarthWatts EA-650
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Sentey GS-6011 ATX Mid Tower
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Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo
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Logitech MX Mechanical
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Logitech Vertical Mouse
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700 Mbps
I've been around for a little while, been doing software development since the 90's, I've never seen this happen. I recently reinstalled Windows 11, complete refresh.

So I have several folders pinned to Quick Access in File Explorer, like Downloads which is in a different location on my D drive, my local "my documents" folder, i.e. not the one that gets mapped to OneDrive now. So I log in this morning and all of the folders that were pointing to either c:\users\{me}\foldername are now pointing to c:\users\{mywife}\foldername, the strange part is, {mywife} account is not even on this PC and wasn't on before I reinstalled.

The only thing I can think of is when I reinstalled, I used a disk that was previously in my laptop where {mywife} account is on there. Perhaps since I didn't do a deep format, Windows is somehow picking up remnants from the previous install? I'm digging through some logs, event logs, etc. now to see if I can pinpoint anything. Will post if I find something.

Anyways, anyone else had something like this happen before? Thanks.
Are you sharing the same Microsoft Account by any chance?
 

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    All Branches but StableAMD Ryzen 7 7735HS 3200-4500 Mhz 8 cores x 232 GB DDR5Radeon Graphic / NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB...
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    All Branches but Stable
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    Acer Nitro ANV15-51
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    AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS 3200-4500 Mhz 8 cores x 2
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    Sportage_RBH
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    Windows 11 BetaAMD A9-94208 GB of DDR4AMD Radeon R5
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    Asus X751BP
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I recently reinstalled Windows 11, complete refresh.
Refreshing (ie:reset and keep files) and clean reinstall are two very different things.
With a true clean install there is no way it could have happened as accounts are cleanly rebuilt by the user during the process.
With a reset and keep everything, it could easily have happened due to corruption or incorrect mapping of folders (junction points)in the original installation.
 

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9445i9-10900 10 core 20 threads32 gbnone-Intel UHD Graphics 630
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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 26200.9445
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Optiplex 7080
    CPU
    i9-10900 10 core 20 threads
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    DELL 0J37VM
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    32 gb
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    none-Intel UHD Graphics 630
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    Windows 11 Pro 24H2 26200.9445AMD Ryzen 7 6800U32 gbintegrated
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    AMD Ryzen 7 6800U
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    integrated
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    2560x1440
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    1TB Crucial nvme
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    Logitech wired
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    Logitech wireless
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    still too embarrassed to tell
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    Firefox
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    Defender
  • System 3 is non compliant Dell 9020 i7-4770/24gb ram Win11 PRO 26200.9445
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