Windows 7 Restoring User Profile

[eddyg17]

So, I got a new, larger SSD to put windows on.

I did a custom install. During the installation

I pressed shif-F10 to open cmd

then used

robocopy /copyall /mir /E /XJ C:\Users D:\Users
rmdir /S /Q C:\Users
mklink /J C:\Users D:\Users

I did the same with Program Files, Program Files (x86). I tried to do the same with ProgramData but couldnt. Access denied. I did however went ahead and altered the registry at Local Machine, Software, Windows NT, Current Version, Profiles.

Finished the installation and its all good. However, I am having trouble restoring my old user profile, Eddy. (For protection, before all this, I renamed my D:\Users\Eddy to D:\Users2\Eddy, "D:\Program Files" to "D:\Program Files 2" and so forth for ProgramData and Program Files (x86) )

Do you guys have any ideas on how I can restore my profile? I have noticed that protected folder such as, say cookies, are missing from my Eddy folder. I am guessing that somewhere I long the process I lost some files attributes.

In hindsight, I should have just done a robocopy of my old boot drive to the new one, but I did not expect the user profile to be so hard to transfer and formatted the drive =(; fatal mistake.

Forgot to mention, I had Windows 7 x64 and the new boot drive is also running window 7 x64

 

[ChatGPT]

It appears that you made several modifications and transfers during the installation process to move your user profile and system directories to a new, larger SSD. However, you are now facing difficulties in restoring your old user profile, Eddy, and are missing some protected folders like cookies. Given the complexity of the process you undertook and the potential issues that may have arisen due to file attributes, here are some steps to potentially help you restore your old user profile:

1. Check User Profile Backup:
   • Verify that your backup of the user profile "Eddy" in its renamed location "D:\Users2\Eddy" is intact, ensuring that all necessary files are present.
   []Restore User Profile:
   • Run a restore operation from the backup location to the new SSD while ensuring proper file permissions are retained. This may involve manually copying over missing files or ensuring correct attributes.
   []Security and Permissions:
   • Check the security settings and permissions on the restored user profile folders to ensure that you have full access to all files and folders within your user profile.
   []Data Migration Tools:
   • Consider using specialized data migration tools that can help with transferring user profiles and associated attributes seamlessly. These tools can ensure that file attributes and permissions are maintained during the transfer process.
   []Reconfigure Registry Settings:
   • Confirm that the alterations made in the registry at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList correctly reflect the new location of the user profile directories.
   []Special Folders:
   • For missing protected folders like cookies, you may need to manually check and adjust their permissions to ensure they are accessible within the restored user profile.
   []Professional Assistance:
   • If the manual restoration process proves challenging or if data integrity is essential, consider seeking professional assistance from data recovery or IT specialists. They can provide tailored solutions based on the specifics of your situation. In the future, when transferring user profiles, it's recommended to use dedicated tools or methods to minimize the risk of data loss and ensure a smooth transition. Always back up critical data before making significant changes to your system. Taking caution and following these steps should help you recover your user profile successfully. Let me know if you need further assistance or encounter any specific issues during the restoration process.