Re associate files with deleted profile (?)

Hi All,

I have a older but great Dell that I upgraded to Windows 10 (from 7). It has never caused issues but the other day windows updated and my primary user profile disappeared completely. I tried a few tricks but no luck and I guess I never set a back-up milestone (my bad). I back up files to a remote but I do not ghost the OS or drive.

I found the files through the user profiles on the drive and am copying to my remote HD.

What I would like to recover is the profile or re-link it because my e-mail, files, online autofills and history, shortcuts, program preferences and plug-ins....everything...all needs set up like a new comp. So is there any way I can relink this with a new user profile or recover the original?

Thanks in advance!

One thing I just thought of. Obviously my profile would have been associated with Win7. When Win10 updates and the "Lets set you up" screen starts I always bypass it. This time I was distracted and it was sitting on the Win Account login step and I logged in using that account - which I only set up for Microsoft purchases, Xbox and Mail...I am wondering if that is now shepparding me in as a new user on the PC...because when I set up the Win7 profile (waaay back when) there were not really these global account models that associated all devices to one person (user profile).

Hi Rustys - thanks for the reply. When I check User Accounts in the CP I only see the old Admin account I always had (that I only used for repairs). But originally I had 2 - that admin account and I also had a different account under my name (set up back win this still ran as Win7) - thats the one I am trying to recover.

In the CP there is a second account that also has my name but is showing as the administrator (which my previous name account never was ). So now I have still have two accounts - one called Admin I had set up and one that has my name, is also is calling me the admin but has nothing of my past files or anything else...just live a fresh slate . The previous account with my name - call it "Name Win7" for this conversation, seems inaccessible - as in it doesn't even have an option to select it.

Its like when I logged in with my Microsoft login by mistake during that update to the PC it over-wrote the existing NameWin account.

That's all I can think of. If I go to the start / windows symbol and click on my logged-in icon it says "Admin", when I click that it shows my name (and sign-out and lock and "change account settings"). I went into the "change account settings" and unchecked the option to automatically sign in with my MS account after restart. But still when I log out o restart it seems to just route me back in as this "New" Name/Admin account.

Its really confusing even for me I am not sure if that made any sense. Hopefully it did.

Edit: grammar fix

Malnutrition said:

Have you tried a system restore?

How to Use System Restore on Windows 10 and Windows 11

System Restore is a Windows feature that can help fix some crashes and other computer problems. Here’s how System Restore works, how to set it up, and how to use it to fix PC problems on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

www.howtogeek.com

You can also use Everything Search Engine to find files easier.

I'd try a system restore from the recovery console, if normal system restore does not work.

Go here

Recovery options in Windows - Microsoft Support

Learn about the recovery options in Windows. Find out how to reset your PC, go back to a previous version of Windows, or use media to reinstall Windows.

support.microsoft.com

View attachment 11270

Makre sure windows 10 is selected at the top of this menu. Select Use Installation media to restore your PC for instructions.

Click to expand...

Thank you for this information!