Occam's razor still works

[grumpyduck]

Last edited Wed Nov 20, 2024, 03:49 PM - Edit history (1)

A few months ago, my second desktop, running Win 7, decided that my user profile wasn't working. Not quite the Blue Screen of Death, but enough that I could only run the computer in safe mode. So I started looking online for a solution and found a bunch of them that practically required a doctorate in computer science to understand. I called a computer repair shop and they basically told me the only way to fix it was to dump everything and reload Windows, which of course would have been 10. My biggest issue was that I had some software on it that I downloaded and paid for, and I didn't want to have to buy them again.

So yesterday, after talking with some folks about removing the hard drive and using it as an external drive and finding out that I probably would not be able to use the software on it due to its not being listed in the Windows register, I decided to look for a solution again.

And voila! I found a five-minute video that talked you through how to fix it. The guy started off by saying he wasn't going to talk about what caused it or why it happened, and just focus on what to do. It was so simple it was pitiful. Five minutes. A few simple steps. I don't know why I didn't find that video the first few times I looked, but there it was.

Yup, Occam's Razor still works.

[Edit] A couple of members asked for a link, so here it is: https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=win+7+user+profile#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:f7b9a41d,vid:rtw5N6SQBpA,st:0

[Phentex]

1. could you share a link

I've got an old laptop with issues. My kids did get me a new laptop but I still think there's some life in my old one and I want to figure out exactly what I plan to move to the new one.

I'd love to see a work around even if temporary!

[grumpyduck]

3. Done! it's in the OP where it should have been up front.

[Phentex]

4. Thank you!

[Fla Dem]

2. Glad you found a simple solution to your problem. Would probably help many on DU if you would share the link.

[canuckledragger]

5. If something like that happens again, try creating a new account.

Your original account stays as is, and there's easy ways to move the stuff you created (pictures, resumes, etc) to the new account, provided that it's an administrator account with full access.

Having worked tech support, both on and off of the phone, I've run into that kind of thing before. Reinstalling windows should be a last resort.

Also, as long as you have the original software, whether it's on a disk or just a downloaded app (the installer) and/or the security keys used to activate said software, you won't lose it.

[LudwigPastorius]

6. "Occam's razor still works"

Yes, and it's best used with Francis of Marchia's shaving cream.