Windows Doing Strange Things

I have just turned on my laptop - Acer Aspire 5720 running Vista.

It said preparing your desktop. I wondered why. When it logged on I had the default desktop I had when I first got the laptop. The same when I clicked on the Start button - the same menu I had when I got the laptop.

It is not the desktop theme my laptop had when I turned it off earlier today. The menu in Start is not the same. The files that were saved to my desktop are no longer there. My default browser is no longer Firefox but Explorer.

As far as I can tell the software I've downloaded to my laptop is still there.

Why would my laptop have done this? More importantly, what can I do to rectify this problem?

 

What user accounts do you see now in Control Panel? Is your old username there, and is there now another?

 

>> Why would my laptop have done this? More importantly, what can I do to rectify this problem? <<

A couple of questions: (1) How many "users" are listed there on your laptop? Are you sure that you are logging in as the user prior to the problem.(2) Have you recently gone to Windows Update?

The extremely "good news" is that the software downloaded to the laptop is still there. Also, I forgot to ask: Do you mean 'previously' downloaded and currently installed programs are still there?

Side Note: As a LAST resort performing a Windows System Restore to an earlier Restore Point might solve the problem, especially since you said that the downloaded programs were unaffected.

However before attempting to performe any System Restore; you might want to wait until some other folks chime in here.

Good Luck! -- COMP​

 

I feel completely foolish, stupid and embarassed. This is what has happened. There are two user accounts on this laptop. The other user has thus far never logged on to this computer. It appears I have inadvertently logged on to that account. It was not apparent until I went in to Control Panel and looked who the users were. I have logged out and logged in to my account. That is fine.

My only excuse for accepting something might be wrong is that I do definitely have another problem with the same laptop (a problem with Windows Defencer).

I apologise for wasting the time of you both but thank you very much for offering your advice.

I shall not start a thread with my Windows Defender problem.

 

>> thank you very much for offering your advice mark59 <<

Hi Mark... Actually, nothing pleases me more than an "easy fix" for someone who comes in with a problem which then is quickly resolved. Ask anyone in here and I believe they'll tell you the same.

Seriously, if you're having a Windows Defender software problem; feel free to post it here in this software forum. We're happy to help if we can, really.

Good Luck! -- COMP​

 

The upside of mistakes like that is that you can be sure you will never do it again