Vista - After Repair Install for Vista x64 User Profile Has Changed

I installed a game that had the starforce driver as a requirement. Afterward my computer became unbootable as Vista x64 requires all signed drivers and this starforce driver wasn't. So following the advice of both Windows Vista's error message and some documentation online I did a Repair from the Vista DVD.

After the repair the computer booted but now my profile is severly messed up. I already had to reinstall my antivirus, firefox reverted back to a previous version and lost my profile. and now the buttons that link to my profiles folders (i.e. Documents, Pictures, etc...) on the start menu won't work at all.

I think something has happened where Vista knows my profile is there but thanks to the repair it has lost all the linkage too it.

My computers specifications if it helps.

Intel Q6600, Asus Formula II
ThermalTake 700watt
nVidia 8800gtx
Windows Vista x64 Ultimate SP1
*This is a fully licensed OEM copy of Vista and not a pirated build. I am using it because I want to use a 64bit operating system on my PC to take advantage of lots of RAM. XP 64 bit has very little support so Vista it is.*

Does anyone have an idea on what could help fix this for me?

I did some more investigating as to what could fix the problem and now I am really stumped.

I went to the registry "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Explorer\Shell Folders" where Windows is supposed to take its que as to where the system folders are. All I found there was correct settings.



Next I went and tried to use iTunes which tells you where the profile is stored. Sure enough it had lost all its settings but at least it told me where it was now looking for my profile.



So I go to upload these images to my web server to share them on here using FlashFXP. It has its own file browser which I set to take me to my documents folder, upon opening it up I am taken to the same path as in iTunes. After I manually navigate to my documents folder in C:/Users/Lane I am confronted with this.



My folders have been duped and even if I delete one they just come right back.

Now I face the prospect of having to backup all my stuff and doing a full reinstall (3 - 6 hours) in order to get my system usable again. I have been trying to defend Vista but this seems to be a really big show stopping bug that I would like to make Microsoft aware of.

Google StarForce and the issues it causes. It's not a Microsoft issue, it's
a legal, public virus that StarForce put out dubbing it "anti-piracy"
measures.

--

Dustin Harper
dharper@xxxxxx
http://www.vistarip.com | Vista Resource & Information Page

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"lanec" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:4c13e801cafab3af19636239545c1fe8@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

Starforce caused the unbootable issue but Microsofts repair utility did the profile damage making the whole profile swapping to the Windows folder a Microsoft issue.

lanec wrote:In your website, http://www.lanecampbell.com/

you state you are a partner at ZipZap Technologies, an IT company, http://www.zigzap.com/homepage/

Quote from the blurb:
"Give us a call today (800) 785 9064 and let us solve your problems. "

Why are you seeking help in a newsgroup , populated mainly by amateurs,
when you have 'professionals' at hand ?

You say "I have been trying to defend Vista but this seems to be a really big show
stopping bug that I would like to make Microsoft aware of."

Try picking up the phone, I'm sure the number is in the book.
..

I am not sure why it is relevant to my question but I posted this this here to start a public thread about it. I have another post going in TechNet and I intended to post the solution here so others could use it if someone on these forums had a similar experience.