so this is getting beyond my skills...

I was formatting & partitioning an external HDD and somehow my primary disk (disk0) got caught up in the mix... (using the W7 UI, not command prompt).

disk0 should be my primary disk with my OS, files, programs, etc.
disk2 is my external (empty for now)

disk0 is dynamic; partitioned into a system reserve & computer. neither is active (option to reactivate is not available). both are labeled as simple volumes. computer has boot, page file, and crash dump attributes

disk2 is basic; labeled as primary and active

so now, my computer with windows 7 can't find my user profile, etc. profile is back...

Event viewer items of note:

Quote :

"Windows was unable to load the registry. This problem is often caused by insufficient memory or insufficient security rights. DETAIL - The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process. for C:\Users\Bill\ntuser.dat"

Quote :

"Windows cannot load the locally stored profile. Possible causes of this error include insufficient security rights or a corrupt local profile. DETAIL - The process cannot access the file because it is being used by another process."

Quote :

"Windows cannot find the local profile and is logging you on with a temporary profile. Changes you make to this profile will be lost when you log off."

please don't tell me I need to to start over...

[Edited on February 8, 2010 at 3:18 PM. Reason : .]

[Edited on February 8, 2010 at 3:18 PM. Reason : .]

2/8/2010 2:49:06 PM

hmm... everything seems to be working now...

given my limited knowledge in this area...

should disk0 be basic or dynamic?
should my system reserved partition on disk0 be active? (can't reactivate it now...)
should my system reserved partition on disk0 be primary or simple?
should my "computer" partition on disk0 be active? (can't reactivate it now...)
should my "computer" partition on disk0 be primary or simple?

2/8/2010 3:36:20 PM

dynamic disks are the devil
avoid them at all costs

2/8/2010 9:00:37 PM

^

2/8/2010 9:19:17 PM

gawd dammmit evan. THAT MEANS I'VE GOT TO REFORMAT/REINSTALL.

2/8/2010 9:25:17 PM