Installed RAM + HD, and then... eep!

[JYeager11]

I just installed 2GB of additional ram, and installed a new HD at the same
time.

Both seem to have worked fine (they show up in the systems reports, and I'm
formatting the new drive as I type this), except for one small problem...
LOCAL USER could not be found when I booted back up. Smack in the middle of
the Welcome screen during the boot-up process, I was told the local user
account had a problem and that I'd be assigned a "temp" account, which was
virginal - no shortcuts, no automatic messenger sign-in... the OS was
untouched; save for the programs installed which were all still visibly
there (but the Start Menu program order had reverted back to before I
ordered it properly).

Also visibly there is my usual account. Let's call it "Charlie". I can see
it under Documents and Settings, along with "All Users" and - what's this? -
"Charlie.Machine", where Machine = name I gave the machine when I installed
the OS.

- All Users
- Charlie
- Charlie.Machine <-- Huh?

But when I go to USERS in the Control Panel, however, I see only "Charlie".

And when I hit Start Button, it tells me I'm "Charlie". But I'm clearly
not -- I must be "Charlie.Machine". How else to explain that I seem to be a
brand new user on my own machine even though I'm not?

How do I regain "Charlie" and everything inherent with that account? Even
Outlook Express asked me to re-enter this news account from scratch for me
to post this.

Help?

 

[JYeager11]

I'm SOOL, aren't I?

 

[RoBo]

This computer is not part of a domain right?

I think now would be a good time to format and reinstall.