While setting up a client's computer for first time use I accidentally entered the client's name as `Pete instead of just Pete. Notice the little mark before Pete. I didn't and it ended costing me quite of bit of time. While installing new programs half of them failed. I was completely baffled and tried a few solutions before noticing that I had put a mark before the user's name. The user name of course affects the user folder where many installations write files to App Data etc. Installations that were trying to install files to the user folder were failing all because I had inadvertently bumped my keyboard while typing in the user name. Apparently, tilde marks are not allowed in folder names.
To solve this I tried to simply rename the user in User Accounts. However, all that does is change the appearance of the username in the Start Menu and User Account screen. The user folder retained its original mistake. I finally had to create a new administrator user with the right name, delete the user with the mistake but keep that user's files and transfer them to the new user. What a mess; all from one inadvertent key stroke.
Does anyone else have stories of similarly stupid, seemingly minor mistakes that cost you a lot of time and aggravation?
To solve this I tried to simply rename the user in User Accounts. However, all that does is change the appearance of the username in the Start Menu and User Account screen. The user folder retained its original mistake. I finally had to create a new administrator user with the right name, delete the user with the mistake but keep that user's files and transfer them to the new user. What a mess; all from one inadvertent key stroke.
Does anyone else have stories of similarly stupid, seemingly minor mistakes that cost you a lot of time and aggravation?