User Account question (XP SP-2)

[Pilgrim]

I transferred an old Dell Dimension 2100 from a library in another town to our little local library for use there. It is running XP and is working just fine, especially after I upgraded the RAM from 128 gigs to 512 gigs.

There are "3" accounts on this PC: "Steve" (Admin), "Librarian" (Admin) and "Patron" (Limited). Evidently, "Steve" was the individual who used to maintain the PC's and network at the other library. Seeing that his account is no longer needed, I logged on to the "Librarian" Account, opened "User Accounts" with the intent to delete the "Steve" Account, but there was no option to delete it. So, I went into "System/Advanced/User Profiles" and deleted the account there. But the "Steve" Account still appears on the Logon screen and in the "User Accounts" applet. How can I remove the "Steve" Account completely?

I suspect, although it may be far fetched, that Steve modified a Registry entry which effectively removed the "Delete this user's account" option from the Control Panel/User Accounts options?

[Argus]

It would be much more interesting to know which edition of XP it is running, than to know it's running XP and got 512 gigs (GB?, don't think so).

I do expect it to be running XP since you've posted in the XP forum, but when it comes to certain parts of the OS there are differences between Home and Professional.

As to what you have done: Those two Windows tools you tried to use and used are not equivalent; i.e. it's not like: if I can't remove it there, I'll do it here.

One can delete accounts and files (in profile) (or keep the files, copying the files on the Desktop and in My Documents to a folder on the account currently logged on); the other one is for managing profiles.

There are so many possibilities here given the lack of information; for instance: it is possible it is a XP Pro PC and that the built-in Administrator account has been renamed to Steve (some do rename it for security reasons, some due to big ego), and also made a change to have the built-in Administrator account always showing on Welcome screen (i.e. it is possible to have the built-in Administrator always on Welcome screen).

So what kind of edition is it?

[Pilgrim]

Argus,

It is XP Home, I believe..... but unfortunately, I cannot be 100% sure.... yeh, yeh I know that sounds lame, but it's 4:30 a.m. here and I've been up for 2 hours already and my brain isn't 100% functional. It is possible it is PRO, but I will have to go back to the library and physically check to be sure. And, when I'm there I'll also check to see if the system Administrator account is listed separately from the others. If it is the Home version, I can check that in Safe Mode.

But, you did mention that the system Administrator account can be renamed, and if so, then that would definitely explain why there was no "Delete this account/user" option. So, just for fun, let's assume that the machine is XP Pro and that the system Administrator account has been renamed to "Steve", which also shows under "My Documents and Settings". What is the easiest way to remove the name? I'm assuming, of course, that this particular account has its peculiarities not shared with the typical Account with Admin privileges and thus must be dealt with in a different manner.

[DaveA]

One way of telling if a account has been renamed, the folder under "Documents and Settings" will have the old account name as the folder name.

One should be able to rename the renamed account to whatever one wants.

[Argus]

I would think that securing install media and Administrator account would be the first thing to do when moving a PC. Since it seems that the PC is moved, some small modifications are done, but no clean install of OS, it is important to secure access to the Administrator account, before going deleting profiles etc. (Don't think I have to remind anyone that the built-in Administrator account is the only one with access to the Recovery Console.)

You're correct in that, as we all know the Administrator account on Home is only available from Safe mode. However, if someone has logged on to the Administrator account at least once, so the profile is created, the profile can be seen by other members of the administrator group in Normal mode in Windows Explorer, as I pointed out in <!post=this post,558309>this post<!/post> (plus CP System > Advanced > User Profiles). Though, the account isn't shown in CP User Accounts in Normal mode (but can be shown with control userpasswords2).

As to the question you asked: "remove the name". It is a lack of information here. Any account's name can be changed (<!post=but there's a difference between full user name and user name,558165>but there's a difference between full user name and user name<!/post>). But since you don't know which account's profile you removed (other than it was called Steve), a little more information is necessary.

And what was it you said: you went and removed a profile and in your reply say: "also shows under "My Documents and Settings"", is it still left?

The mystery deepens. <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15>

[Pilgrim]

Argus,

The PC was "moved" physically from one location to another.... nothing more nor less. <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15> Sorry I haven't provided any feedback on this issue but I have not had the opportunity to venture over to the Library since the last time. I hope to do that in the next day or so.

I do know which account's profile I removed from the "CP/System/Advanced/User Accounts" list... it was "Steve". And after doing so, I did check under "Documents and Settings" and the "Steve" folder was still there. I had previously gone into "CP/User Accounts", logged in as Librarian, and removed the password from the Steve account thinking that unless I did that, it would most likely be "locked" and I wouldn't be able to remove/delete that account.

My next move will be to run the "control userpasswords2" command line and see if I can delete the profile/account that way... IF <-------- that is recommended. I certainly don't want to make matters worse. And if it helps, when the machine boots into Windows, the global "Login" dialog appears and not the "Welcome Screen". Thus, one has to type in a username and password to login to any of the accounts.

[Argus]

<hr>My next move will be to run the "control userpasswords2" command line and see if I can delete the profile/account that way... IF <-------- that is recommended.<hr>

I would first find out what XP edition it's running, Then find the Administrator account.

After that, if you have to work with the accounts, it can be done from either the Administrator account or the "Librarian" (member of the admin. group), as you know.

I understand it was moved, nothing more nor less, you were the one who said you upgraded the RAM (i.e. as I said "small modifications"). But since no install of the OS, it is essential to find the Administrator account and its PW.

"I do know which account's profile I removed from the "CP/System/Advanced/User Accounts" list ..."

Yes, I said you knew it was called Steve, but you hadn't located all accounts. And you went to CP/System/Advanced/User Profiles; not "...Advanced/User Accounts".

In the first post you also mixed talk about accounts and user profiles. Different tries of deleting an account:
"... there was no option to delete it. So, I went into "System/Advanced/User Profiles" and deleted the account there."
You don't delete accounts in User Profiles.

As to removing passwords on an account before deleting; not necessary. Another thing to do before, if one like, that MS mention as a general good idea is to disable the account first, and if no problem then delete it.

[Argus]

Forgot to add:
Typing; "net user" at the command prompt will show a list of user accounts on the PC (Home or Pro, Normal Mode or Safe Mode).

[Pilgrim]

Just reporting back on this issue which is now resolved. I booted into Safe Mode and ran the "control userpasswords2" command and deleted the unwanted Account. BTW, the machine is running Win XP Pro.

<IMG SRC=http://www.the-highway.com/Smileys/thanks2.gif>