Clean up a deleted account


  1. Posts : 10,455
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
       #1

    Clean up a deleted account


    Hi All,

    I had a problem with one of my accounts, Fortunately there was no real data in it. It was just used as a second admin account in case my main one got corrupted. Anyway I tried to login to it today and kept getting set up on a temporary profile because of a sharing problem even directly from a boot. So I deleted that account and set up a new backup admin account but it has left a few bits and pieces around.

    1. The user folders.
    2. The media player device in my network.
    3. The temporary user files that were created when I tried to logon.

    Can I safely delete the user folders.
    How do I get rid of the media player device?

    Is there anything else likely to be left lying around?

    I'd be grateful for any advice.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,668
    Windows 7 x64
       #2

    I've had this issue with user accounts before, but never a admin account. I would be cautious about forcing more changes to it, since it was apparently the original root admin account, it could have information about your windows installation and some programs attached to it.

    Hopefully there is someone here that's had direct personal experience with your problem because that warning is really all I can offer.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 10,455
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thank's Maguscrred, It wasn't the original admin account created when the system was installed, that is still ok. It was one I created later as a backup.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,668
    Windows 7 x64
       #4

    in that case you should be relatively safe then.
    The worst thing that could happen is you'll have to do the account repair thing in the tutorials.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 10,455
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks. I'll have a look at the account repair.



    Update: The method I followed to delete the account was the same as Dwarf's tutorial. I chose not to keep the files yet the user and its files are still there. I can't find anything else in the tutorials.
    Last edited by kado897; 14 Mar 2011 at 16:05. Reason: Update
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6,618
    W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
       #6

    In a similar vein, I just had a similar problem, in that for some reason one of my accounts no longer appeared on the selection window on startup. It was the original account, with admin privileges, because I enabled the built-in admin somewhat later. When I checked in User Accounts, the option to use it as a regular account was marked, and when I tried to change it back to an admin account, the button to apply that change would gray out. I don't really understand that, because it has always worked as a backup in that fashion in the past. I just like to have a back door of my own...just in case. I suppose that I can use elevated privileges if needed, but then I will have to get accustomed to that.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 10,455
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I never activated the built-in admin account so I had two standard admin accounts it was the second of these that failed.

    I am a bit leary about deleting too much as there are a fair number of registry entries that refer to it.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,618
    W7x64 Pro, SuSe 12.1/** W7 x64 Pro, XP MCE
       #8

    You don't really have to delete it, because I assume that you are the only one that can access it anyway. It just takes a little space on the login window.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 10,455
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Its gone from the login window. Its the user files and the media player device I want to get rid of.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 10,455
    Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Current Status


    Hi All,

    An update on my status.

    1. Got rid of the Media Player device by following the tutorial on rebuilding the media player library.

    2. Deleted the User files for the Corrupt Account

    3. Ran checkdisk which repaired the MFT. (Guess this may have been the original problem)

    All seems to be going OK but am now left with 10 registry entries which refer to the account. Can someone have a look at them and advise?
    Clean up a deleted account Attached Files
      My Computer


 

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