Unable to delete original User File from C after moving?


  1. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #1

    Hi, I've followed your instructions trouble free till the last point - deleting the User file from the original location (C).
    I'm solely logged in as an admin in a temp user account but get the message Folder in Use - open in another program!


    I've set up a temp user account to move my User File from C to another drive.
    Move to E seems OK, however unable to delete original file, message shows:
    Folder in Use: open in another program.
    Last edited by Brink; 05 Jan 2012 at 13:00. Reason: merged
      My Computer

  2.    #2

    Did you follow these steps? User Profile - Change Default Location
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Yes, Method 1, to the letter, all the way to 15. To Delete the User Profile from the Old Location
    New location showing on E but cannot delete old C file, get the @Folder in Use' message.
    Explorer shows the User Files with a padlock?
      My Computer

  4.    #4

    For security reasons Win7 will not allow deleting or changing the name of the original Admin account folder which is set up at installation.

    You can delete the account itself in Control Panel>User Accounts but the shell folder will remain.

    You can copy over the contents to your new User Account and then just ignore the old one.
    Last edited by gregrocker; 06 Jan 2012 at 11:12.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Greg, I'm not trying to change the name or delete the original account, simply delete the now obsolete User File containing My Music etc. from the C drive.
    Equally I am not able to delete the temporary xfer file I created - the same Folder in Use message...
    There are three user accounts: gazinho, Public & xfer all showing with padlocks - nothing I have done, I didn't even create Public. I'd like to delete them as I don't want them on my startup screen.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Unable to delete original User File from C after moving?-img_2088.jpg  
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #6

    Did you try going to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\User Accounts\Manage another Account and try to delete them? You will be given the option of saving that users files or deleting them.
      My Computer

  7.    #7

    Then I'd post the issue in the tutorial's comments so the author can help you with it.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 4
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Thank you Britton30, I suppose if we all the did the obvious first time round these forum pages would be empty!

    Your solution worked and my trying within explorer was rubbish, however I have a remaining query/issue:
    explorerer still shows 3 users (Admin, my primary account - locked, and Public(?) - locked)
    On booting up the primary account, the only account to show on the start up screen, shows as locked although just clicking on it opens the account.
    In Control Panel, User Accounts show the primary account and a Guest account (off), is this the same as Public in explorer?
    Do I need to unlock these? And if so how do it do it? I never knowingly locked these Users Accounts.

    Having deleted the temporary xfer account I find I still cannot delete the now defunct C drive primary account folder & files, but I guess as greg suggested, I should just ignore them?
    Hopefully all goes to the E drive & nothing will get directed to them in the future.

    Thank you both for the assistance, since this is likely to be a more & more common need by users of SSDs hopefully the future might bring a more user friendly method for the layman? Some form of drag and drop would be brilliant!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 24,479
    Windows 7 Ultimate X64 SP1
       #9

    Cool, good to hear you got some of your objective. I don't know what Locked on an account is. I've ;ocked mine and as you found, a click opens it up so I don't know why it's there. It may be to keep Windows from writing to it while locked. I, however, don't know how to unlock them, mine went unlocked after I reopened it.
    Sure, you can just ignore the un-delete-able files. Public folders are those accessible to all users on one machine. The guest account is not Public and has really limited access.
      My Computer


 

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