Cannot Delete Original User Account in Refurbished Win 7 Laptop

[CAG43]

I recently purchased an HP 8460p Win 7 Pro 64 bit refurbished laptop that came with Windows already installed and configured to run under User name, hp.
I would like to change the User name to CAG. Therefore, I went to User Accounts then to the Control Panel, clicked on Manage Another Account and created User Account, CAG. Next, I shut down the computer, restarted and signed in under CAG, and when I did this, I found a folder had been created on my System partition for user, CAG with sub accounts.

Next, I clicked on Administrative Tools/Computer Management and under Local Users and Groups I found user, CAG with a path to home folder, C/Users?CAG. Everything seemed cool except that I needed to delete hp. So I copied the contents of hp's sub folders to CAG and tried to delete hp. When I clicked on Delete, I was told I needed Administrative Rights to delete the folder. That was over one week ago. I am still trying to obtain the Administrative right to delete hp.
Can anyone help me?

 

[samuria]

Welcome to the forum you will have to take ownership of the folder and sub folders did you delete the actual account as that normally gives an option to delete files.Are you sure the new account is administrator before you get into trouble

 

[Megahertz07]

The way to delete an account is to go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\User Accounts\Manage Accounts click on your account than mange another accout select Hp and delete - delete files

 

[CAG43]

Welcome to the forum you will have to take ownership of the folder and sub folders did you delete the actual account as that normally gives an option to delete files.Are you sure the new account is administrator before you get into trouble

I did all of the above and when I start up the computer, it reverts back to the original owner.
CAG43

 

[Megahertz07]

As you'll never know what has been installed on a refurbished computer, I'll suggest you to do a Factory Recover.
It will format the HDD and load a Windows as it was released from HP.
HP PCs - Performing an HP System Recovery (Windows 7) | HP(R) Customer Support

 

[RolandJS]

You might have to temporarily activate the built-in admin acct to gain the power to delete the previous owner's acct.

"I would like to change the User name to CAG." -- renaming the previous owner's account? Or, did you mean creating a new account named CAG? Renaming any account does not change its "root" name.

 

[Ztruker]

Is the CAG account an Administrator account?

 

[AddRAM]

Why did you copy the contents of the hp user to your new account ???

I would do as Mega has advised, either do a factory restore if possible, or even better do a clean install, But that would require more work. Finding drivers etc.

 

[RolandJS]

Is the CAG account an Administrator account?

I hope it is, maybe then all the problems can be solved.

 

[CAG43]

In response to AddRam,
I copied the contents of hp into my user account in hopes that I could then, delete hp.
Also, I was able to make myself the administrator/owner with no problem which is why I cannot understand hp still remaining on the hard drive as Ztrucker asked about.
Thank you so much for your continuing help!
I am determined to get to the bottom of this!
CAG

 

[CAG43]

In response to Roland S>J>
I did make CAG an administrator account which is why this whole thing baffles me.
If I was able to make it myself the owner/administrator, why would the original owner not "delete" after I followed all the instructions in the manual.
I followed the entire script on how to delete a user account from the help manual to the very end where it came to "special permissions" and the box could not be accessed.

CAG43

 

[RolandJS]

You might end up simply deactivating HP. Let a week or two go by, making sure the deactivation does not affect any installed programs whether Windows or 3rd party. I have never deleted an original owner admin-level acct, so I'm learning alongside you.

 

[CAG43]

In response to Megahertz07,
when I went to control panel, all control panel users did not pop up so I went on to user accounts, clicked on my account, (CAG) and manage another account.
Guess what? hp was not there! BUT, it still appears when I go into users and all my files still go into hp.

In response to Roland JS,
I have never activated the built in administrator account to gain the previous owners account.
Where can I find out how to do this?
I am willing top try everything!

CAG43

 

[RolandJS]

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...ilt-in-administrator-account-in-windows-vista
I know it says Vista, however, the steps are pretty much the same. If I find W7 specific, I will amend this post.
Try this one first:
Enable the (Hidden) Administrator Account on Windows 7, 8, or 10

 

[CAG43]

Cannot Delete Original User Account

In reply to RolandJS, thank you for those two websites.
I will try them and see which one works.
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Thank you so much.
CAG43