Delete old user account that's maybe corrupt

[T R Finlay]

Win 7. PC. How do I delete an old user account that I cannot delete from the User Accounts page. I tried removing it using the User Accounts option, but many of the files remain. This account does not appear in the Add or Remove User Accounts page? I've already moved all the data files to another account.


The folder for this old User Account and the remaining files appear in the tree view using Windows Explorer under C: Users. I need all files (that won't crash the PC) removed and the folder for this user name deleted. It does not seem like a good idea to just delete the remaining files, and some can't be deleted anyway because of some permissions issue.


Thanks for any help!

 

[townsbg]

We have a tutorial for permission issues. Ignore #3. That's for registry keys.
Permissions - Allow or Deny Users and Groups

 

[T R Finlay]

I need to add one thing that may be a key to this: The 'old' user I'm trying to remove was a user name I had before having to reinstall Win 7, due to a possible malware or other virus issue. I have an HP machine, and it has a 'D' partition for reinstalling Windows. So I used the process of reinstalling that involves that 'D' partition. (Have full backup on an external drive, fortunately.)


After this reinstall, this previous 'user' and some files remained visible in the Windows Explorer file tree. Not as a user in that view.

 

[RolandJS]

Once you determine which folders and which files can be safely removed, you can boot any puppy linux dvd or usb, tree climb...and delete those folders and files. Make sure you a restorable OS partition full image just in case.

 

[T R Finlay]

" Once you determine which folders and which files can be safely removed, you can boot any puppy linux dvd or usb, tree climb...and delete those folders and files. Make sure you a restorable OS partition full image just in case."


Unfortunately I do not have the knowledge or skills to do what you suggest, or to understand some of the terms you list. No idea what a 'puppy linux' might be (although I do believe that I know what Linux is - a freeware OS), 'tree climb' and 'restorable OS partition full image' are beyond my experience. Nor would I know how to determine which folders or files could be safely removed.


My goal is to clean up my system before installing Win 10. Maybe I'm in a place here where my limited technical knowledge does not belong.


Thanks for the suggestions, though.

 

[RolandJS]

Sorry, I am on an android tablet w/o keyboard, have to TerseOneStylusType. If we need to approach stuff that I terse-typed, I can use home-based windows laptop with full keyboard.

 

[Barman58]

Best thing is to try following this Tutorial - User Account - Delete

It starts with the basic method that you have already tried, but then gives sequentially more powerful options. The Author, our Admin Shawn Brink, will usually be online during US Central Time hours if you have any specific questions before you start

 

[T R Finlay]

Sorry, I am on an android tablet w/o keyboard, have to TerseOneStylusType. If we need to approach stuff that I terse-typed, I can use home-based windows laptop with full keyboard.

Thank you. My main goal is to get this PC ready for a Win 10 install. Will old and currently unused user accounts (that I can still see in the file tree under C:/users using Win Explorer present a problem? Or will the Win 10 install process ignore previous 'scraps' of old unused Win 7 user accounts and wait for me to create new ones? I appreciate any help.



The next post after yours mentions a 'delete user' tutorial, which I am going to check out. Hopefully I'll learn something.



Thanks again!


Tom F.

 

[RolandJS]

I recommend following Barman's suggestion - deleting un-needed, in-active, accounts before installing W10. Barman suggestion are good as gold, he will not steer you wrong.

 

[T R Finlay]

I recommend following Barman's suggestion - deleting un-needed, in-active, accounts before installing W10. Barman suggestion are good as gold, he will not steer you wrong.

Sorry for the delay in responding, I was out of town (and my access is my home PC).


I appreciate the thoughtful replies.



I followed a couple of steps in the tutorial that was recommended, and the account I am trying to delete did not show in the view(s) of existing users. So, based on some advice I got here a bit over a year ago, I tried deleting the 'old' (unwanted) user account using the command prompt as administrator (using the 'rd' command). All of the files attached to that user folder are now gone, but the folder itself remains.



When I try and delete that unwanted user folder (named 'TomF') at the command prompt (run as administrator), I get a message that says:



c:\users\Tomf\AppData\Local\ELEVAT~1\339146~1 -Access is denied


and another line identical to that one with a different number after \local\ELEVAT~1\


Yet when I look at the file tree in either Windows Explorer, or at the command prompt using the 'Dir' command (in the Users\Tomf directory), no folders or files show. Does 'AppData' store information somewhere in the system that must first be removed before you can delete a 'user' that once had 'AppData' associated with it? O boy!



I guess the question is: what now?


Thanks again!

 

[RolandJS]

I was going to suggest a puppy linux boot and delete that pesky folder, however, let's run that by wise counsel in here before doing that.

 

[T R Finlay]

I was going to suggest a puppy linux boot and delete that pesky folder, however, let's run that by wise counsel in here before doing that.

Well, thanks. I will await further counsel in this thread. I take it that you can advise how to do the puppy Linux boot when the time comes.



Thanks again! Tom F.

 

[RolandJS]

Well, thanks. I will await further counsel in this thread. I take it that you can advise how to do the puppy Linux boot when the time comes. Thanks again! Tom F.

Yes in theory, not very well in practice, mon-fri at school, with an android tablet and one-stylus-typing, with all my windows library and walk-throughs solidly at home. I can "roadsign" you at best.

 

[T R Finlay]

Yes in theory, not very well in practice, mon-fri at school, with an android tablet and one-stylus-typing, with all my windows library and walk-throughs solidly at home. I can "roadsign" you at best.

I can certainly wait until you have access to your 'tools' and a proper keyboard. (Remember 'PC Tools?' Old DOS utility?)

Does this info from a previous post by me in this thread shed any light on my being unable to delete that rascally User folder?

When I try and delete that unwanted user folder (named 'TomF') at the command prompt (run as administrator), I get a message that says:

c:\users\Tomf\AppData\Local\ELEVAT~1\339146~1 -Access is denied

and another line identical to that one with a different number after \local\ELEVAT~1\

Yet when I look at the file tree in either Windows Explorer, or at the command prompt using the 'Dir' command (in the Users\Tomf directory), no folders or files show. Does 'AppData' store information somewhere in the system that must first be removed before you can delete a 'user' that once had 'AppData' associated with it?

??