Unknown User in Firefox Properties

[tidybear12]

I see this weird User when I right-click on Firefox Properties on my desktop.


Does anyone know what this might be and how I get rid of it?


With Admin status, I was able to alter the permissions, but not to eliminate them entirely.


Pic attached.
Thanks.

 

[lehnerus2000]

The picture suggests that the shortcut was created by a user who no longer exists, or exists on a different (previous?) install.

Did you transfer your setup to another Windows install (e.g. copy your desktop to a different PC)?

 

[samuria]

The sid is what the pc sees as the user not the name but that usershas gone so it showing the sid as there is no name

 

[tidybear12]

I see. Well I did buy this laptop used. So it's possible this is a remnant from the previous owner.

Thanks guys! Makes me breathe a little easier. I say "a little" because I have another, different concern. It needs a new thread though.)

 

[Megahertz07]

I would never use / trust a second hand computer without reinstalling everything myself. Not to mention that Windows collects a lot of trash over the years that slows down everything.
OEM computers comes with a Factory restore function that will format the C: partition and load an image from the Recover partition. If it doesn't have it anymore you can always reinstall windows using the key on the COA sticker (under the battery).

 

[tidybear12]

Oh dear.... gulp. That was several years ago, and honestly, I never thought of it. I of course swept it with all sorts of virus scanners and so forth and it's turned up clean every time.


At this point it's too late to do a clean install, at least, it is for someone like myself who doesn't know what she's doing. I am bound to mess something up and I need this laptop to work without interruption.



But I definitely will do what you said if I ever buy a used machine again.



Come to think of it, doesn't refurbished mean everything was cleaned out and reinstalled? (I guess not, since there are remnants of the previous user in the permissions. But it was certainly advertised as such.)


Wait, are you saying with any Windows computer you can do this, reinstall it with the key that might be on the inside near the battery? Because I have another one that's used, a small notebook that I can't get into anymore because I lost the password. (Like I said, I'm terrible with this stuff.)


I always thought Microsoft won't let you do anything unless you can prove you bought it new.

 

[Megahertz07]

Wait, are you saying with any Windows computer you can do this, reinstall it with the key that might be on the inside near the battery? Because I have another one that's used, a small notebook that I can't get into anymore because I lost the password. (Like I said, I'm terrible with this stuff.)


I always thought Microsoft won't let you do anything unless you can prove you bought it new.

OEM computers (HP, Dell, Lenovo...) comes with a utility that you can launch from BIOS to do a Factory recover. It will reinstall Windows and you finish as the computer came from factory. It is the easiest way as you don't need to look for drivers.
Another way is to use a Win 7 installation disk and the key on the COA sticker. In this case you will need to download some drivers from the web.

If you don't remember the windows password, there are many (payed) programs to reset it or you can use a Linux boot able flash disk to reset it. I can guide you if you wish to try.

 

[tidybear12]

Thanks for offering to help, Megahertz. I really appreciate it. - So from what I understand there are 3 methods to go about a solution.



My preference would be the BIOS way. I believe I may have installed Linux over the Windows 7 at one point so there is probably no Windows password to recover anymore, lol.



I am going to get it charged up and see what happens when I try to do the factory recover.