User Account Not Deleted

[xDennoidx]

Hello, I deleted a test account called Administrator, I went to Computer>Properties>Advanced system settings>User Profiles and selected the account and pressed Delete, it disappeared in the menu but when I start my computer again I still see Administrator show up in the log on menu. Then I tried to go into C:>Users and tried to delete the Administrator folder there but it said that it was opened and I could not delete it. Please help!

 

[xDennoidx]

I searched up all over the internet and still could not find an answer.

 

[BlueCat57]

There is a "Hidden" Administrator account in Windows 7 (and other versions as well). Unfortunately I am not an expert so I can't specifically answer your question, but it is possible that something you did "enabled" this hidden account.

I am looking for a solution to a different issue but I can recall a couple of things I've seen during my search.

1. Search for "disable built in administrator account" and see if that works in your situation. Please search and read before trying anything. Also back up your system or at least your data before you do anything. Here is one article I found. http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/enable-the-hidden-administrator-account-on-windows-vista/

2. Try starting your computer in Safe Mode. I believe you hit the F8 key (repeatedly) during start up. I'm suggesting this because several of the articles suggesting restarting your computer to "unlock" the user accounts. Since you are getting a message that the Administrator folder is open it is possible that you have to somehow close the folder to allow you to delete it.

Hopefully these unexpert suggestions will either spark answers from experts or help you find a solution on your own. Sometimes you just have to fiddle until you come up with a solution.

 

[ste_wilko]

type cmd into the windows search bar, when cmd comes up in the results right click it and choose run as administrator.

Once it has started type: net user Administrator /active:no then press enter. You should get a message that says the operation completed successfully

 

[BlueCat57]

type cmd into the windows search bar, when cmd comes up in the results right click it and choose run as administrator.

Once it has started type: net user Administrator /active:no then press enter. You should get a message that says the operation completed successfully

Is there a way to list the accounts before making the change? Yes. Just type in "net user" without the quotes. It will list the accounts across one line, not vertically so look carefully.

It listed Administrator on my system even though I don't think it is active. There might be a command to list only the active accounts. Maybe ste_wilko can provide that modifier (is that the right term?).

 

[ste_wilko]

I don't think there is a way to check what accounts are active on the machine. It just tells you what accounts are there. I know for certain that my guest and admin accounts are not active, yet they are still displayed

 

[BlueCat57]

Here is another tidbit to file under possibly useful trivia. I tried to set up a Windows User Account named Restricted. Surprise, surprise, I was told it already existed! Apparently it is yet another hidden, "undocumented" account.

There is another hidden user account called something like "UpdatusUser". Or at least a folder by that name appears in the User folder. I'm doing a system upgrade and I spotted it when I was looking for files I wanted to back up.