I'm using Windows XP-Home and see 7 profiles in the Windows Explorer:
Administrator, Administrator.Loris-1, All Users, Compaq_Owner, Default user,
Guest, and Guest.Loris-1. However, at the Windows login screen, only the
Compaq_Owner and Guest User accounts show up. Logging in with Guest,
actually takes me to the Guest.Loris-1 set of folders. Why are these showing
up in the Windows Explorer but not in User Accounts, which of these are
unnecessary and how can they safely be deleted?

"Loris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:7A96E99D-A1D7-4120-AC51-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm using Windows XP-Home and see 7 profiles in the Windows Explorer:
> Administrator, Administrator.Loris-1, All Users, Compaq_Owner, Default
> user,
> Guest, and Guest.Loris-1. However, at the Windows login screen, only the
> Compaq_Owner and Guest User accounts show up. Logging in with Guest,
> actually takes me to the Guest.Loris-1 set of folders. Why are these
> showing
> up in the Windows Explorer but not in User Accounts, which of these are
> unnecessary and how can they safely be deleted?

Here we go:
- Administrator, Administrator.Loris-1: In WinXP home, administrator
accounts do not show at the login screen. AFAIR, you can use
them in Safe Mode.
- All Users: This folder contains a collection of shortcuts that are visible
to all users. Do not delete this folder.
- Compaq_Owner This is your current logon account.
- Default user: This is the template from which new profiles are
built. Do not delete this folder.
- Guest, and Guest.Loris-1 - You can delete these folders.

Having two administrator accounts is a good thing because it
allows you to get back in again in case you forget a password.
This only works if you test these accounts once every so often!

"Loris" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:7A96E99D-A1D7-4120-AC51-(E-Mail Removed)...
> I'm using Windows XP-Home and see 7 profiles in the Windows Explorer:
> Administrator, Administrator.Loris-1, All Users, Compaq_Owner, Default user,
> Guest, and Guest.Loris-1. However, at the Windows login screen, only the
> Compaq_Owner and Guest User accounts show up. Logging in with Guest,
> actually takes me to the Guest.Loris-1 set of folders. Why are these showing
> up in the Windows Explorer but not in User Accounts, which of these are
> unnecessary and how can they safely be deleted?


Is Loris-1 the name of this computer? It sounds as if someone ran a new
installation of XP, as opposed to a repair installation, and allowed the
installation to use the existing C:\Windows folder. This resulted in the
creation of accounts named Administrator.Loris-1 and Guest.Loris-1.

Windows XP Home Edition only allows access to the built-in Administrator account
in Safe Mode. I think you'll find that if you boot into Safe Mode and log on to
the Administrator account, it will be using the profile stored in C:\Documents
and Settings\Administrator.Loris-1.

Personally, I would leave all the folders since the extra ones probably aren't
taking up much disk space. If you're determined to remove any folders, I think
you'll find that you can delete those named Administrator and Guest. Leave those
which have Loris-1 at the end.

Good luck

Nepatsfan