Starvoyager said:
Is there a way to get rid of other user profiles in xp home SP2?
I am Greg Bean. I always try to make sure my files are in c:\documents
and setings
\Greg Bean.hal9000\My Documents. (hal9000 is the name I gave the
machine) I also have other profiles they all seem to contain the same
files. The main my docs folder in win xp explorer points to the above
path, but sometimes I cannot find a file and then discover that its in
one of the other profiles.
this is frustrating. Im only one user.
Your post is a bit confusing and I'm hesitant to tell you to get rid of
user profiles without knowing your exact setup. Here is a general
overview of the way user accounts (and other folders) are in Windows
XP. Perhaps this will help you understand your own computer setup.
XP is a multi-user operating system, no matter if only one person is
using it. In all multi-user operating systems - NT, Win2k, XP, Unix,
Linux, Mac OSX - there is the one built-in account that is "god" on the
system. In Windows terminology, that is "Administrator". In the *nix
world, it is "root". This is a necessary account and is not normally
used in everyday work. You cannot delete the built-in Administrator
account nor would you ever want to.
Here is the explanation of what you really have:
My Computer - represents your entire computer, showing drives and shared
folders. Shared Folders are folders where you can put files you wish to
share with other users on the system. You don't need to use these
folders if you don't want to, but leave them alone!
[some name] C:\ - your first hard drive, usually the system drive.
Document and Settings - The "container" for all user settings. Each user
will have [username] Documents, Music, Videos, My Pictures.
Administrator - Built-in account - Leave alone! Do not use! Do not worry
about it!
All Users - Section where items common to all users go. In a multi-user
operating system, users have separate accounts. This is the place where
if you want to share files with all the other users on the system you
would put those files. You don't ever have to use those folders but
they need to be there. This is where programs you install that are
meant to be installed for all users put settings. All the "Shared
Documents" type of folders you see at the root of C:\ are shortcuts to
the shared folders in here. Leave them alone!
Default Users - This is the template from which new user accounts are
made. You will never put anything in any of those folders but they are
needed to create new users. In Linux we use "skel" ("skeleton" - get
it?). In Windows, the less-colorful term "Default User" is used. Leave
it alone!
[OEM] Administrator or Owner - This is the generic user created by the
OEM when installing the operating system. After all, the OEM doesn't
know who is going to buy the computer. If you aren't using this OEM
user account, you can delete it from the User Accounts applet in
Control Panel. It is not the same account as "Administrator".
My Network Places - This is a graphical representation of other
computers on the network and any shared network resources. If you don't
have other computers, you can remove the Network Places icon from the
Desktop using the Control Panel Display>Desktop>Customize Desktop
function. Leave the folder alone!
If you still have questions about what you see, you'll need to describe
what you see clearly. Remember that we can't see your computer from
here and you have to be our eyes.
Malke
