Deleting User Account and Remnants

[Zan]

Hi --

This may not matter but it is regarding a 64-bit system.

When the new computer was originally set up, it was not networked and there
was no reason for a user name with password. Now the computer is part of a
network so it was necessary to have a password. Additionally, the user's
name had a typo error. We attempted to correct the spelling of the user
name and add a password but the results were not as anticipated.

Going into Control Panel/Users, the old incorrect name does not appear.

In Windows Explorer, immediately under Desktop, the old user name does
appear and the subfolders under that user name cannot be accessed.

Under c:/Users, the new correct user name appears and those files are fully
accessible.

We would like to fully delete the incorrect user name and the associated
folders that cannot be accessed anyway. However, I am concerned because on
other Vista computers the user name always appears both under Desktop and
under Users. I am also worried about deleting other folders under the
incorrect user name for fear that the computer may need these even though we
did not create them.

Would appreciate it if someone will tell us how to delete these unwanted
items and confirm what subfolders we can safely delete.

Thanks.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

If you previously removed the old user account via the control panel/users,
you would have been prompted as to whether or not to save the user files. If
you said yes, then the system would have created the folder you describe.
It's merely a matter of taking ownership of hte folder in order to gain
access to the contents or to fully delete it. This is done from the advanced
properties of the security tab of the folder's properties. I suspect you
will find that the folder is actually situated at C:\Users\Default\Desktop
or C:\Users\Public\Desktop.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[tempgal]

Thanks, Rick, but what I really want to do is rename the folder so that it
matches the user name above, and I just cannot find that option.

Zan

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Once you "own" the folder, you can change its name.

But, your request was "We would like to fully delete the incorrect user name
and the associated folders that cannot be accessed anyway"?

As an aside, you cannot under any circumstances rename the folders
immediately under C:\Users.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com