Deleting User Accounts

[sam]

In troubleshooting a neighbors computer I found some
strange stuff running after logging into one of the
User Accounts. I went into ControlPanel/UserAccounts and
tried to delete that account. It did in fact save desktop
and files for that account on the desktop, but when it gets
to actually deleting the account I get an error 80070402.
What means this??

Is there some place in the registry where I can manually
delete a user account??

thanks

 

[John John (MVP)]

That is like trying to pull the carpet from under your own feet! Log on
to another account with administrative privileges and you will the be
able to delete the account.

John

 

[sam]

That is like trying to pull the carpet from under your own feet! Log on
to another account with administrative privileges and you will the be
able to delete the account.

Yup, many thanks, but that's what I did the first time!
It saved all the files and desktop shortcuts, but never deleted
the account itself.

So what does error 80070402 mean??

 

[sam]

obtw -- When I boot into safe mode, the account I want to delete
does not exist. Why is that??

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

obtw -- When I boot into safe mode, the account I want to delete
does not exist. Why is that??

Some questions:
- How exactly did you find out about the problem account?
- What exactly did you do when you tried to delete it?

Please be specific - there are several ways to do this sort of thing!

 

[sam]

- How exactly did you find out about the problem account?
- What exactly did you do when you tried to delete it?

Got the friend's computer and booted up and logged in as User A.

Strange stuff on the desktop and most apps inoperable.

I went into Control Panel/User Accounts and was able to add User B.

Rebooted and logged in as User B.

In ControlPanel/UserAccounts made UserB Admin, made UserA Limited.
Then clicked UserA and clicked delete.

All UserA data saved as UserA on the desktop. Then delete process
stopped and got error 80070402.

User A is there when I boot regular but cannot delete it. In
Safe mode UserA does not exist.

Questions:

1. What is error 80070402 mean and how to I fix it??

B. How can an account show up in regular boot but not in safe more??

Please????

 

[Patty]

Got the friend's computer and booted up and logged in as User A.

Strange stuff on the desktop and most apps inoperable.

I went into Control Panel/User Accounts and was able to add User B.

Rebooted and logged in as User B.

In ControlPanel/UserAccounts made UserB Admin, made UserA Limited.
Then clicked UserA and clicked delete.

All UserA data saved as UserA on the desktop. Then delete process
stopped and got error 80070402.

User A is there when I boot regular but cannot delete it. In
Safe mode UserA does not exist.

Questions:

1. What is error 80070402 mean and how to I fix it??

B. How can an account show up in regular boot but not in safe more??

Please????

I saw a solution for this that said to try deleting it this way:

1. Go to Start
2. Run
3. Type "control userpasswords2" (without the quotes)
4. Then in the User Account screen, select the user you want to delete
5. Click "Remove"
6. When it asks you "Are you sure?" click Yes.

HTH.

Patty

 

[sam]

I saw a solution for this that said to try deleting it this way:

1. Go to Start
2. Run
3. Type "control userpasswords2" (without the quotes)
4. Then in the User Account screen, select the user you want to delete
5. Click "Remove"
6. When it asks you "Are you sure?" click Yes.

Hey Patty, many many thanks. It worked like a charm. Gotta write
that one down!

sam

 

[Kayman]

Hey Patty, many many thanks. It worked like a charm. Gotta write
that one down!

Google is your friend
http://www.pcreview.co.uk/forums/thread-181681.php