Multiple Administrators and Other Users Residing under "Documents and Settings"

[A Baffled User]

Yesterday, I customized my HP notebook (model ze4933us), running Windows XP
SP2, so that "My Documents" does not appear on the folder list in Windows
Explorer or My Computer. I am the only person who will ever use this
computer, so my one user-administrator account is all I need.

I have just noticed today, however, under My Computer>Local Disk
(C>Documents and Settings, that a whole crop of user folders have appeared
out of nowhere. They are as follows:

Adminstrator
Administrator HPLAPTOP
Administrator HPLAPTOP.000
All Users
Default User
Ethel (that's me, more or less)
Guest

Who are all these administrators? Who is this "Default User"? Each one of
these folders contains multiple subfolders. I'm willing to put up with one
"Guest," but I don't want all these other folks on my machine. Is there a
way to banish them?

Thanks!

Joan

 

[Dave Patrick]

Administrator default built-in local administrator account

Administrator HPLAPTOP possibly created because of profile corruption

Administrator HPLAPTOP.000 possibly created because of profile corruption

All Users What you see on your desktop and start menu will be the sum of
what ever is in;
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Desktop
\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs
\Documents and Settings\ [username]\Desktop
\Documents and Settings\ [username]\Start Menu\Programs

Default User built-in profile template that new users inherit from

Ethel (that's me, more or less)

Guest built-in guest account (disabled by default)

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Yesterday, I customized my HP notebook (model ze4933us), running Windows
XP
| SP2, so that "My Documents" does not appear on the folder list in Windows
| Explorer or My Computer. I am the only person who will ever use this
| computer, so my one user-administrator account is all I need.
|
| I have just noticed today, however, under My Computer>Local Disk
| (C>Documents and Settings, that a whole crop of user folders have
appeared
| out of nowhere. They are as follows:
|
| Adminstrator
| Administrator HPLAPTOP
| Administrator HPLAPTOP.000
| All Users
| Default User
| Ethel (that's me, more or less)
| Guest
|
| Who are all these administrators? Who is this "Default User"? Each one of
| these folders contains multiple subfolders. I'm willing to put up with one
| "Guest," but I don't want all these other folks on my machine. Is there a
| way to banish them?
|
| Thanks!
|
| Joan
|
|

 

[Kelly]

This is by default within XP. All is well and no, there isn't a way to
remove or disable them.

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[A Baffled User]

If indeed I do have "profile corruption," how would I go about setting
things straight?

Joan

 

[Dave Patrick]

First let's verify the corruption and what profile is being used for the
local administrator account. Logon as local administrator then from a
command prompt;

echo %USERPROFILE%

What does is return with?

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| If indeed I do have "profile corruption," how would I go about setting
| things straight?
|
| Joan

 

[A Baffled User]

My notebook has been customized so that I, as its one and only
user-administrator, am automatically logged on, bypassing the Welcome
screen, whenever I turn on the unit. That being the case, I don't really
know how to log on as a "local administrator." Under Control Panel | User
Accounts, for example, the only accounts that are listed are "Ethel" (me)
and "Guest." I'm also not sure what you mean by a "command prompt." It
sounds like DOS terminology. Is that right?

Joan

 

[Dave Patrick]

If it is 'Home' version of Windows XP then you must start a 'Safe Mode' boot
in order to logon as local administrator. Yes a command prompt session can
be started by;
Start|Run|cmd.exe

I really wouldn't be too concerned about any of this. There is not a
security issue here. No one else is using your computer.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| My notebook has been customized so that I, as its one and only
| user-administrator, am automatically logged on, bypassing the Welcome
| screen, whenever I turn on the unit. That being the case, I don't really
| know how to log on as a "local administrator." Under Control Panel | User
| Accounts, for example, the only accounts that are listed are "Ethel" (me)
| and "Guest." I'm also not sure what you mean by a "command prompt." It
| sounds like DOS terminology. Is that right?
|
| Joan

 

[A Baffled User]

Okay, I'll just let the matter drop for the time being. I'll see if I can
perform the test you suggested in your previous message later on, when I
have more time to concentrate carefully on what I'm doing.

Thanks for your help.

Best,
Joan

 

[Dave Patrick]

OK, sounds good. I'll be glad to pursue this if you really want to. I didn't
mention that the corruption (if it exists) is not in the profile you
normally use. It would be in the local administrator profile.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Okay, I'll just let the matter drop for the time being. I'll see if I can
| perform the test you suggested in your previous message later on, when I
| have more time to concentrate carefully on what I'm doing.
|
| Thanks for your help.
|
| Best,
| Joan

 

[A Baffled User]

Well, that's encouraging, anyway . . . The unit is brand new, and I haven't
done much with it at all yet. I'll report back after I've followed your
original instructions.

All best,
Joan

 

[Dave Patrick]

OK, we'll be here.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Well, that's encouraging, anyway . . . The unit is brand new, and I
haven't
| done much with it at all yet. I'll report back after I've followed your
| original instructions.
|
| All best,
| Joan

 

[A Baffled User]

Just so you know, I called HP tech support, and they showed me how to get
rid of the extra administrators by going to Safe Mode and then deleting them
from the list. Thanks to everyone for suggestions.

Joan

 

[Dave Patrick]

Glad to hear it's sorted.

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
| Just so you know, I called HP tech support, and they showed me how to get
| rid of the extra administrators by going to Safe Mode and then deleting
them
| from the list. Thanks to everyone for suggestions.
|
| Joan