User Accounts

[Jake]

Hi, I have this problem, when I disable a user account using the command
line "net user "username" /active:no" in command prompt it disables the
account until I restart the computer then the account just re-appears and is
active again. I am
running Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2. Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Hi, I have this problem, when I disable a user account using the command
line "net user "username" /active:no" in command prompt it disables the
account until I restart the computer then the account just re-appears and
is
active again. I am
running Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2. Any help greatly
appreciated.

You probably have some agent running that re-enables the
account. Try this for a test:
1. Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
2. Type these commands:
net user {UserName} /active:no{Enter}
net user {UserName}{Enter}
3. Check if the account is indeed disabled.
4. Reboot the machine in Safe Mode.
5. Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
6. Type this command:
net user {UserName}{Enter}

Is the account enabled or disabled?

 

[Jake]

I never thought of that! When I start it up in safe mode the account is still
disabled, according to command prompt as well. Any ideas on what could be
doing it?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I never thought of that! When I start it up in safe mode the account is
still
disabled, according to command prompt as well. Any ideas on what could be
doing it?

Bingo! You should now run msconfig and carefully examine
the tasks under the Startup tab. Anything suspcious there?
If you can't work it out, do this:
1. Physically disconnect your machine from the Internet.
2. Untick each and every tick box.
3. Reboot the machine and check if the account remains disabled.
4. Restore the ticks one or two at a time until you find the culprit.
5. Restore your internet connection only after restoring the ticks
to your virus scanner.

 

[Jake]

Done all that and the account just reappeared again. What about under the
services tab? From what I can see, everything under the startup tab only
starts when you logon? But I really have no idea. Thanks for all your help
though. Any other ideas?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Done all that and the account just reappeared again. What about under the
services tab? From what I can see, everything under the startup tab only
starts when you logon? But I really have no idea. Thanks for all your help
though. Any other ideas?

Same trick for the Services tab. Make sure to disable
only the non-Microsoft services - there is a tick box
for this!

Are you saying that the problem persists when all startup
tasks and all non-Microsoft services are disabled?

 

[Jake]

AHA! Half the problem is solved. Windows SteadyState seems to be the culprit.
Only one question remains, what can I do about it. Seeing as I use Windows
SteadyState on a daily basis I can't exactly just disable it.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

AHA! Half the problem is solved. Windows SteadyState seems to be the
culprit.
Only one question remains, what can I do about it. Seeing as I use Windows
SteadyState on a daily basis I can't exactly just disable it.

Here is what it says about "Windows SteadyState"
(http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/sharedaccess/whatis/diskandsystemprotection.mspx)
==========
Undo your worries with Windows Disk Protection

Windows Disk Protection keeps everything on the Windows disk partition from
being permanently changed by users. This means every change made during a
user session can easily be undone and the computer returned to its original
state.
==========
In other words, the phenomenon you observe is by design.

 

[Jake]

Excellent! Thanks heaps for all your help. This is the one problem I couldn't
find a solution to on google. Rare occasion, but thank you.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Jake]

Ah damn. I turned off Windows Disk protection and it still reappeared (the
account that is.) and when I turned it on and chose the "permanently save all
changes" option it still reappeared. No matter what I tried it's still not
working. Lol I'm going to have to live with it I guess.