Cannot delete extra user account

~~I_Broke_My_Mhz~~ · 10-23-2004, 08:08 PM

When I setup WinXP it forced me to make another account, so I did planning to delete it later. I just want one user, the administrator account and no other users. Unfortunately I cannot delete the other account I made (which is also an administrator), nor can I change it from being an administrator. It won't let me from the user management thingy in the control panel. How can I delete that other useless account?

Volt-Schwibe · 10-23-2004, 08:18 PM

ok, when you set this account up, you set it to be an administrator...

so now you have two accounts that are administrator...

you should be able to log into the main one and delete the other one...

if you can't, then one of them must not have admin priviledges.

i don't know why it would be posing a problem in your situation, as i do this all the time, making accounts with admin priviledges, and then deleting them after some time...

to delete an account, it must NOT be logged on at the time, and the account that Is logged on must have admin priviledges...

let me know what happens, error messages and all.

~~I_Broke_My_Mhz~~ · 10-24-2004, 10:27 AM

But that is the problem, I can't delete the account. I login as administrator, then go to the control panel, then user accounts, then click on the other account. There is no option to delete the account when I click it. There is only an option to change the account. When I click that option, the radio button "limited" is grayed out, so I can't change it to anything >:( Is there another way to delete accounts maybe?

Rumraket · 10-27-2004, 02:26 AM

Hi I have the same problem in windows XP, and I would like to know if you solved the problem. I think the problem is that once you've created another account, the administrator account "hides" and then it is not possible to delete the extra administrator account because it is the last non hidden account. pls help.

Andreas

coofercat · 10-27-2004, 03:25 AM

I had the same problem, but knew it could be solved because a pre-install on a different machine only has Administrator.

To solve the problem, go to My Computer (right click) -> Manage
Then go to "Local Users and Group" -> Users and right click the "extra" account. Select delete, and it's gone.

It's great to see that there's wonderful consistency between tools in Windows XP. You've just got to love it (not!).

If you're hacking around with users and the like, you might also find this useful:
http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/Art...151/16151.html

disordered · 04-20-2008, 12:19 AM

I tried that ^^ and it said "Cannot perform this operation on built-in accounts"

Weird? Help?

jul0cakes · 07-02-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disordered

I tried that ^^ and it said "Cannot perform this operation on built-in accounts"

Weird? Help?

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.

and that will delete that account..

Mingomya · 04-17-2009, 05:08 PM

Go into safe mode and it will work.

elf · 04-17-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

I tried that ^^ and it said "Cannot perform this operation on built-in accounts"

You cannot delete the default Administrator account. You can disable it through the registry, but you cannot delete it.

You should have no problems deleting user accounts (or even accounts with admin priveleges) by following coofercat's instructions

Mingomya · 04-18-2009, 07:20 AM

So how can the Administrator account be disabled in the registry.
Would you give us a step by step highway to it please?

elf · 04-18-2009, 09:34 AM

I believe it can be done through the registry, but this is faster/easier
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/281140

Quote:

Originally Posted by Microsoft

How to Disable the Local Administrator Account on Windows XP
Note Before you disable the local Administrator account, make sure that there is at least one other local or network user who can gain access to the computer with administrator permissions. Otherwise, you will not be able to reverse this action in the future.

Log on as Administrator, or as a user with administrator permissions.
Right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
In the left pane, expand the Local Users and Groups node, and then click Users.
In the right pane, double-click the Administrator account.
On the General tab, select the Account is disabled check box, and then click OK.
Quit the Computer Management console. The new setting take effect the next time you attempt to log on to this computer.

10-23-2004, 08:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
~~I_Broke_My_Mhz~~ Troubled Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 35 OS: WinXPProSp2	Cannot delete extra user account When I setup WinXP it forced me to make another account, so I did planning to delete it later. I just want one user, the administrator account and no other users. Unfortunately I cannot delete the other account I made (which is also an administrator), nor can I change it from being an administrator. It won't let me from the user management thingy in the control panel. How can I delete that other useless account?

10-23-2004, 08:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
Volt-Schwibe Asst. Manager, Automotive Forums; HJT Trainee Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Behind you, watching you as you type. Posts: 7,372 OS: Click "My System" to view details My System	ok, when you set this account up, you set it to be an administrator... so now you have two accounts that are administrator... you should be able to log into the main one and delete the other one... if you can't, then one of them must not have admin priviledges. i don't know why it would be posing a problem in your situation, as i do this all the time, making accounts with admin priviledges, and then deleting them after some time... to delete an account, it must NOT be logged on at the time, and the account that Is logged on must have admin priviledges... let me know what happens, error messages and all. __________________ <signature> TSF is funded by our Admin's pocket, care to help? Power Tip: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. New Members: Creating a single new thread in the correct section is the best way to assure your thread will receive a reply. </signature>

10-27-2004, 02:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
Rumraket Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1 OS: XP	Did you solve the problem Hi I have the same problem in windows XP, and I would like to know if you solved the problem. I think the problem is that once you've created another account, the administrator account "hides" and then it is not possible to delete the extra administrator account because it is the last non hidden account. pls help. Andreas

10-27-2004, 03:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
coofercat Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 1 OS: xp	Solved! I had the same problem, but knew it could be solved because a pre-install on a different machine only has Administrator. To solve the problem, go to My Computer (right click) -> Manage Then go to "Local Users and Group" -> Users and right click the "extra" account. Select delete, and it's gone. It's great to see that there's wonderful consistency between tools in Windows XP. You've just got to love it (not!). If you're hacking around with users and the like, you might also find this useful: http://www.winnetmag.com/Article/Art...151/16151.html

04-20-2008, 12:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
disordered Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 165 OS: XP	Re: Cannot delete extra user account I tried that ^^ and it said "Cannot perform this operation on built-in accounts" Weird? Help?

10-24-2004, 10:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
~~I_Broke_My_Mhz~~ Troubled Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 35 OS: WinXPProSp2	But that is the problem, I can't delete the account. I login as administrator, then go to the control panel, then user accounts, then click on the other account. There is no option to delete the account when I click it. There is only an option to change the account. When I click that option, the radio button "limited" is grayed out, so I can't change it to anything >:( Is there another way to delete accounts maybe?

04-17-2009, 05:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mingomya Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2 OS: windows xp pro	Re: Cannot delete extra user account Go into safe mode and it will work.

04-18-2009, 07:20 AM	#10 (permalink)
Mingomya Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2 OS: windows xp pro	Re: Cannot delete extra user account So how can the Administrator account be disabled in the registry. Would you give us a step by step highway to it please?