user account showing in some places and not in others

[redbourn]

Just getting ready to take my old Vista laptop on vacation with me and I noticed ..

If I go to users, then only my Administrator name is there.

And if I try to change log-in to a different user. then only my name is there.

But if I go to C: users, then an additional user name and folder are listed there.

Any help with either removing, or preventing the additional name and folder from showing would be much appreciated.

Michael

 

[redbourn]

Maybe my question wasn't clear enough?

Many people must have had this problem before.

Here are two images ..

http://i45.tinypic.com/vr3m1w.jpg

and

http://i48.tinypic.com/2wgvh5i.jpg

I'd appreciate any help ;-)

 

[goombawaho]

They have to be users that once existed on the laptop, were deleted at some point and the option to REMOVE USER FILES was NOT chosen, so the folder remains. If the users aren't listed in the control panel and you don't get the option of logging in as those users, those users are gone. You can leave the folders or delete them or move them.

 

[BadBigBen]

It could be that they are hidden...

see if you have this registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList

and what is listed there?


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[redbourn]

@goombawaho

I deleted the folder but that doesn't remove the user

But thanks for the reply.

 

[redbourn]

@BadBigBen

thanks for the reply but nothing there.

http://i50.tinypic.com/23rk5yu.jpg

BadBigBen

 

[redbourn]

This is looking weirder and weirder.

Task manager shows me as logged into a user which supposedly doesn't exist.

http://i46.tinypic.com/292le02.jpg

 

[BadBigBen]

Do you know the user KDS, or better said, did you create that user in the past? was this a brand spanking new install?

if you do not know who, or who created the user KDS, then you might be compromised and someone is logged into your PC...

in that case (this is just my opinion, what you do is always up to you, but better to be safe than to be sorry):

1. power of the machine...
2. unplug the network cable or disable the wifi...
3. boot into your regular user or Admin...
4. make a copy of your personal data, e.g. onto an external USB HDD.
5. power down
6. grab your Win7 DVD and reinstall the OS, wiping the drive before you do, e.g. destroying the partitions before hand, repartition them and format them slowly, then delete the partitions again, and install Win7 onto an empty partition.


Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[redbourn]

@BadBigBen thanks for the reply.

I originally set up the kds (meant to type kids) so it's not a hack.

System is vista.

 

[goombawaho]

Had you spelled it correctly, I doubt BBB would have pressed the panic button.

 

[redbourn]

I spelled it correctly here but not when I set up the laptop for the kids ;-)

The user panel says that the user (administrator) is Michael but look what the dos prompt says.

http://i49.tinypic.com/30k8t5l.jpg

Thanks

Michael

 

[BadBigBen]

>> I originally set up the kds (meant to type kids) so it's not a hack
Glad to hear, and yes when unknown users appear out of nowhere, then it is time to use the 'Sledgehammer' method...

on the second picture above ([ignore]

http://i48.tinypic.com/2wgvh5i.jpg

[/ignore]), if you press "Manage another account" what does it list then?

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[redbourn]

OK it's working 100% now.

The problem was a corrupted profile.

I could have continued with the way it was (Streisand?) but I've learned to pay attention to surface things like icebergs.

You hear a squeak in your car and don't fix it and suddenly your radiator blows, the engine overheats and ...

Thank you all for your help.

 

[BadBigBen]

Glad to hear that you have it sorted...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"