Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: waterfall on March 07, 2007, 10:29:35 AM

Title: Delete Profile in XP Home
Post by: waterfall on March 07, 2007, 10:29:35 AM
Hello,

Here's something that should be really easy.  But...... When I  click on the profile name, the delete button is grayed-out.   I've tried running delprof.exe from MS, but it only deleted another profile, but left behind the one I want gone!  And the whole folder tree under Documents and Settings is still there; about 3GB that I can't eliminate!

Is there another way?  Via the registry perhaps?  

FYI--To find the profile setting:
Control Panel-->System-->System Properties-->Advanced-->User Profiles-->Settings
Title: Re: Delete Profile in XP Home
Post by: Calum on March 07, 2007, 10:31:13 AM
What profile do you want to delete?
I don't think you can delete the only profile, if it is the only profile.
And you also can't delete the Administrator profile.
Do you have admin access?
Title: Re: Delete Profile in XP Home
Post by: vinhboy on March 07, 2007, 10:34:48 AM
Do you have admin access?
Title: Re: Delete Profile in XP Home
Post by: waterfall on March 07, 2007, 10:40:11 AM
Thanks for the replies Calum and vinhboy,

Yes, I have admin access.  Actually, delprof.exe deleted the Aministrator profile as well!  I'm now logged in as admin nontheless. The only profile left is the one I don't use; it doesn't even have a corresponding user account.  But the folder is still there, with 3GB of application settings, etc. that I can't eliminate.

Very strange  :-?
Title: Re: Delete Profile in XP Home
Post by: waterfall on March 07, 2007, 10:57:23 AM
At some point a while ago, I changed the name of a user. But apparently, the old profile tree stayed in the system.  There must be a way to prevent it from loading at startup.........
Title: Re: Delete Profile in XP Home
Post by: patio on March 07, 2007, 11:05:53 AM
Try from the Admin account in safemode...
Title: Re: Delete Profile in XP Home
Post by: waterfall on March 07, 2007, 02:36:56 PM
Ok, I've gotten a little further  :)

I created a second administrator account, Admin1, and was able to delete that unwanted profile.  Maybe I originally created that profile with administrator privileges and then accidentally deleted the user name?  I don't know. It's history now.

The new problem:
I have that newly created account, Admin1, with administrator privileges.  However, I want to rename it to Administrator like originally.  When I try to either rename or create an account Administrator from Admin1, it tells me the account already exists.  But, I see it nowhere---no User Name, no Profile named Administrator.   I've even tried approaching this from Safe Mode (thanks patio).

It's had me stumped for a while now.  Any ideas?
Title: Re: Delete Profile in XP Home
Post by: patio on March 07, 2007, 06:57:25 PM
There is a default Administrator account automatically created by XP...i believe there can only be one with the same name.