User Accounts

[stu]

I just bought a used computer with XP Pro. There are two user accounts and
one Guest account. I am trying to delete one of the user accounts, but
every time I try, the system stalls and I get the 'program is not
responding' window and I must 'end task'. I've tried numerous combinations
of 'administrative 'limited', as well as logging on as the other account and
deleting the first. Always the same result. Any ideas?

[Malke]

stu wrote:
> I just bought a used computer with XP Pro. There are two user accounts and
> one Guest account. I am trying to delete one of the user accounts, but
> every time I try, the system stalls and I get the 'program is not
> responding' window and I must 'end task'. I've tried numerous combinations
> of 'administrative 'limited', as well as logging on as the other account and
> deleting the first. Always the same result. Any ideas?
>
>

With a used computer, it is really important to do a clean install. You
don't know what might be on that computer and you don't know what
problems you're inheriting.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows -
What you will need on-hand


Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

[mikeyhsd[_2_]]

we have no way of knowing what the previous user did or how he configured the user accounts.

it would be best to format and install fresh.

of course that presumes you got the disks with the computer.








"stu" > wrote in message ...
I just bought a used computer with XP Pro. There are two user accounts and
one Guest account. I am trying to delete one of the user accounts, but
every time I try, the system stalls and I get the 'program is not
responding' window and I must 'end task'. I've tried numerous combinations
of 'administrative 'limited', as well as logging on as the other account and
deleting the first. Always the same result. Any ideas?

[Ken Blake, MVP]

On Thu, 13 Dec 2007 21:34:45 -0600, "stu" >
wrote:

> I just bought a used computer with XP Pro. There are two user accounts and
> one Guest account. I am trying to delete one of the user accounts, but
> every time I try, the system stalls and I get the 'program is not
> responding' window and I must 'end task'. I've tried numerous combinations
> of 'administrative 'limited', as well as logging on as the other account and
> deleting the first. Always the same result. Any ideas?


If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it would
be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how the
computer has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly,
what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I
wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and problems,
possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that anyone
else do either.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

[Bruce Chambers]

stu wrote:
> I just bought a used computer with XP Pro. There are two user accounts and
> one Guest account. I am trying to delete one of the user accounts, but
> every time I try, the system stalls and I get the 'program is not
> responding' window and I must 'end task'. I've tried numerous combinations
> of 'administrative 'limited', as well as logging on as the other account and
> deleting the first. Always the same result. Any ideas?
>
>


It's a moot point. With second-hand computers, perhaps even if
acquired from a family member or friend, but especially if acquired from
a stranger, your only sensible course of action would definitely be to
format the hard drive(s) and start fresh. You don't want to get in
trouble because the original owner may have filled the hard drive with
kiddie porn, or have problems because the original owner
downloaded/installed viruses or other malware.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot