• cannot delete Users folder

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    WStjs
    AskWoody Lounger
    August 16, 2016 at 4:25 pm #506669

    My wife recently had a computer given to her. It is a 5 year old Toshiba running 64 bit Windows 7 SP 1. I set it up with her having an administrator account. However, the former owner still shows up in Windows Explorer under Users. I was able to remove the padlock using the instructions in another thread. I then tried to delete the folder. Several files were deleted. I also received an alert that some were system files, so I skipped those. After the deletion was complete the folder still appears in Explorer, but the properties show 0 bytes in the folder. What is the process for deleting this folder?

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    • Paul T
      AskWoody MVP
      August 17, 2016 at 12:48 am #1575144

      What happens when you try to delete the folder in Explorer?

      cheers, Paul

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      • WSRolandJS
        AskWoody Plus
        August 17, 2016 at 2:56 am #1575150

        What happens when you try to delete the folder in Explorer…

        — in Safe Mode with your admin-level account?

        You may have to bump owner’s account from admin-level down to standard level before you can delete that account.

        "Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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    • Coochin
      AskWoody_MVP
      August 17, 2016 at 3:16 am #1575175

      …However, the former owner still shows up in Windows Explorer under Users. I was able to remove the padlock using the instructions in another thread. I then tried to delete the folder. Several files were deleted. I also received an alert that some were system files, so I skipped those. After the deletion was complete the folder still appears in Explorer, but the properties show 0 bytes in the folder…

      The correct method to remove a user account is to go to “Control PanelUser AccountsManage another account” then click on the account you want to remove then click “Next” (or “OK”, or whatever). You will be asked if you want to delete the files for that user account; if you tick the checkbox to delete the files then click “Next” (or “OK”, or whatever) the user account and all files/folders for that account will be gone.

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    • WSRolandJS
      AskWoody Plus
      August 17, 2016 at 6:20 am #1575192

      Coochin, you’re right as rain! I, and maybe Paul did too, missed the possibility that the end-user did not try the correct way. Or, the correct way was tried and for some reason did not entirely work.

      "Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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    • WStjs
      AskWoody Lounger
      August 17, 2016 at 9:10 am #1575221

      I initially tried to delete the account as suggested by Coochin. The account did not appear in the User accounts. However, I was able to delete it in Safe Mode using the admin level account.

      Thank you you all for help. It is appreciated.

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