Deleting User Profiles?

[Dave. W. Kugelstadt]

I have a question...

I have a notebook computer with Windows 98SE on it. I have used it for 4
years without specifically setting up a "User". There was only one user and
it was me.

I am now getting ready to give the computer away and I was doing all the
prep. In the process I set up a new "User" for the young lady that will be
getting the computer. After several days of cleanup and installs I have now
decided that I do not want it set up this way after all.

How can I delete this new "User" account and revert back to one main user
without losing all the stuff I set up, such as the Desktop, the Start Menu
and any other things that are specific to a User?

At the Windows Log-In password screen if I select "Cancel" the computer
boots up with no specific User but rather at some "default" that has all the
new stuff I did missing.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,

--
DWK
Simi Valley
CA
USA

[Ron Badour]

First of all, how did you clean up the machine so any confidential
information is not subject to retrieval with any number of software programs
that are available? If that is not a concern, then the easy fix is to
simply bypass the logon screen with the use of a blank password. This
allows the user profile to exist with no extra work required to boot but not
cause any hassles that might occur if you totally delete it.

Blank Password: Go to control panel, network, primary network logon and
select Windows Logon. Go to control panel, passwords, user profiles and
ensure the "all user's" box is marked. If you have a password established,
go to control panel, passwords, change windows password, type the password
in the old box, leave the rest blank and OK your way out. If you have
forgotten your password, delete the .pwl file with your user name (mine is
ron.pwl); however, be aware that you will lose all passwords stored in the
..pwl file. If you do not have a password established or have deleted the
..pwl file, when the W95/98 logon screen appears at boot, type a user name
only and hit OK. If the logon screen continues to appear and you have Tweak
UI installed, go to the Paranoia tab and remove the mark from "clear last
user."

How to Disable and Delete User Profiles
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=156826

If data retrieval is a concern, post back for instructions.
--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"Dave. W. Kugelstadt" > wrote in message
...
> I have a question...
>
> I have a notebook computer with Windows 98SE on it. I have used it for 4
> years without specifically setting up a "User". There was only one user
and
> it was me.
>
> I am now getting ready to give the computer away and I was doing all the
> prep. In the process I set up a new "User" for the young lady that will be
> getting the computer. After several days of cleanup and installs I have
now
> decided that I do not want it set up this way after all.
>
> How can I delete this new "User" account and revert back to one main user
> without losing all the stuff I set up, such as the Desktop, the Start Menu
> and any other things that are specific to a User?
>
> At the Windows Log-In password screen if I select "Cancel" the computer
> boots up with no specific User but rather at some "default" that has all
the
> new stuff I did missing.
>
> Any advice would be appreciated!
>
> Thanks,
>
> --
> DWK
> Simi Valley
> CA
> USA
>
>

[Dave. W. Kugelstadt]

Thanks Ron! I was able to get it done but first I wanted to copy the folders
with my Desktop, Start Menu, and other files, etc. that are unique to the
one user I created so I would not lose those.

I am giving the Notebook PC to my girlfriend so I am not too concerned about
security. Just the same I have spent a lot of time removing software and
files, cleaning up the Registry and defragging. I should have done this a
long time ago because it runs sooo much better now than it has in a long
time! :o) I almost hate to part with it now but it is so obsolete compared
to my new Dell. :o)

Anyway, thanks for the extra tips as well! Appreciated!

Regards,


"Ron Badour" > wrote in message
...
> First of all, how did you clean up the machine so any confidential
> information is not subject to retrieval with any number of software
programs
> that are available? If that is not a concern, then the easy fix is to
> simply bypass the logon screen with the use of a blank password. This
> allows the user profile to exist with no extra work required to boot but
not
> cause any hassles that might occur if you totally delete it.
>
> Blank Password: Go to control panel, network, primary network logon and
> select Windows Logon. Go to control panel, passwords, user profiles and
> ensure the "all user's" box is marked. If you have a password
established,
> go to control panel, passwords, change windows password, type the password
> in the old box, leave the rest blank and OK your way out. If you have
> forgotten your password, delete the .pwl file with your user name (mine is
> ron.pwl); however, be aware that you will lose all passwords stored in the
> .pwl file. If you do not have a password established or have deleted the
> .pwl file, when the W95/98 logon screen appears at boot, type a user name
> only and hit OK. If the logon screen continues to appear and you have
Tweak
> UI installed, go to the Paranoia tab and remove the mark from "clear last
> user."
>
> How to Disable and Delete User Profiles
> http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=156826
>
> If data retrieval is a concern, post back for instructions.
> --
> Regards
>
> Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
> Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
> Knowledge Base Info:
> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo
>
> "Dave. W. Kugelstadt" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I have a question...
> >
> > I have a notebook computer with Windows 98SE on it. I have used it for 4
> > years without specifically setting up a "User". There was only one user
> and
> > it was me.
> >
> > I am now getting ready to give the computer away and I was doing all the
> > prep. In the process I set up a new "User" for the young lady that will
be
> > getting the computer. After several days of cleanup and installs I have
> now
> > decided that I do not want it set up this way after all.
> >
> > How can I delete this new "User" account and revert back to one main
user
> > without losing all the stuff I set up, such as the Desktop, the Start
Menu
> > and any other things that are specific to a User?
> >
> > At the Windows Log-In password screen if I select "Cancel" the computer
> > boots up with no specific User but rather at some "default" that has all
> the
> > new stuff I did missing.
> >
> > Any advice would be appreciated!
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > --
> > DWK
> > Simi Valley
> > CA
> > USA
> >
> >
>
>

[Ron Badour]

Great. Glad to hear all is well, especially for a fellow Dell user :-))

--
Regards

Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
Knowledge Base Info:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo

"Dave. W. Kugelstadt" > wrote in message
...
> Thanks Ron! I was able to get it done but first I wanted to copy the
folders
> with my Desktop, Start Menu, and other files, etc. that are unique to the
> one user I created so I would not lose those.
>
> I am giving the Notebook PC to my girlfriend so I am not too concerned
about
> security. Just the same I have spent a lot of time removing software and
> files, cleaning up the Registry and defragging. I should have done this a
> long time ago because it runs sooo much better now than it has in a long
> time! :o) I almost hate to part with it now but it is so obsolete compared
> to my new Dell. :o)
>
> Anyway, thanks for the extra tips as well! Appreciated!
>
> Regards,
>
>
> "Ron Badour" > wrote in message
> ...
> > First of all, how did you clean up the machine so any confidential
> > information is not subject to retrieval with any number of software
> programs
> > that are available? If that is not a concern, then the easy fix is to
> > simply bypass the logon screen with the use of a blank password. This
> > allows the user profile to exist with no extra work required to boot but
> not
> > cause any hassles that might occur if you totally delete it.
> >
> > Blank Password: Go to control panel, network, primary network logon and
> > select Windows Logon. Go to control panel, passwords, user profiles and
> > ensure the "all user's" box is marked. If you have a password
> established,
> > go to control panel, passwords, change windows password, type the
password
> > in the old box, leave the rest blank and OK your way out. If you have
> > forgotten your password, delete the .pwl file with your user name (mine
is
> > ron.pwl); however, be aware that you will lose all passwords stored in
the
> > .pwl file. If you do not have a password established or have deleted
the
> > .pwl file, when the W95/98 logon screen appears at boot, type a user
name
> > only and hit OK. If the logon screen continues to appear and you have
> Tweak
> > UI installed, go to the Paranoia tab and remove the mark from "clear
last
> > user."
> >
> > How to Disable and Delete User Profiles
> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=156826
> >
> > If data retrieval is a concern, post back for instructions.
> > --
> > Regards
> >
> > Ron Badour, MS MVP for W98
> > Tips: http://home.satx.rr.com/badour
> > Knowledge Base Info:
> > http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=kbinfo
> >
> > "Dave. W. Kugelstadt" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > I have a question...
> > >
> > > I have a notebook computer with Windows 98SE on it. I have used it for
4
> > > years without specifically setting up a "User". There was only one
user
> > and
> > > it was me.
> > >
> > > I am now getting ready to give the computer away and I was doing all
the
> > > prep. In the process I set up a new "User" for the young lady that
will
> be
> > > getting the computer. After several days of cleanup and installs I
have
> > now
> > > decided that I do not want it set up this way after all.
> > >
> > > How can I delete this new "User" account and revert back to one main
> user
> > > without losing all the stuff I set up, such as the Desktop, the Start
> Menu
> > > and any other things that are specific to a User?
> > >
> > > At the Windows Log-In password screen if I select "Cancel" the
computer
> > > boots up with no specific User but rather at some "default" that has
all
> > the
> > > new stuff I did missing.
> > >
> > > Any advice would be appreciated!
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > --
> > > DWK
> > > Simi Valley
> > > CA
> > > USA
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>