Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

have I been hacked? how do I tell how many users I have on

Aug 10, 2018 6:45PM PDT

I got a message from Microsoft (?) stating my computer was attempted to be signed in from an unknown area - (I get a lot of this 'this is a new computer do not recognize it") and it advised that I change my password - so I did and for 2 days I would sign in with the new password then all of a sudden it reverted back to my original password - well today when I open my computer I have two names in the bottom left corner one my original sign-in name and the other is my email address - how do I investigate that or find out how many user accounts I have - I live alone and should only have one - me

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Re: user accounts
Aug 11, 2018 12:46AM PDT

In File Explorer open the Users folder on your c:-drive. Every folder on the right is a user account and then there is Default and Public.
Or go into Command Prompt and open the User accounts app. That only shows real users.

In Windows 10 there are 2 kinds of accounts: a local account (you login with just a name) and a cloud account connected to Microsoft servers (you login with a Microsoft account, an email address). Maybe by accident you made both?

Finally, we recommend having 2 administrator accounts on a PC. One for normal use and one for emergencies if the normal one is getting corrupted.

- Collapse -
two accounts
Aug 11, 2018 7:43AM PDT

yes, I have two accounts on my opening screen - one with my name and now one with my email - guess it got there when Microsoft told me to change the password? Apparently, someone tried to sign in from Malaysia last week - do I keep both? I have not tried to sign into the email one cuz I thought it might be Malaysia trying to get my password. Or do I sign into it to activate it (use it?) Never had anything in the bottom left corner before - thanks for your reply

- Collapse -
Re: logon
Aug 11, 2018 8:06AM PDT

Post was last edited on August 11, 2018 8:14 AM PDT

- Collapse -
slowly learning (71 yrs old) takes awhile to figure out
Aug 13, 2018 8:13AM PDT

There are two account one with my name only which is the Admin account with everything apparently this is the account I have been using ever since I learned (ing) computers and the other with my first and last name - it has most of everything the admin account has but not populated ie: no music, photos, docs etc.
I will change the Microsoft account password - will it change both? do I populate the non-admin one and use it for back up? which one should I be working on daily since the other one was never there? should each have different signings? Thank you -I am slow and it takes awhile to find what is what and how to get there

- Collapse -
changed password?
Sep 9, 2018 2:16PM PDT

when I went to change the password it changed the password to my email account and not to sign into my computer - I thought both were the same word - now I have a password to sign into my computer (same old one) and a new password for my email - is that right? I would think to sign int my computer would be more important ??? Now I am totally confused

- Collapse -
Re: passwords
Sep 10, 2018 12:32AM PDT

I wouldn't care if everything works. Make a good note of all your password, so you don't forget them!