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

How do I access/remove old user accounts?

Dec 11, 2012 9:59PM PST

I had to perform a PC System Recovery and now I was asked to create new user accounts. When I try to access the previous user accounts I am told "access denied".

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Re: user account
Dec 11, 2012 10:03PM PST

Two good ways.
1. Take ownership of those folders. Google XP TAKE OWNERSHIP and do what you learn.
2. Boot from an Ubuntu disk and delete those foldes from their file manager.

Kees

- Collapse -
I've used both methods.
Dec 11, 2012 11:28PM PST

I want to add that use of Ubuntu does not involve installing that as I use the LiveCD (there's a LiveUSB too) and since we can click around the windows there is no big learning curve here.
Bob

- Collapse -
Answer
If You've Used A FULL System Recovery-Formatting The Drive..
Dec 12, 2012 8:53AM PST

...then those user accounts probably don't exist any more. They've been wiped from the drive.. When the C drive is formatted and everything is reinstalled back to its factory condition, then there will be no user accounts available.. You'll need to create new ones and use any backups from DVD/external drive that you should have made before the recovery.

Hope this helps.

Grif