Need help to delete a 2nd user account

notacomputerpro · Apr 21, 2013

My laptop was lost and recovered but now has 2nd user account, which is still somehow logged in....from another source I am guessing. When I tried to delete from control panel-user accounts, it states that a logged in user account can not be deleted. How can I get around this and delete this 2nd user account?

Robert Pankiw · Apr 21, 2013

1) I'm assuming you have Windows, since you posted in Windows 8 section
2) I'm only good to bounce ideas off of, I'm not a security expert by any means

I'm assuming you already tried restarting the laptop.
I'm assuming you already ran a virus scan, which suggests (but doesn't absolutely mean) there is no infection (Also assuming the scan came up negative)

-If the other account is connected via the web, disabling wifi / unplugging ethernet might force them to disconnect.
-If you have an administrator account, change the password for the new account, log into it then log off.
-{Extreme option} Format your disk. You'd want to save all of your information, but if it's a virus of some form (such as a Trojan), you may accidentally save it with the rest of your important files. Having a backup, even one that may potentially be infected, is better, in my opinion (as a non expert) than having no backup at all.

If I think of more things, I'll suggest them.

Once again, I am NOT a security expert.

USAFRet · Apr 21, 2013

If it were my machine, and lost for a while and now a new user account on it....I'd wipe and reinstall. No telling what else this 'other user' did.

notacomputerpro · Apr 21, 2013

USAFRet :

notacomputerpro · Apr 21, 2013

no, only lost for a few hours, but I think it is only for the purpose of viewing where I go and what I do on my computer, more snooping I feel......that is why I want that 2nd user account deleted.....just need to know how to do it while they are still logged in

notacomputerpro · Apr 21, 2013

Robert Pankiw :

1) I'm assuming you have Windows, since you posted in Windows 8 section
2) I'm only good to bounce ideas off of, I'm not a security expert by any means

I'm assuming you already tried restarting the laptop.
I'm assuming you already ran a virus scan, which suggests (but doesn't absolutely mean) there is no infection (Also assuming the scan came up negative)

-If the other account is connected via the web, disabling wifi / unplugging ethernet might force them to disconnect.
-If you have an administrator account, change the password for the new account, log into it then log off.
-{Extreme option} Format your disk. You'd want to save all of your information, but if it's a virus of some form (such as a Trojan), you may accidentally save it with the rest of your important files. Having a backup, even one that may potentially be infected, is better, in my opinion (as a non expert) than having no backup at all.

If I think of more things, I'll suggest them.

Once again, I am NOT a security expert.

notacomputerpro · Apr 21, 2013

I do have the only administrator account, so if I change the 2nd user password, then log in and log off....will I then be able to delete it......or will they still be logged in?

USAFRet · Apr 21, 2013

notacomputerpro :

A few hours, a few days....you suspect that they created this account for the purposes of spying on you.
Wipe and reinstall.

izy521 · Apr 21, 2013

notacomputerpro :

You can try the CMD method. Open command line (Windows Key + R > type cmd). Then "net user remove -username-". If it gives an error, you should try running cmd as Administrator.

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Need help to delete a 2nd user account

notacomputerpro

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Robert Pankiw

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USAFRet

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notacomputerpro

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notacomputerpro

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notacomputerpro

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notacomputerpro

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USAFRet

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izy521

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