Windows 10: Factory Reset leaves traces of previous users

I did a full Windows 10 Reset and loaned my machine to a Polish friend. When he returned it to me, I did a Full Windows reset including wiping the drive.

When the machine finished the reset process, the first Windows 10 setup screen offered me English or Polski(Polish) as a language selection.

There are files relating to the Polish language (and other traces of his activity) in the %WINDIR%\System32\oobe directory and in the registry hkey_user entries.

How do I erase all traces of previous users?

:)

 

Deleting a user account leaves traces of that user behind in C:\users

• Enable the built in Administrator account (Win+R->lusrmgr.msc)
  
  
  
• Reboot and log in as Administrator
• Delete the folder under C:\users

 

How to completely remove all traces of a Microsoft Account from a local User Account

Hi,

To assist you with your concern on removing traces of Microsoft Account on your local account, you may do the following steps:

• Go to Control Panel.
• Select User Accounts.
• Click on User Accounts.
• Select Manage User Accounts - here you can delete the traces of the Microsoft Account.

Let us know how it goes.

 

Traces

Trace malware is a detection which typically indicates harmless pieces of leftovers also known
as remnants (registry keys, file fragments, folders) generally found after cleaning a previous malware infection. Traces are typically useless and not dangerous since the primary malicious file(s) has been removed. A
Malware.Trace detection is just another name used by Malwarebytes, SUPERAntiSpyware and other security vendors for trace malware.

• Spyware Traces in Detail
• An in-depth look at the Emsisoft scanner technology: Traces Scan

Performing the scans suggested by
José Antonio Pontón Posada CEO should remove most of them.