Windows 10: Ghost accounts showing... Solved

I have my Windows 10 desktop using a Microsoft account. A few days back I changed my Microsoft password, as I hadn't done it in a while, and after I did so I then used "netplwiz" to input the new password so that I could log onto Windows 10 automatically.


After restarting, it brought me to the sign on screen and said it couldn't connect to verify. I then saw that it was trying to automatically sign on using a newly created, grayed out account with the same name as my normal Microsoft account. I then clicked on the proper account, inputted my PIN, and was signed on. I restarted the computer to check it, and sure enough, it happened again. I then clicked on the proper account as before, entered my PIN, and was signed on.


The problem was that this grayed out ghost account only showed in two places, which was the sign on screen and the "Your Info" page in Settings >> Accounts. Because is was showing nowhere else, I couldn't delete that ghost account. So, I decided to re-image my computer from a System Image I saved a couple of weeks ago. The re-imaging went perfectly, but when it was finished I now had TWO ghost accounts! Now, because the two week old image had the old Microsoft Account password I did the "netplwiz" thing again to change it, and sure enough, on restart it defaulted to the first added, grayed out account again. I clicked on the correct account, as before, and entered my PIN, and it signed on.


Because I had tried everything I could think of, I decided to remove the PIN, just to see what would happen. After doing so, I restarted the computer and it automatically signed on the way it used to, not giving me the log in screen with grayed out ghost account at sign on issue anymore. BUT, the two ghost accounts are still on the "Your Info" page. I can find no way to delete them, as again, they only show there and likely the sign on screen if I went there again.


This is what I'm seeing, with the large one being the original, correct account. Or at least I'm assuming it's the big one and not the smaller one nor the originally added gray one, of course, as I believe the big one is the one I'm presently signed into.





So, is there a way to get rid of the other two? Or seeing that everything is signing on as it should be, should I just not bother worrying about it?


The last option I can think of is a clean installation of Windows 10, but I wanted to check for ideas here, first. I just created the Windows 10 USB installation media last night so that it would be the most up to date version. I always save all of my important files and programs on a separate HDD, so I have them for after the reinstall, but again, I wanted to check if anyone had any ideas before I take that drastic of a step. Granted, I'm very familiar with performing a clean installation, so it would be quite easy, but I'd rather avoid it if I don't need to do it, as setting everything back up the way I like it is always a bit of a pain.


Thanks for the help.

:)

 

Ghost accounts showing... Solved

I have my Windows 10 desktop using a Microsoft account. A few days back I changed my Microsoft password, as I hadn't done it in a while, and after I did so I then used "netplwiz" to input the new password so that I could log onto Windows 10 automatically.

After restarting, it brought me to the sign on screen and said it couldn't connect to verify. I then saw that it was trying to automatically sign on using a newly created, grayed out account with the same name as my normal Microsoft account. I then clicked
on the proper account, inputted my PIN, and was signed on. I restarted the computer to check it, and sure enough, it happened again. I then clicked on the proper account as before, entered my PIN, and was signed on.

The problem was that this grayed out ghost account only showed in two places, which was the sign on screen and the "Your Info" page in Settings >> Accounts. Because is was showing nowhere else, I couldn't delete that ghost account. So, I decided to re-image
my computer from a System Image I saved a couple of weeks ago. The re-imaging went perfectly, but when it was finished I now had TWO ghost accounts! Now, because the two week old image had the old Microsoft Account password I did the "netplwiz" thing again
to change it, and sure enough, on restart it defaulted to the first added, grayed out account again. I clicked on the correct account, as before, and entered my PIN, and it signed on.

Because I had tried everything I could think of, I decided to remove the PIN, just to see what would happen. After doing so, I restarted the computer and it automatically signed on the way it used to, not giving me the log in screen with grayed out ghost
account at sign on issue anymore. BUT, the two ghost accounts are still on the "Your Info" page. I can find no way to delete them, as again, they only show there (and likely the sign on screen if I went there again).

This is what I'm seeing, with the large one being the original, correct account. Or at least I'm assuming it's the big one and not the smaller one (nor the originally added gray one, of course), as I believe the big one is the one I'm presently signed into.





So, is there a way to get rid of the other two? Or seeing that everything is signing on as it should be, should I just not bother worrying about it?

The last option I can think of is a clean installation of Windows 10, but I wanted to check for ideas here, first. I just created the Windows 10 USB installation media last night so that it would be the most up to date version. I always save all of my
important files and programs on a separate HDD, so I have them for after the reinstall, but again, I wanted to check if anyone had any ideas before I take that drastic of a step. Granted, I'm very familiar with performing a clean installation, so it would
be quite easy, but I'd rather avoid it if I don't need to do it, as setting everything back up the way I like it is always a bit of a pain.

Thanks for the help. ��

 

Ghost accounts showing... Solved

Hello Gabe1972,

Thank you for updating me that information. You can check if those ghost accounts was created on your system.

Press Start then search netplwiz. Press Enter

Check if the ghost accounts are there. If not, You can just ignore those accounts.

You may also refer to this thread with similar problem. People find this helpful.

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

Sincerely



Independent Advisor

 

Ghost accounts showing... Solved

John DeV,

I took a new snapshot. Here it is....





Odd that I can see the original on all three browsers I have on my computer. Hopefully you can see this one. I'll try your suggestion about clearing the pictures, but I don't know that it would clear the ghost accounts on the sign on screen.

Thanks for the help.