Windows 10: I Accidentally Deleted the C:\Users\Administrator File and its Content

Hi! I'm currently running on Microsoft Windows Version 20H2 (OS Build 19042.985) My current issue started from when I tried to enable the Built-in Administrator Account. I was intending to change the file name on my current Microsoft account C:\Users\<AccountName> file. As part of the steps, I had to enable the Built-in Administrator account. When I was done with it, I went to log out and delete the Administrator account by accident. I was wondering if I can restore this file...I know it sounds like a dumb situation I'm currently in, but if anyone could help me out on this matter I would greatly appreciate it! Currently running on a G14 Zephyrus laptop, I wanted to keep some of the programs inside the computer (because if I were to do a clean install, I might not be able to get back some of the ASUS applications provided in the system.) I was wondering if a Windows Repair file would work in my situation? As of now I can still access the administrator account (using the same command net user adminstrator /active:yes), I am greeted with the prompt, 'We can't sign in to your account'. Selecting 'Close' will be fine and all, but if I selected 'Sign out', I will be logged out, and then logged back in with the same prompt. I know I might have done some irreversible damage at this point, when the C:\Users\Adminstrator file did not come back, but instead appears as TEMP. I do not have a restore point in place and I was wondering if there is any other way to salvage this situation? Thanks in advance...

:)

 

accidentally deleted the administrations folder

1 I think you answered Yes to my question Is the "administrations" folder C:\Users\Administrator?
2 Are you now logged in to an Admin-level user account?
3 Are you still logged in to the account with the username Administrator?
4 If you are indeed still logged in to the account with the username Administrator then I suggest creating an additional password-protected Admin-level local user account now.
5 Where you say that most programs do not work, do you actually mean that Windows Apps do not work but conventional, installed applications do work?
6 Are you sure that the C:\Users\Administrator has been deleted and not just hidden. Try opening File explorer and entering into its address bar C:\Users\Administrator\Documents or some other folder that you know was there.
7 Log into the new password-protected Admin-level local user account and try some of the programs that currently do not work to see if they work in the new account.
8 You have both said that the entire folder has been deleted and that most of it has been deleted but some subfolders & shortcuts remain. Please clarify.

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If you respond to these questions/tests then the situation will be properly understood. Because of the potential for confusion & misunderstandings, please refer to my para numbers in your reply.

Denis

 

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

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

 

User.000 issue after updating to 1909

I'm one of the many people suffering from issues with user profiles after applying Update 1909 to Windows 10. I've read all the threads I can find on the topic here and have followed the suggestions, all to no avail. Any other thoughts are appreciated.

After applying Update 1909, the ProfileImagePath was changed to c:\users\User.000
One file that was always in use and couldn't be removed was left in c:\users\User (can't recall or find the exact file now), so I could never rename or remove the c:\user\User directory.

I followed the multiple suggestions from Brink and others:

• Rebooted at least 6 times
• Enabled hidden Administrator
• Booted into Safe Mode
• Changed ProfileImagePath
• Tried to rename c:\users\User but couldn't because a file was still in use
• Copied all data from c:\users\User.000 into c:\users\User
• Rebooted and had temporary profile
• Followed steps in Brink tutorial to change ImageProfilePath; rebooted with no change
• Restored using Restore Point from before Update 1909 - returned to single profile state (User.000)
• Removed each update that was installed individually and rebooted after each update removal - profile state never changed
• After all updates were removed, repeated the steps above with hidden Administrator, changing profile, etc. - same issue with file in use in c:\users\User
• Followed all steps above with hidden Administrator but without copying files from User.000 to User - same results

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!