Windows 10: Multiple computers use the same Microsoft account and they all use different login user...

I have multiple computers that are all using the same admin microsoft account. I it a shared microsoft email accessed by multiple members of a group. Each computer was given a different name for login counter1, counter2 based on its location in the office. I would like to change that user name but keep all the other information for that computer. I would simply like to change to something like Stage1 instead of Counter 1. I don't want to loose anything since we have been using this computer for quite some time and I am afraid if I make a new user name there will be lost files, or problems later. Or is there a way to copy or duplicate user with a different name. I really want to make sure the desktop, files, system layout, everything stays the same.

:)

 

Random account appeared on login to my computer

Hi Mathew,

Thank you for getting back to us.

I suggest you to try the below steps to remove the user account from your computer.

• 
  Login to your computer through administrator account.
  
• 
  Press Windows key + r and type
  netplwiz, hit Enter.
  
• 
  Select the user account, you want to remove.
  
• 
  Click on the Remove button.
  

Hope it helps, reply to us with the status of your issue. We will be happy to assist you.

 

Old user account with Microsoft account reappeared on the computer

Hi Graham,



Thank you for writing to Microsoft Community Forums.



It is very unusual that the old profile has reappeared on the computer.



Ideally, the old profile will only reappear if System Restore has been performed on the computer. We would like to if you are aware of any changes made to the computer.



As you have mentioned that your Microsoft account is linked to your old profile, I would suggest you to convert the Microsoft account to a local account by following the steps mentioned below:

1. Login to the old account.
   
2. Press Windows Logo key + I, to open
   Settings.
   
3. Click on Accounts and select
   Your info from the left pane.
   
4. Click on Sign in with a local account instead.
   
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
   

After converting the account to a local account, if you wish to delete the account, refer the steps mentioned below:

1. Login to the newly created account.
   
2. Press Windows Logo key + R, to open
   Run dialog box.
   
3. Type control and click on
   OK.
   
4. Select Large icons from the drop down for
   View by.
   
5. Now, click on User Accounts.
   
6. Click on Manage another account and select the user account that you want to remove.
   
7. Click on Delete the account and select
   Keep Files (if you want to keep the files of the user account) else select Delete
   to remove the account.
   

After deleting the old user account, to convert the new user account to a Microsoft account, go to
Settings (Windows Logo key + I) >> Accounts >>
Your info >> click on Sign in with a Microsoft account and follow the on-screen instructions.



I hope the information provided by me is helpful for you.



Let us know if you need any further assistance, we will be glad to help you further.



Regards,

Nikhar Khare

Microsoft Community - Moderator

 

What is the point of using a Microsoft account as a login for a computer?

I'm not certain why you bothered to answer my question -- since you did not.

You provided 3 points:

• Microsoft account FAQ
  
  Microsoft account | Sign In or Create Your Account Today – Microsoft
  
  This link explains what a Microsoft account is, how to get one, security and privacy. This applies only to logins into Microsoft systems (webpages, onedrive) BUT NOT to logins into my own machine -- and this is what my questions was all about
• One account for all things Microsoft
  
  Microsoft account | Sign In or Create Your Account Today – Microsoft
  
  This is a link to manage ones Microsoft account. Again it has nothing to do with the login into my own machine
• Andre Da Costa
  
  Windows 10 and Microsoft account
  
  This applies to how to install and/or setup windows 10. This site even says, that the advantage of using a Microsoft account to login into once PC is that one can synchronize settings over multiple PCs. So this link does say something about using a Microsoft
  account to login into once PC. But it does not answer my question (or most points of it):

• What is my motivation for using a Microsoft account to login into my PC?
  • OK -- synchronize settings over multiple PCs as said in the Adre Da Costa link. This is one point you pro vided -- thanks!
  • but I've still to login multiple times into every webpage and every Microsoft software again, despite already having provided my Microsoft password when logging into the PC. So again, I don't understand why I should login using a Microsoft account.
  • the Microsoft account password does not propagate to the PC after having been changed. I tried different ways of changing it:
    • starting online on some Microsoft webpage
    • starting from "user accounts" control panel (which also works via some Microsoft webpage)
      
      and the change of password never propagated to my machine
      
      Potentially this breaks the synching of settings, as the computer cannot provide the correct password anymore (assuming that this is checked later -- but this would mean asynchron check of the password instead when entering -- with all its crazy effects

• 
  Please also consider, that the change of Microsoft account password not propagating to my machine made me believe, that my machine is either hacked or corrupted and I deleted the local account and recreated it, loosing some files despite I've clicked, preserve
  files.