Windows 10: User Account of Second Computer Keeps Reappearing

I had a laptop before that I used until the hard drive quit on it, and I ended up just giving up on it since I wasn't sure how to replace the hard drive myself. I disconnected it from my Microsoft account shortly after, but noticed its user account was still in my Users folder on my desktop computer I know this since the user name is the same, and I haven't used the same name on my desktop or new laptop.

My guess is that it was syncing itself to my desktop since I had forgotten to disable it from syncing my wallpaper for a while, but I'm not sure why it's still on my desktop now, let alone why it keeps reappearing after I delete it. The account from my new laptop doesn't appear on my desktop, however, which confuses me more as to why the old laptop's account is.

The only file inside the account is "TextHarvester.dat", which is buried in "AppData\Local\Microsoft\InputPersonalization\TextHarvester". No clue what it's for except maybe having to do with my multiple keyboard languages.


TLDR: User account from my old laptop, I'm guessing, appears on my desktop computer and has a single file in it, and reappears after being deleted on restart.

Anyone know how to get rid of it permanently?

:)

 

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

 

Deleted account keeps reappearing

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

Is it still appearing no matter how you try to delete? I suggest you to follow the steps below to remove user account from your computer, and check if it helps. Try the ones you’re comfortable with.

Step 1: Steps to Remove a User Account in Settings

• 
  Press Windows
  key, click on Settings.
  
• 
  Click on Account, click on
  Family and other users.
  
• 
  Select the user you want to delete under
  Other users and click on Remove.
  
• 
  Accept the UAC (User Account Control) prompt.
  
• 
  Select Delete account and data if you wish to delete account and the data and follow onscreen instructions.
  

Step 2: Steps to Delete a User Account in Command Prompt

• 
  Press Windows + X keys from the keyboard, select
  Command Prompt (Admin).
  
• 
  Type net user and hit Enter
  to list the user accounts on your device.
  
• 
  Type net user "User account”
  /delete and hit Enter to delete the user account.
  

Step 3: Steps to Delete a User Account in Run command.

• 
  Press Windows + R and type netplwiz, press
  Enter.
  
• 
  Select the User account, click on the
  Remove button.
  

Regards.

 

Strange Windows 10 User Account issue.

Unfortunately I had done those steps numerous reboots, it just, reappears for no good reason. The base account isn't even a Microsoft account, it's a local account.

I haven't quite tried the built in administrator account on W10, but so far in my experience on my own computer, the built in account seemed to have absolutely no more control than I did on my own.

It's just strange, I go in, it warns me twice about deleting the account, then it's gone. Reboot, and it's back?

EDIT: Just to specify, both command line and Netplwiz both say only HIS account exists on the computer, it doesn't list this rogue account. This is what I meant in my first post about the fact that even Windows doesn't seem to believe it exists, HALF the time. *Frown