Windows 10: Why is my MS admin account using C: for a home directory after new install?

Discus and support Why is my MS admin account using C: for a home directory after new install? in Windows 10 Network and Sharing to solve the problem; After the latest Windows 10 update destroyed my desktop PC, I had to reinstall Windows 10 Pro, I could not rollback the update. I did not have a... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Network and Sharing' started by PTArtist, Jun 29, 2020.

  1. PTArtist Win User

    Why is my MS admin account using C: for a home directory after new install?


    After the latest Windows 10 update destroyed my desktop PC, I had to reinstall Windows 10 Pro, I could not rollback the update. I did not have a Windows serial # at hand, so I proceeded using my Microsoft account.


    After the install I had one administrator account, associated with my MS account. Maybe OK, BUT ... the install also created a user directory under C:/Users with the name of the first five letters of the email account associated with my MS account. However it NOT used as my login home directory, instead the user folders are in some virtual space called "This PC", which I have yet to track down! Is this the joys of "OneDrive"?


    I restored all my user files many GB to the new folder in Users, but there is no corresponding user account for this "home" folder.


    I created a new local user and set as administrator, but this account doesn'tseem to have the same admin privileges/power as my Microsoft installation admin account, e.g. I did not have automatic access to other user files, and had to wait 5 minutes while it traveled an entire directory tree to grant me access!


    Can a new local administrator have full administrator privileges? If so, how?


    I don't want to pay for OneDrive storage, and I prefer to know where my personal files & backups are. Should I just keep the MS admin account, but use the new local admin account for my normal daily use?


    Or is there a better way?

    :)
     
    PTArtist, Jun 29, 2020
    #1
  2. angus Win User

    Settings can't be opened using the built-in administrator account


    Hello,
    Unfortunately I have the same issue as Dabz from upgrading win7 to win10.
    I've tried opening settings using all the suggested methods and it will not load using my account with Administrator access nor the built-in Administrator profile. I also tried other methods not listed such as using Run. Control panel is just a stepping stone to add users in Settings.
    I'm also having explorer.exe issues, which I believe is preventing Settings from loading.
    Using cmd (Admin) I successfully created a new user profile [and granted admin access also using cmd (Admin)], however win10 will not allow this account to log on. win10 does not list this new user within control panel but it does in the start menu. win10 will not allow to log in or switch to the new account via the start menu either.
    I can access settings in Safe Mode but this will not allow me to create a new account.
    Any help/suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
    Cheers
     
    angus, Jun 29, 2020
    #2
  3. Try3 Win User
    My admin account switched to a user account!

    The first of the many diagrams in this thread show that the link Sign in with a local account instead is displayed for the account that is currently logged on and so the reversion procedure might work for this account. For normal circumstances, that would initiate the conversion back to a local account for the user account currently logged in - see my 23rd & 26th September 2016 posts in revert to local account from one converted to MSAccount. I have no way of knowing how Windows will react to an attempt to use this procedure for the Built-In Admin account and I do not know if that link Sign in with a local account instead will be displayed or not.

    I think I side-stepped this issue by suggesting that that
    • An extra password-protected Admin level account is created, and
    • The Built-In Admin is disabled, and
    • The recovery attempt focuses on whichever existing user account remains active afterwards.

    Personally, I would reinstall Windows 10 without even attempting this recovery. Installation takes very little effort once everything is backed up and the only necessary user interactions are right at the start & right at the end so it can be initiated before making a pot of tea. It took about 30, 60 & 90 minutes for each of my computers [the 30 minuter is 6 months old, the 60 minuter is 7 years old, 90 minuter is 12 years old].

    Raner - I am trying to avoid sounding like I am nagging you into doing a clean install.
    • Once you have recovered the existing user account you can attempt to re-enable & remove the MSAccount link from your Built-In Admin if that link appears in Settings, Accounts.
    • Bree says it cannot be done and I think the same but I have never tried - I have never been able to get to Settings using the Built-In Admin because it cannot run any Windows 10 Apps so I do not know how it can be done [but the diagrams in Bree's link shows that those users got there].
    • Even though I have the safety of having created two spare password-protected Admin accounts I would not want to know that my Built-In Admin was sitting in the background but unable to help me if my other accounts were corrupted.

    Denis
     
  4. Why is my MS admin account using C: for a home directory after new install?

    Everything now goes to the Users/<name> directory instead of the normal C:/ <whatever>, plus the account doesn't have admin rights

    Hi,

    Your concern is a little bit vague. We would like to clarify some details for us to determine the appropriate advice to your concern. As such, kindly provide us the answers to the following questions:

    • What specific task are you trying to accomplish?
    • What do you exactly mean by "Everything goes to the Users/<name> directory instead of the normal C:/ <whatever>"?

    If you wish to be the admin, you can choose to transfer the files from your newly created user profile to the admin account. You can refer to the suggested steps provided by
    Mohammed AliAli, dated on 30th of May 2016, on this thread.

    We are keen on hearing back from you about this matter.
     
    Lawrence Lib, Jun 29, 2020
    #4
Thema:

Why is my MS admin account using C: for a home directory after new install?

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