Windows 10: Windows 10 1803 Main User Account suddenly missing, Switch User not available

This is an old HP Pavillion DV7 Laptop that I still get good use out of with Visual Studio 2017.


Summary: the "Main" User Account only appeared to be missing, and was able to be restored easily with all files intact, but NOT with anything I found searching Microsoft Forums!


One day I power-up, and the sign-on screen I am used to seeing is NOT AVAILABLE: it ONLY shows me a "spare" login user name I created on each of my computers years ago "just in case". I CAN log in with this User Name but the Desktop has none of the many shortcuts I created working under my "MAIN" User Name that is associated with an email address (perhaps also known as my Microsoft Account). I cannot Switch User AT ALL in any of the 5 ways I learn about via searches.


I also come to believe I have recently enjoyed an upgrade to Windows 10 1803 (Windows+R then winver).


Reading some people have panicked thinking the update deleted all their files, I dig around and confirm that the Desktop for my MAIN User account is still intact at C:\Users\MYUSERACCOUNTNAME\Desktop and all my precious icons leading to all my Recent file links in various apps are probably still OK....if only I could RESTORE the MAIN User Name account I was using.


I do some searching for MISSING USER ACCOUNTS and learn to use (Windows+R netplwiz).


Here I am comforted to see that my MAIN User Name still exists in some form. (In the following, exact order may be important I highlight the email address User Account in the list, and click on the Properties button then look at the Group Membership tab. WHAT? It is NEITHER Standard User nor Administrator, but is Other with the field contents empty and gray.


That can't be right! I simple-mindedly try setting it to Administrator, then re-boot.


NOW I AM ABLE TO SWITCH USER! At the Sign In I switch back to my MAIN User Account, and I can log in with my Microsoft Account password, and I get back my crowded Desktop thank goodness!


Now if only I had not pursued a dozen mis-directs in the process of finding this solution I would be a god!

I hope this saves someone else a lot of time!
I cannot prove I am golden in all my apps but I can compile my VS2017 code at least. And I cannot prove it was the 1803 update that did it, but IMHO it is a crime the way MS "locks" threads after a couple of months with bad hyper-complex suggestions that have not led to a solution!

:)

 

Missing Windows 10 user account

My system administrator user account, which is shown as being active when using the "net user", is NOT listed as a account I can switch or log-on to. In other words, my windows boot-up screen does not list that account, nor does any account setting screen
show that user name, yet the lower level "net user <username>" command shows that account as existing AND as being active.

This is what I have tried to fix the problem (to no avail):

1. Using the "net user <username> /ACTIVE:yes|no" command to toggle it non-active and active. (Activating the normally hidden "Administrator" user caused that username to now appear as a user to switch or log-on to).

2. Doing a system restore back to a point where I know that account username was listed. Doing this had no effect, the account was still listed as active with the "net user <username>" command but missing from the list of accounts to switch or log-on to.

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

 

Strange Windows 10 User Account issue.

Look at this thread,How to Delete a User Account in Windows 10, it may help. You can try the various methods.
Make sure you are using an administrative account when removing the account or log on using the Administrator's account.

Or, if you are patient and know what you are doing, manually remove it.

Either way, Goodluck.

 

Cant switch users in Windows 10

Hi Sarah,



Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I apologize for the inconvenience caused. We are glad to help you.



Please share a few details:

• 
  What exactly happens when you try to switch users?
  
• 
  Do you receive any error message/code?
  
• 
  Did you make any changes to the computer prior to this issue?
  

I suggest you to follow the below steps to Switch users.

• 
  Press Ctrl + Alt + Del key altogether.
  
• 
  Click on Switch User.
  
• 
  Select the user with which you want to login.
  

If computer starts up with a user other than the one you want, login to that user account and switch user to the account that you need and check.



Hope this information helps. Do contact us for further queries. We will be happy to assist you.



Regards,

Jenith