Solved Stuck On "Preparing Windows" When Attempting To Log In

Enigma

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Portland, Oregon, USA
I have 2 accounts on this PC, one is a MS account, the other is the built-in Administrator account, which I renamed and assigned a complex password to make it difficult for anyone to get into. However, I recently disabled the Admin account with the "net user administrator /active:no" command, and then deleted both the Administrator and Enigma (the name which I renamed it to) folders in C:\Users. I also went into Control Panel and made sure that the user is gone, it does not appear now. I can still log into my PC via the MS account since it has admin rights.

But after rebooting the Admin/Enigma account still appears on the login screen and asks for a password. So I reenter the old password and it then hangs with a "Preparing Windows" message. Then I do a hard reset and log into the MS account, I can see that a TEMP folder has been created at C:\Users, which I assume was created as a result of trying to log in as Admin/Enigma. I'm not sure, but I'm guessing that the PC still remembers the password and other info associated with the account, and that info must still be stored somewhere in the Registry. That seems to be the only logical cause of the issue.

So, I need help with locating that info and resetting it, because I intend to reactivate Admin again, but this time I'm going to leave it alone. I had deleted it in the 1st place because of the appearance of 2 usernames for the account at C:\Users, and found that odd, so I figured I could get rid of both and then recreate/reset. I rarely use the account anyways because it is a security risk, and only to do a handful of things that I've had trouble doing with the MS account, despite it having admin privilidges.

Thanks for any help!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64, Windows Server 2012 R2 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G700
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3632QM, 2.20 GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA 720M, Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 (max)
    Hard Drives
    1 TB HDD (5400 RPM), 1.5 TB HDD (5400 RPM) installed in a 12.7mm disc drive caddy
    Case
    Lenovo
    Keyboard
    Lenovo
    Mouse
    Laptop/notebook keyboard/touchpad
    Internet Speed
    It varies, since I'm mobile most of the time
    Browser
    Chromium (the open-source browser which Google Chrome is derived from)
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky, Malwarebytes, Spybot, Privatefirewall
    Other Info
    I will add more information here later
just making sure I understand. You say "I had deleted it in the 1st place because of the appearance of 2 usernames for the account at C:\Users, and found that odd, so I figured I could get rid of both and then recreate/reset." Do you mean there were two users with the same name or two different names somehow associated with the same account? I think it must be the former, but just need to be sure.

Don't get you hopes up that I can solve your problem. But, I once had a less complicated situation somewhat akin to your's.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
I mean it was a single user with 2 different names in C:\Users (Administrator, the original, and Enigma, which is what I had renamed the account to). I know for a fact that they were referencing the same account.

It is solved now, the solution was to go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList\, and then delete the entries for the TEMP and Administrator/Enigma users. After that I disabled the built-in Admin account with the DOS command "net user administrator /active:no", rebooted and logged back into my MS account, reenable the Admin account, and then log in and change the password. Afterwards I changed the name of the account as well.

That's it, just figured I would post that in case anyone has the same issue.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro x64, Windows Server 2012 R2 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G700
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-3632QM, 2.20 GHz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    6 GB DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA 720M, Intel HD 4000
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900 (max)
    Hard Drives
    1 TB HDD (5400 RPM), 1.5 TB HDD (5400 RPM) installed in a 12.7mm disc drive caddy
    Case
    Lenovo
    Keyboard
    Lenovo
    Mouse
    Laptop/notebook keyboard/touchpad
    Internet Speed
    It varies, since I'm mobile most of the time
    Browser
    Chromium (the open-source browser which Google Chrome is derived from)
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky, Malwarebytes, Spybot, Privatefirewall
    Other Info
    I will add more information here later
I see. Glad you solved it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win7 Ult on DIY; Win8 Pro on MBP/Parallels; Win7 Ult on MBP/Boot Camp; Win7 Ult/Win8 Pro on HP
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    DIY Rig; MacBook Pro (MBP)/Parallels/Boot Camp; HP Pavilion dv6500t Laptop
    CPU
    Intel i7-2600K (sometimes OC'd to 4.8 GHz)
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8P67 Deluxe Rev B3
    Memory
    16 GB Corsair Vengeance
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 570 SC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Gateway
    Hard Drives
    Dual Boot:
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on OCZ Revo x2 and
    Win7 Ult RAID 0 on Caviar Black SATA 3's
    PSU
    Cooler Master Silent Pro 1000W
    Case
    Cooler Master 932 HAF
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9900MAX-B CPU Fan
    Keyboard
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Mouse
    Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500
    Internet Speed
    20 Mbps Download/2+ Mbps Upload
    Other Info
    Pioneer Blu-ray Burner/DVD Burner
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