Multiple accounts on same Win8 machine - questions

RhinoCan

New Member
Messages
67
I have two different Microsoft accounts on my Win8 machine, which is a laptop. One of them is an account I got from my ISP and has been in use for years but that one is disappearing in a few days (I think) because I cancelled my account with my ISP. The other account is one I created within the last couple of weeks.

In transitioning to the new account, I'm finding it considerably more work than I expected and wonder if I am ignorant of some easier ways of doing things. For instance, I was surprised that the applications installed under the older account aren't visible under the new accounts. Is there an easy way to make them visible or do I really need to reinstall the same applications under the new account from scratch? For example, let's say I have a game like Taptiles on the old account and want it visible under the new account: do I really need to do a fresh install under the new account? Or is there an easier way to be able to play Taptiles from the copy I originally installed under the original account?

Also, what is the easiest way to pass data back and forth between the two accounts? I did a copy within a file on the original account and switched to the second account to paste that information in and was disappointed to find that it was not possible. I ended up sending an email to myself then copied from the email on the newer account. It struck me that there must be a better way but I'm not sure what that would be.

Also, with respect to XBox, some of the XBox games had accumulated fairly substantial scores as a result of playing the daily challenges. Is there any way to roll the scores from the old account into the new account, even though they have different "gamer tags" (the ID by which I am known when I play TapTiles or Mahjong or whatever)?

I'd appreciate any advice people can offer on these matters.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS K55N
    CPU
    AMD A8-4500 APU with Radeon HD Graphics 1.90 GHz
    Motherboard
    not sure
    Memory
    8.00 GB installed, 7.46 GB usuable
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon
    Sound Card
    not sure
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    one 750 GB
    PSU
    Not sure
    Case
    Not sure
    Cooling
    Not sure
    Keyboard
    Built in to laptop
    Mouse
    None; I use the touchpad
    Internet Speed
    6 Mbps down, 0.25 Mbps up
    Browser
    current versions of Firefox, Chrome and IE
    Antivirus
    Avast Free
    Other Info
    I *think* many of the questions to which I've answered "not sure" are irrelevant because it is a laptop but if you need to know specifically what model of cooling fans or keyboard or whatever where built in to the laptop, I can try to find that out if you tell me where to look. I don't see this information in the Windows/System display but maybe it is elsewhere. I'm not sure what a "PSU" is: Powe
Just copy the links from the old account to the new account, or try using Windows Easy Transfer between the old and new account.

You can use the Windows Easy Transfer to transfer your profiles and settings to a new account:
  1. Go to Start type Easy Transfer Click Windows Easy Transfer in the search results.
  2. You will get a welcome message to Windows Easy Transfer. Click Next.
  3. Choose a different partition or internal hard drive, external hard disk or USB flash drive. Can't be the same drive you are transferring from (the "old computer").
  4. Select This is my old computer.
  5. Check the box before your current user account, and click Next.
  6. You can input a password if you want.
  7. Click Save to save the transfer file. The transfer file will be a single file with the extension .MIG. Please remember the location.
  8. Create a new account via Control Panel - User Accounts.
  9. Log off the current account and log on the new account.
  10. Open Windows Easy transfer again and click This is my New Computer.
  11. Choose "Yes, open the file" to navigate to the .MIG file.
  12. Check the box before your old account, then click the Advanced Options above the Transfer button, then you choose which user account you want to transfer.
  13. Click Save and Transfer. Now, you can see what are the files that were transferred.
Test if everything works correctly in the new account now. If yes you can delete the old account via User Accounts.

If not, please delete the new account via User Accounts. Go back to step 8, and repeat the step 9 and 10, then check the box before your old account, and click on the Customize button next to this old account, and uncheck the box before Windows Settings, then click the Transfer button.

I seem to have lost the site this came from originally, sorry.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo IdeaCenter K450
    CPU
    Intel Quad Core i7-4770 @ 3.4Ghz
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    16.0GB PC3-12800 DDR3 SDRAM 1600 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Integrated HD Graphics
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP h2207
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050@59Hz
    Hard Drives
    250GB Samsung EVO SATA-3 SSD;
    2TB Seagate ST2000DM001 SATA-2;
    1.5TB Seagate ST3150041AS SATA
    PSU
    500W
    Keyboard
    Wired USB
    Mouse
    Wired USB
    Internet Speed
    3GB Up, 30GB Down
    Browser
    SeaMonkey
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender; MBAM Pro
    Other Info
    UEFI/GPT
    PLDS DVD-RW DH16AERSH
Even if the ISP account is cancelled, you can still use the credentials to log in. But for safety's sake I would change the Email Address associated with the account. Are the credentials connected to a Microsoft Account? Justy log into it and change the primary Email Address.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
I've tried to change the primary address but got a message saying that I couldn't change the primary address due to restrictions by my ISP. I posted separately about that days ago and was advised to ask Microsoft about it at their forums. They suggested creating a new user account, which I did. But the cursor has started disappearing/freezing (started yesterday) making that account just about useless.

Maybe I'll be able to change the primary account once the ISP cancels the account. Or not. I really don't understand what is going on in its entirety.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS K55N
    CPU
    AMD A8-4500 APU with Radeon HD Graphics 1.90 GHz
    Motherboard
    not sure
    Memory
    8.00 GB installed, 7.46 GB usuable
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radeon
    Sound Card
    not sure
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built-in laptop screen
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    one 750 GB
    PSU
    Not sure
    Case
    Not sure
    Cooling
    Not sure
    Keyboard
    Built in to laptop
    Mouse
    None; I use the touchpad
    Internet Speed
    6 Mbps down, 0.25 Mbps up
    Browser
    current versions of Firefox, Chrome and IE
    Antivirus
    Avast Free
    Other Info
    I *think* many of the questions to which I've answered "not sure" are irrelevant because it is a laptop but if you need to know specifically what model of cooling fans or keyboard or whatever where built in to the laptop, I can try to find that out if you tell me where to look. I don't see this information in the Windows/System display but maybe it is elsewhere. I'm not sure what a "PSU" is: Powe
Maybe you can change the account from the Administrator account. You might have to remove it. Log in to your Admin account, you will have to Un-Hide it, it will create a new Desktop for it's first use. From there, you shoudl be able to Edit the settings for that account.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Back
Top