Cannot Switch User or Logout User, no one else can login

[kc5hwb]

I have a computer in the breakroom at work, which is running Windows 8. We normally don't use W8, so I am new to it. Apparently an employee logged into the computer with their personal account, then left the company. The screen shows her account logged in, with a blank password box, and no option to switch user. A reboot of the machine comes back to the same screen.

I was able to get into the Advanced Boot Manager and go into Safe Mode, but the same user login screen comes up in Safe Mode also.

I just need to get this user logged out and get back to the main login screen so that anyone can login to the machine. This is a simple step in W7, just can't seem to get it done in W8.

 

[Brink]

Hello kc5hwb, and welcome to Eight Forums.

Do you have a back arrow in a circle button at the top left of the user's picture on the sign in screen?

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/5752-signing-windows-8-a.html

 

[kc5hwb]

No, no arrow. I did some digging through this forum before I wrote my post, none of the solutions I found here worked for me.

 

[Brink]

Usually when there's no arrow, it indicates that is the only user account on the computer.

If you like, use the tutorial below to get all your user account details, and post them back here to see if it may reveal what the issue could be.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...-view-detailed-information-about-windows.html

 

[kc5hwb]

Well since I can't login to the computer, it'll be hard to open a command prompt.

I know there is more than 1 user account on this machine also.

 

[Brink]

Check to see if you may be able to use Option Two in the tutorial below to enable the built-in Administrator account in a command prompt at boot, and hopefully be able to sign in to it afterwards.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...rator-account-enable-disable-windows-8-a.html

 

[kc5hwb]

I tried to use Option 2 in your tutorial but when selecting Command Prompt, it wants me to choose an Administrator account to use, and the only one it lists is this one that I don't have a password for. Also, this person logged in wasn't actually an Administrator of the machine, they simply created their own user account.

 

[Brink]

If an option, you might consider to either refresh or reset Windows to start fresh since there's no telling what else the user may have done. Especially since only an administrator account has the rights to create a new account.

 

[kc5hwb]

I am fine with resetting Windows, but I don't have discs. Our company uses Windows 7 for the corporate image, these machines are just breakroom machines running the Windows 8 OS that was loaded from Dell. Does W8 have a reset option built-in?

 

[Brink]

The link below at Dell can help show you how to do a factory reset on it. You'll need to boot to your Startup Options for step 5 below instead though since you are unable to sign in.

Factory image restore method for Windows 8 | Dell US

 

[kc5hwb]

Those Dell options do not appear for me in the Troubleshoot menu.

I tried the "Reset PC" option, but it requires an "Administrator" login, but only give me the option to the user the account that is currently logged in, which of course is the issue since I can't login to that account.

 

[Brink]

In that case, you should be able to refresh Windows at boot instead.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html

 

[rembul]

have never experienced anything like this. but good can also increase knowledge.