Solved Can't delete old user name's folder

mibaup

New Member
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Hello,

I wanted to change the initial user name I created so I followed the instruction from the tutorials here.

I also made my name account as an Administrator.

Now I went to C:\Users\<old_username> and tried to delete but I get this message:

"you require permission from administrators to make changes to this folder"

How can it be? I see my new account as an Administrator in PC Settings and in Control Panel..

does that mean something went wrong?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    i5-4210m
    Memory
    4GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5 m230 2GB + Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Switchable Graphics)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
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    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
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    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Hi Brink,

I tried doing so, but it tells me that the folder is not empty (That there is a folder named "AppData" there - which I saw after I enabled the option to view hidden folders and files)
I actually remember now that I didn't follow the user account deletion guide accurately : I did not press "Delete Files" but rather "Keep Files" and I do remember that it asked me something about the folder called "AppData" and the option to share it with the new user or something like that (I don't remember excatly) - what should I do then? and if I delete it will it affect my new user in some way?

Thank you again ;)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    i5-4210m
    Memory
    4GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5 m230 2GB + Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Switchable Graphics)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
You could see if you may be able to delete the folder in a command prompt at boot.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
The problem I'm afraid to do it because I remember that before deleting the user itself, it asked me something about sharing the hidden folder "AppData" with the new user or something like that, so maybe if I do that, it will damage something ?
You need to add to your tutorial of creating a new user name, a way to delete the old folder, in case you choose "Keep Files" and choose to keep the AppData, only if we can figure that out first :sarc: (your tutorial only shows what happens when you press "Delete Files")

*try it yourself - create a new user, use a software that keeps files in the AppData, then try to delete it using "Keep Files" option, and see that it asks you something about AppData (Ah I can't remember exactly what, too bad I didn't use PrintScreen)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    i5-4210m
    Memory
    4GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5 m230 2GB + Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Switchable Graphics)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
In that case, I wouldn't mess with it since you are not sure what you did. It very well could affect your other account. :(

The "Keep Files" option is just that. It only leaves the "C:\Users\(user-name)" profile folder intact for the user account you deleted instead of also deleting it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
What it did was to copy the folder to the new user desktop, but I don't think it should've affect the old user folder at C:\users\<old_user>. I think that what caused the problem was the question about "AppData" that it asked me rather than the "Keep Files".

I will try to contact Microsoft about that and tell you what their answer was. I will also try to create another user just to print screen with the AppData message.

*Inside that AppData folder there's a folder named "Libraries" which I can't access, and it keep telling me I need permission from Administrators, but my new account is an Administrator account, what is the problem then?!

**Update : I created a new user, now tried with "Delete Files" rather than "Keep Files" and it didn't ask me about the AppData this time, but when I go to C:/users I see that user and can't delete it either (and there's an AppData folder there as well :D) so I am stuck with 2 extra user folders that I can't delete. :huh:

***Update 2: I managed to delete these folders! I found in another place that you need to open Task Manager and stop the "WMPNetworkSvc" and then delete the folders > It worked! I don't know what's the connection between stopping a "WMPNetworkSvc" (I have no idea what that is) but from some reason it worked, I hope I didn't damage anything, we'll find out in the future I guess.

*by the way, how do I perform a clean installation of the Windows 8.1 oem version that came with my laptop? No CD or anything provided :confused:. Why can't they provide an installation link in their website like Ubuntu or something?!
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64-bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo
    CPU
    i5-4210m
    Memory
    4GB RAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    AMD Radeon R5 m230 2GB + Intel HD Graphics 4600 (Switchable Graphics)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6"
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
Great news.

WMPNetworkSvc is for the Windows Media Player Network Sharing Service. Evidently something in those deleted user accounts were being shared in Windows Media Player still and preventing the file/folder from being deleted since it's still in use.

You should have a recovery partition on the laptop that you can do a factory reset with. It varies for each manufacturer, but usually you could reset Windows to do so.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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