Removing/Deleting a User Account/Profile

[grc123]

Two questions please:

1. Is there a thorough way to rid the system of a User Account aside from simply going into the "User Accounts" in the Control Panel and deleting the "account"? I'm wondering if all (or any of) the files/folders etc., etc. will be left hanging-around somewhere in the PC?

2. Would a thorough deletion or removal of this User, who has been on/accessed this PC for approximately six months to a year, free-up much space and/or increase performance (speed)?

Thanks!

[grc123]

Originally Posted by MarkTrent

1. It is logically advisable to erase any visible file contents of that user first, before deleting the account itself.

2. No, unless that user profile had a ton of contents, it's unlikely to make any real difference on a well-maintained machine.

Do a thorough disk clean up and defragment after you have deleted that user account.

Thank you. I suppose what I am after here is a systematic or ordered approach to the task of erasing visible file contents, just to be sure that i get (erase) as much as possible, and so that I don't erase any shared files or settings - anything that the remaining users rely or depend on - stuff that they would need for the system to continue to operate normally.

The machine in question is my parents, which I use when I come to visit, but I really no longer need my own account (I reckon I never really did) when I can simply log into mom's account/profile, to check my email, etc.

I'm hoping to simplify things here on this (their) machine, reduce clutter, and reduce some of the space that's being taken/used, etc.

Thanks again.

[grc123]

Originally Posted by MarkTrent

.

There is no need to delete anything other than PERSONAL data files - eg text documents, images and the like that you have saved.

Program user data files will be deleted automatically when you delete the user account and it is totally irrelevant how they are deleted.

That is systematic and ordered.

Man I'll tell ya - some people ...

Thanks. That's what I needed to know

[grc123]

Ok, a little further along this line: Is there a (fairly simple) way to "capture" all of the Bookmarks (Firefox Browser) in my user account, and save/keep them on this PC before deleting my user account?

Thanks in advance.

[grc123]

wow. great. So I used the wrong word/term ("capture"), when it is actually either; "Sharing", or "Exporting/Importing" (??).

Could you perhaps fill me in on the terminology, so that I could know what it is that I'm actually doing (as well to expedite/streamline the process). I am not really up on the "Geek-Speak" - though I am trying to learn, that's why I come here.

Thanks.

[grc123]

Originally Posted by MarkTrent

Bookmarks > Organise Bookmarks > File > Export then just choose where you want to save that file. That PC will have a 'all users' > 'shared documents' folder. You can use that.

Or from information you can glean from that Knowledge Base article, you could just go to your existing Firefox 'Profile Folder' on that system - where your bookmarks are stored - and simply make a copy of the 'bookmarks.html' file and save it wherever you like.

I'm sure you wont mind me saying that there is no 'geek-speak' in that KB article that you haven't already come across in answers her probably 50 times already, or in Firefox itself if you just click on 'Bookmarks' at the top of every Firefox window you ever have open and look inside it. Because there you will find 'File' and when you open that 'Import' or 'Export' etc etc

Thank you very much. Just to be absolutely clear, if I choose the first option above (and I know you stated; 'shared documents', but ...) does it matter whether I choose "Shared Documents", or "My Sharing Folders"?

Thanks.

[sach2]

You just want to save it somewhere outside the account you are going to delete. You can save it directly in the C:\ folder (My Computer>double click C: drive). That way it easy to find.

[grc123]

Originally Posted by sach2

You just want to save it somewhere outside the account you are going to delete. You can save it directly in the C:\ folder (My Computer>double click C: drive). That way it easy to find.

Ok, thanks, but wouldn't I need to "Import" it when I go into the other (remaining) User account (this makes sense to me because I have "Exported" it from the original account)? And how do I go about "Importing?