Cannot find a way to remove a User Account in XP

I just suffered through a few days of Malware eradication and such, and as I've worked through the suggestions here for protecting us in the future, I've been doing a little User Account managing.

Specifically, I have deleted several accounts my kids had made (though never used).

When I try to delete the last of those, the User Accounts window sort of jams. I can't close it, it doesn't remove the profile, and it just sits there until I shut down. In fact, I can't shut down and have to manuall power-off.

When I try going into Safe Mode, only the two good profiles are present. But when I boot to normal XP again, there's the unwanted profile again like before.

When I try to manage the accounts through the System Properties window the other account does not show up. Only appears on startup and in the User Accounts window under Control Panels.

How do I get rid of it?

Many thanks!

-Sam

 

This account you are trying to delete would not be "Guest" would it?

 

Ha ha! No. My kids made an account for everyone in the family. They thought that would be cute. rolleyes

I've deleted all of them except for the Administrator, the primary account I intend to use, Guest (which is disabled), and the one that had my wife's name attached. I don't think it was ever used more than once or twice, but I just can't make it go away. And, oddly, I can't "see" it in the System Properties control panel.

-Sam

 

Is the primary account you intend to use set up with Administrator privileges? [I'm thinking perhaps at least one account (not including the hidden Administrator account must have Administrator privileges]

Also, Try Start>Run>type in control userpasswords2 do you see the account with your wife's name?

 

If her account is an Admin type, you will have to change it to limited or user before it can be removed.

 

Is your wife's profile an admin account instead of limited user. I found this.

http://techrepublic.com.com/5208-11184-0.html?forumID=47&threadID=183562&messageID=2152949

@hrlow2: Sorry, I missed your post during my typing.

 

Yes, "her" account appears in the user accounts list if I run control userpasswords2.

No, she's not set up as an administrator.

Should I try deleting that account from that window?

-Sam

 

Tried from Safe Mode?

 

Yes. In safe mode this account doesn't appear anywhere.

 

Did you try deleting from here?

 

I hadn't, but what do you know? Poof, she's gone!

Thanks!

-Sam