How to Delete Profiles in Windows XP

Windows XP enables multiple users to maintain their own settings and display options, allowing everyone to tailor their Windows experience to their own tastes. Each user will require his own easy-to-create profile. It is also easy to delete profiles in Windows XP when desirable.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Windows XP
• Administrative privileges

Delete User Profiles in Windows XP

1. Start your computer in the normal manner.

2. Log on to the administrator account. Enter your password information if you've chosen to secure the administrator account.

3. Wait for Windows XP to load.

4. Click on the "Start Menu" button to open the Start menu.

5. Click on the "Control Panel" button.

6. Click on the "System" icon.

7. Select the "Advanced" tab in the system menu.

8. Click the "Settings" button in the "User Accounts" field.

9. Click on one of the profiles that you wish to delete. Highlighting specific user accounts will show the available options. The account marked "Administrator" will have the delete button grayed out.

10. Click "Delete" to remove the user profiles you wish to eliminate from the system.

11. Be aware that you can also manage user profiles from the User Accounts menu in the control panel. Change passwords, pictures and profile settings from this menu. You can also recover passwords from this section as an administrator.

12. Test to insure that the user profiles you want to remove have been successfully deleted. Log out of Windows XP to return to the Login screen. If the profiles have been successfully removed, they will no longer appear in the user profile list.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have Start menu options linked to specific user profiles (but not to all users), you'll need to move them to a different user's account or they will be deleted. Simply right-click on the Start menu and drag-and-drop menu items you wish to keep.
• Only the administrator is authorized to delete profiles in Windows XP. You will need access to the administrator account, or you'll need to grant administrator access to another user, allowing her to delete the first administrator account.
• Know that you cannot simply delete the administrator account. If you wish to get rid of this profile, you'll have to create another administrator account first.

Resources

• Microsoft's user profile overview at Microsoft.com