How to Disable and Delete User Profiles (156826)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q156826
IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SUMMARY

This article describes how to disable and remove user profiles.

MORE INFORMATION

NOTE: Following the steps in this article disables and removes all user profiles. All users of the Windows-based computer will see the same desktop and menus.

To Disable User Profiles

  1. Restart the computer. At the Windows logon screen, click Cancel.
  2. Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click Passwords.
  3. On the User Profiles tab, click All users of this PC use the same preferences and desktop, and then click OK.
  4. When you are prompted to restart the computer, do so.

To Remove Existing User Profiles

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

  1. Use Registry Editor to remove the appropriate User name keys from the following registry key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

    To remove all profiles, remove the ProfileList key.

  2. When you are done, quit Registry Editor.
  3. Use My Computer or Windows Explorer to remove the appropriate Windows\Profiles\User name folders. To remove all profiles, remove the Windows\Profiles folder.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:12/16/2004
Keywords:kbenv kbhowto KB156826
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.