A User Account Does Not Appear in the User Accounts Tool (297221)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
This article was previously published under Q297221

SYMPTOMS

An existing user account may not appear in the User Accounts tool in Control Panel, or on the Welcome screen. You may also receive the following error message when you attempt to create a new account:
The account already exists

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because you have disabled the account. Disabled user accounts do not appear in the User Accounts tool, or on the Welcome logon screen. You can only access these accounts in the Local Users and Groups snap-in.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, first determine whether an account is not active:
  1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Manage.
  2. Expand the Local Users and Groups node.
  3. Click Users.
If the user account is displayed with a red X through it, it has been disabled. To enable the account:
  1. Double click the account.
  2. Click to clear the Account is disabled check box.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/15/2006
Keywords:kbenv kbprb KB297221
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