My daughter allowed me to use her computer when I could no longer get up to use my desktop. She had me use the Guest user. She ended up buying another one and since I had so many saved things on guest I just continued using it. We did not know we should have created a new user. I feel it is now corrupt and my question is.... Is there any way to restore it and wipe out all the items in it? I have disabled it and I am using the main account now. When task-manager is open it appears to be running things on the guest account. When option to show all users is selected it then quiets down. Can the guest account be deleted and recreated? Computer is a Dell Vista Home 32bit.
Deleting the guest account
- Thread starter Bobbinet
- Start date
Cytherian
Vista Guru
What are you witnessing that makes you feel as though the guest account is corrupt? If I remember the security model correctly, you cannot install any software using the guest account. You shouldn't have anything being run from guest either. Can you list out what processes you see being run by Guest?
The "Guest" user is a system created account that cannot be deleted. You can only enable it or disable it. But, it doesn't sound like there's any need for you to use it. Also, you can always create a new account that has limited authority like a Guest account (just named differently).
The "Guest" user is a system created account that cannot be deleted. You can only enable it or disable it. But, it doesn't sound like there's any need for you to use it. Also, you can always create a new account that has limited authority like a Guest account (just named differently).
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- HP Pavillion dv5t
- CPU
- Intel Core Duo 2.53GHz
- Memory
- 4Gb
- Graphics card(s)
- NVidia GeForce 9600M GT 512Mb
- Screen Resolution
- 1280x800 32bit
- Hard Drives
- Seagate Momentus XT 500Gb Hitachi Travelstar HTS543225L9A300 250Gb
- Mouse
- Microsoft 4000
Welcome
The point of a guest account is that a visitor (guest) cannot damage the computer in any way, nor can they make permanent downloads. Just disable the account and its like new.
The point of a guest account is that a visitor (guest) cannot damage the computer in any way, nor can they make permanent downloads. Just disable the account and its like new.
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- Dell XPS420
- Memory
- 6 gig
- Graphics card(s)
- ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
- Sound Card
- Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
- Monitor(s) Displays
- Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
- Hard Drives
- 640 gb
- Cooling
- Fan
- Mouse
- Dell USB 4 button optical
- Keyboard
- Dell USB
- Other Info
- DSL provided by ATT
She made me administrator as well. I downloaded lots of stuff. Is there anyway to just restore it back to previous? Does disabling it not stop the processes running on it?
My Computer
If you disable it is like it was never used.
What is a guest account?
What is a guest account?
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- Dell XPS420
- Memory
- 6 gig
- Graphics card(s)
- ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
- Sound Card
- Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
- Monitor(s) Displays
- Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
- Hard Drives
- 640 gb
- Cooling
- Fan
- Mouse
- Dell USB 4 button optical
- Keyboard
- Dell USB
- Other Info
- DSL provided by ATT
If I enable it will it still have everything I placed on it or is it reset? How can I show what is running on the guest account.
My Computer
The point of a guest account is that once it is disabled all will go back to the way it was before you began using it. To transfer files:
Open Guest account folder
U can now see Documents, Pictures , music , Downloads folder
Dont delete the guest account until you are satisfed that you have all the documents that you want and that the procedure worked.
Open Guest account folder
U can now see Documents, Pictures , music , Downloads folder
Dont delete the guest account until you are satisfed that you have all the documents that you want and that the procedure worked.
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- Dell XPS420
- Memory
- 6 gig
- Graphics card(s)
- ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
- Sound Card
- Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
- Monitor(s) Displays
- Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
- Hard Drives
- 640 gb
- Cooling
- Fan
- Mouse
- Dell USB 4 button optical
- Keyboard
- Dell USB
- Other Info
- DSL provided by ATT
Oh Boy, I had mail I wanted/needed. But I have disabled this already. I will go check it.
Doris
Doris
My Computer
enabled it and everything is still there. Tomorrow I will transfer the remaining keepers. I will check back tomorrow
My Computer
Cytherian
Vista Guru
Good to hear that you were able to find the documents/emails that you wanted to keep. I guess you weren't able to find any current running processes owned by Guest in the Task Manager list?
In any case, be sure to create an additional administrator account with a strong password (meaning, not easy to break). I always have more than one. It's just good practice, on the odd chance you ever have a corruption issue with your usual account or you forget the password.
In any case, be sure to create an additional administrator account with a strong password (meaning, not easy to break). I always have more than one. It's just good practice, on the odd chance you ever have a corruption issue with your usual account or you forget the password.
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- HP Pavillion dv5t
- CPU
- Intel Core Duo 2.53GHz
- Memory
- 4Gb
- Graphics card(s)
- NVidia GeForce 9600M GT 512Mb
- Screen Resolution
- 1280x800 32bit
- Hard Drives
- Seagate Momentus XT 500Gb Hitachi Travelstar HTS543225L9A300 250Gb
- Mouse
- Microsoft 4000
I don't know how to show whats running from guest, list is huge when showing all. When the task manager is open the cpu is usually double or more what is showing at the usage at top. When I show all users it shows a huge list (a lot not running too). How do I know which ones are from guest? And is there other area's that would show besides the Admin ones. Also when I do show all it will then better match the cpu usage. It is like something is smart and quiet's down when open.
My Computer
Be sure to reboot after you disable the Guest Account to close any processes that were running in it. That should fix the issues with task manager showing processes running from the Guest Account.
My Computer
System One
-
- Manufacturer/Model
- HP Pavilion P7-1010
- CPU
- AMD Athlon X4 645 @3.1ghz
- Memory
- 6GB DDR3 1066mhz
- Graphics card(s)
- Sapphire Radeon HD 5670
- Sound Card
- Realtek HD Audio
- Monitor(s) Displays
- HP 2011x
- Screen Resolution
- 1600x900
- Hard Drives
- 1. 128gb Crucial M4 SSD 2. 1tb Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm 3. 1tb Western Digital Caviar Green 5400rpm
- PSU
- 380W Seasonic S12 Bronze
- Case
- HP OEM
- Cooling
- Coolermaster Fan
- Mouse
- HP OEM
- Keyboard
- HP OEM
- Internet Speed
- 4 megabits up, 20 megabits down