Linux Format forums

GeordieJedi · Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 7:42 pm Post subject: Deleting original user account

Hi there.

I was setting up my new laptop the other day (and surprise,
surprise, I was very tired). I've made a little mistake setting up
my user accounts.

Here's what Ive done so-far.

I've set up the original (admin) user account. But Ive used my
first name (lets say john for arguments sake). But I wanted to
call it something like "The Boss" or "Admin".
And then have a standard limited user account called John.
Just to differentiate it and make it easier to manage.

What I want to know is, if I delete the original admin account,
will it create problems in the future?

Ive already created a new admin account called "The Boss" and
moved the few files I'd created to the new admin account.
(I'm not worried about losing any data now).

OS = Win 7 premium

NB - (Yes I WILL be adding a Linux partition in the very near
future......)

Thanks in advance for any help or advice.

ollie · Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 1:27 pm Post subject:

As long as the new account is an administrator you should be able to delete the original "john". The only issues I've had with doing this is some third party software installed with the original administrator account doesn't like the change. It's to do with accessing the software when the user id, some huge number, doesn't exist any more. You have to remove the software and all registry entries and then re-install those applications.

GeordieJedi · Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 7:25 pm Post subject:

Cheers Ollie, that's really helpful. Much appreciated.

Take it easy mate.

nelz · Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 10:43 pm Post subject:

Or you could create a new user, give them admin rights, delete the old user and then change the UID of the new user to that of the old one, usually 1000.

Changing one digit sounds a lot easier than uninstalling and reinstalling an indeterminate list of software.
_________________
Unix is user-friendly. It's just very selective about who it's friends are.

ollie · Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 9:07 am Post subject:

The Linux UID for the first user is usually 1000 but Windows is much different. It's actually a "Security Identifier" and looks like this "S-1-5-21-3179452221-47502888-2255943206". You only have to re-install software if you have problems. I was just letting Bob know that there are issues.

nelz · Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 2:51 pm Post subject:

Ack! I missed it was in Other OS Sad

_________________
Unix is user-friendly. It's just very selective about who it's friends are.