updating/cleaning up unnecessary "user account" data

Question

SYSTEM INFO: MS Windows XP Professional Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600

System Model Dell OptiPlex GX270 System Type X86-based PC Processor x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~2793 Mhz BIOS Version/Date Dell Computer Corporation A06, 9/29/2004 SMBIOS Version 2.3 Total Physical Memory 1,024.00 MB Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB Internal HDs: c (80G) + f (40G)

QUESTION: I would like to edit my administrator user account name, safely delete unused user accounts with their D&S files, and establish a new "guest" user account -- all without locking myself out of my own PC.

1) I have and am the sole user of the orignal administrator user account. I would like to change the user name of this admin acct but keep the password. How can this be done safely?

2) I don't have a "guest user" account. I would like to create one. How do I safely do this.

3) I have two older "user accounts" that I don't need. How can I safely delete them and their D&S info while leaving my administrator and guest accounts operational.

4) Considering the above, in which order should I do these?

Answer 1

If you want to get rid of profile info in one step, Microsoft provides a user profile deletion tool here.

For a more manual process:

1. While logged in as administrator, start in the Control Panel > Users app. You should be able to remove the user accounts that are no longer needed and add the guest account.
2. Next, delete the user profile located in C:\Documents and Settings\username. That should remove the data associated with that account.
3. I'd recommend doing a disk cleanup and defrag after that, just as a last maintenance step.