How to downgrade Win 10 to Win 8.1 - Need to remove 'new accounts' like NT SERVICE\MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS and IIS AppPool\

Question

I have a PC with Windows 8.1 (not pro) that was upgraded to Win 10. We've since realised the PC wasn't 'Pro' so need to upgrade to Win 10 pro. I was advised that a Win 10 Pro Pack isn't available yet so the only way is to downgrade to 8.1, then apply a Pro Pack, then upgrade again to Win 10 Pro. Upon trying to downgrade I've received a message saying

Remove new accounts

Before you can go back to a previous version of Windows, you'll need to remove any user accounts you added after your most recent upgrade. The accounts need to be completely removed, including their profiles.

You created 6 accounts (IIS APPPOOL\Classic .NET AppPool, NT SERVICE\MSSQL$SQLEXPRESS, IIS APPPOOL.NET v2.0 Classic, ...)

Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users to remove these accounts, and then try again.

Of course these virtual accounts aren't listed in the settings page or in Computer Management > Local Users and Groups and cannot be deleted. How do I remove these so I can downgrade, or make the downgrade process ignore them?

Someone else has posted a similar problem here and I've posted it on the MS forums here.

Answer 1

New accounts prevents Windows 10 rollback

Use one of the solutions below and then try again to rollback.

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Solution 1

1. Press Windows+R, type sysdm.cpl andpress Enter.

2. Click on "Advanced" tab.

3. Click on "Settings" under the "User Profiles" section.

4. On the "User Profiles" dialog select the <COMPUTER NAME>\<Account Name> and click on "Delete".

5. Confirm the delete.

6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each account to be deleted.

Warning:

The above steps will also delete all data associated with the accounts – > please ensure data associated with the account is backed up if necessary prior to performing the steps.

Source Roll Back of Windows 10

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Solution 2

Please go to the registry editor and do the following steps:

1. Click Windows+R, to open run command. Type "regedit" and click enter.

2. Create a back of the registry. Click on Hkey and go to the File Tab, press Export and save it to your desired your location.

3. Go to the provided path HKey_LocalMachine\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList.

4. In the profile list you will find a few SID's please find the ones related to the accounts to be deleted and delete them.

To know which SID is related to the Account you wish to delete look at each SID series and on the right side look for ProfileImagePath, you will notice c:/users/<Account Name>.

Source Go back to Windows 7 with User account issue