How do I Delete an Account on Windows 7 Administrator?

Here's how to delete a user account on Windows 7 with administrator privileges:

1. Log in with an Administrator Account: You need to be logged in as an administrator to delete other user accounts. If you have multiple administrator accounts, use any one of them. If you only have the account you wish to delete you will need to access the built-in administrator account. See Step 2.

2. Access the Built-in Administrator Account (if needed): If you only have the account you want to delete and don't know the administrator password, you'll need to enable the built-in Administrator account. This involves booting into Safe Mode with Command Prompt or using a Windows 7 installation disc to access the Command Prompt. Be extremely careful when using this method. Incorrect commands can damage your system.

   • Safe Mode with Command Prompt: Restart your computer and repeatedly press the F8 key until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears. Select "Safe Mode with Command Prompt."
   • Command Prompt from Installation Disc: Boot from your Windows 7 installation disc (or recovery media). Choose your language settings, then click "Repair your computer." Select "Command Prompt" from the System Recovery Options.
   • Enable Administrator Account (via Command Prompt): In the Command Prompt, type the following command and press Enter:
     net user administrator /active:yes
     This command activates the built-in Administrator account. Reboot your computer, and you should see the "Administrator" account as a login option. If it is password protected and you don't know the password, try using the following command to remove the password:
     net user administrator ""
     Then press Enter and reboot.

3. Open User Accounts in Control Panel: After logging in as an administrator, open the Control Panel. You can usually find it in the Start Menu. In the Control Panel, click on "User Accounts and Family Safety" and then "User Accounts".

4. Manage Another Account: Click on the "Manage another account" option. This will display a list of all user accounts on the computer.

5. Select the Account to Delete: Choose the user account that you want to delete.

6. Delete the Account: Click on the "Delete the account" option.

7. Choose What to Do with the User's Files: You'll be presented with two options:

   • Keep Files: This will save the user's desktop, documents, pictures, and other files in a folder on the desktop of the administrator account. This is the recommended option if you need to retrieve any data from the deleted account.
   • Delete Files: This permanently deletes all the user's files. Choose this option only if you are sure you don't need any of the files.

8. Confirm Deletion: After selecting your file option, click "Delete" to confirm the deletion of the account.

9. Re-enable the Built-in Administrator Account (Optional but Recommended): If you enabled the built-in Administrator account in Step 2, it's a good security practice to disable it again. Repeat the steps in #2 to get to the command prompt and type the following:

   net user administrator /active:no

   This disables the built-in Administrator account.

10. Create a New Administrator Account (if necessary): If you've deleted an administrator account, and you don't have other admin accounts, create a new one. Within User Accounts in Control Panel, find the option to "Create a new account." Give the account a name, and select "Administrator" as the account type. Be sure to create a strong password and remember it.