Accounts Created after Windows 10 Latest Update

PeterAstle · 16 Nov 2015

After the latest big Windows 10 update today, I see two user accounts have been created, namely "Default" and "Default.migrated" Neither existed beforehand. They both contain quite a few folders and subfolders which at the bottom level are all empty. Can I safely delete these accounts?
Previously I had all Public Folders from the Public Account set to locations off my SSD, now they have been recreated on my SSD and I can't move them apart from "Public Account Pictures" as the option to relocate them is not present even though Windows says they can be relocated - see screenshots.

Accounts Created after Windows 10 Latest Update-public-account-pictures.jpg

Accounts Created after Windows 10 Latest Update-public-account-documents.jpg

Can the Public Account be deleted without consequence - I never use it!

AndreyT · 16 Nov 2015

Default.migrated is the pre-update version of Default. It is usually empty. It can be safely deleted.

As for Default... No, it was not created during the update. And it did exist beforehand. Most likely you simply missed it (it is a hidden folder usually). This folder is the default user profile "template". Right next to it there should be a junction Users\Default User, which should point to the very same Users\Default. It was like that since Windows 7, if not earlier. Just let that Default be.

Now, the matter of relocation of Public Folders... I also noticed that and I could also almost swear that I was able to easily relocate them before. Moreover, on my Windows 7 machine they are immediately relocatable. However, on Windows 8 and later they are just like you describe: it is not possible to edit the path and there are no buttons. (Or did this issue appear in Windows 10?)

Anyway, this is a well-known issue that can be worked around by logging in as Administrator in Safe Mode. Reboot in Safe Mode and these paths will immediately become editable in Windows 10 (and the buttons will appear where they are supposed to be). Edit the paths as you wish, move the data and then reboot in normal mode.

PeterAstle · 17 Nov 2015

Thanks for your comments.
You are correct that Default was a hidden file so I have left it alone as you advised, but have deleted Default.migrated
Regarding the Public Folders - I also read somewhere that they can be copied to a new location and then by editing the registry entry for Public under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList to point to the new location works too. I tried this and I have not noticed any issues.