Delete "Ghost" Account?

Somehow, I have a "ghost" user. It shows up on the login screen along with my regular account. But, if I go to users, it is not there, so, I can't find a way to delete it. Any help will be appreciated. (Windows 10 version 20H2)

Regards, Jim

It wont show a users folder until its been logged in

Note: When you want to delete a user account from your computer:

You must be signed in as an administrator to be able to delete a user account.

You will not be able to delete a user account that is currently signed in. You will need to sign out the user first.

Be sure to always have at least one enabled administrator account on the PC to avoid not being able to perform actions that require administrator rights.

Step 1: Steps to Remove a User Account in Settings

Press Windows key, click on Settings.

Click on Account, click on Family and other users.

Select the user you want to delete under Other users and click on Remove.

Accept the UAC (User Account Control) prompt.

Select Delete account and data if you wish to delete account and the data and follow onscreen instructions.

OR

Step 2: Steps to Delete a User Account in Command Prompt

Press Windows + X keys from the keyboard, select Command Prompt (Admin).

Type net user and hit Enter to list the user accounts on your device.

Type net user "User account " /delete and hit Enter to delete the user account.

hawkeye62 said:

Somehow, I have a "ghost" user. It shows up on the login screen along with my regular account. But, if I go to users, it is not there

Jim,

What's the name of the additional account? Is it similar to that of your normal user account?
- Perhaps you can post a photo of the login screen.

If its name is the same as your normal use then I suggest unsetting neplwiz.
Sign in User Account Automatically - TenForumsTutorials

Denis

Thanks for the replies guys!

@Samuria: Family and Other Users has no other users. I can't log in as the "ghost" user because I don't know the password. the net user command returns :

Administrator Default Account Guest
iowab WDAGUtility Account

The login screen shows both accounts with my name, but one has my photo and the second has a face symbol. The face symbol has tried auto login, but the password has failed. If I select the one with my photo, I can login.
@Try3: Both accounts have my name, but one has my photo, the other has a face symbol. netplwiz is unset, yet the face symbol seems to be trying to auto login, but the password fails. If I select user with my photo, I can then login normally.

Best regards, Jim

@hawkeye62

You need to either... put an @ symbol in front of a person's account name or quote them... to turn on the GREEN notification thing, up top.

Which account are you trying to get rid of WDAGUtility ? thats a windows account for sandbox etc password pw123

Samuria said:

Which account are you trying to get rid of WDAGUtility ? thats a windows account for sandbox etc password pw123

I am confused! The login screen comes up with two users, one with my photo, the other with a "stick" figure. The stick has failed the auto login password. I have tried several passwords with no luck. But, if I select "Sign in Options" and pick PIN, I get a field for user name and PIN. After a few tryies, I used iowab for name and the PIN I use for the user with the photo. It then logs on OK. Then if I check the user, it is the one with my photo!

And if from that failed login screen, I select the user with the photo, leave user as my name and PIN, it logs on OK. And when I look at user, it is the one with the photo.

One other thing, netplwiz shows auto login is enabled.

So, I have no idea what is going on. And why is stick the first one the system uses?

Regards, Jim

- - - Updated - - -

Here I am again. I still have two users that show at login, one with my photo, one with a "stick man". Both login to the same user, my name, with photo and as Adminstrator. However, the net users shows iowab as the down and dirty user. So, I am guessing that there are two upper level "users" that use the iowab real user. Is that how Windows uses users? A "real user" and an alias that appears in Windows? If so, why do I have two aliases?

Regards, Jim

Have you got a MS account and local account as well?

hawkeye62 said:

I am confused! The login screen comes up with two users, one with my photo, the other with a "stick" figure. The stick has failed the auto login password....
...One other thing, netplwiz shows auto login is enabled.
So, I have no idea what is going on. And why is stick the first one the system uses?

hawkeye62 said:

I believe all accounts are MS, no local.

If auto login has been incorrectly configured in netplwiz then a 'ghost' sign in with the name used in netplwiz will appear on the sign in screen in addition to all the real accounts. Check netplwiz and either correctly configure or remove the auto login.

Sign in User Account Automatically at Windows 10 Startup