Strange User Not in NETPLWIZ


  1. Posts : 125
    Ten
       #1

    Strange User Not in NETPLWIZ


    So this is strange and I am looking for any answers. I have Windows 10 64-bit Pro and I have two of them; wife and mine

    Now I am chasing another issue, but that's how I came across this. In netplwiz on my wife's system she only has one entry and it is her user. On mine however I have two; my user and guest. So I went to all my other systems (which are Windows 8.1 and 7) and they are like mine with two. But her old Windows 7 had just the one entry.

    I know this is the Ten Forums, but I find it strange that I am the only guy who builds and installs all the versions of Windows on our systems. Why her Win10 and Win7 only ever has just the one user is beyond me.

    Her system is running fine and so are all the others including mine. Could there have been something that occurred on most of my systems including Win10 and somehow that event did not happen on both herEin10 and Win7? She is not computer savvy so this is something I truly believe she would not have known.

    I checked all systems and in the control panel under users, guest is turned off on all computers.

    Is there any reason then to even have guest listed in the netplwiz?

    Just strange to me.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 31,666
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #2

    It should only be listed in netplwiz if it is active. In a command prompt, type net users to get a list of all user accounts (active or not). Type net user guest to see full details for that one account, including whether the system thinks it's active.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 125
    Ten
    Thread Starter
       #3

    OK so on my system when I do the net users this is what I see
    Administrator=under it is Me
    DefaultAccount=nothing under it
    Guest=nothing under it

    Now when I do the net user guest I see in the "Account Active=Yes"

    On my wife's win10 the first part matches mine, but the second is set to No

    Now on the Win7 machines mine says similar under the net users command and her old machine matches too.

    But the difference here is on the net users guest again is just like in Win10; mine is Yes while hers is No

    So what is best, to have the guest account set to No? Or activate hers back on both her systems?

    Thanks Bree!
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 31,666
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #4

    By default, the Guest account is always set to 'disabled' in a fresh install. I'd set Guest to disabled on all machines. You can hardly do anything if you log on as Guest anyway.

    For test purposes I actually set up a user account on my machine and made it a member of Guests some time back. With each new version of W10 it is allowed less and less access (can't run any modern app - so no 'Settings' or Edge). Since the Creators Update it can no longer get the Start menu - 'chocolate tea-pot' comes to mind. :)
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 125
    Ten
    Thread Starter
       #5

    OK, any danger in shutting off the account like if my wife locks her own account would keeping Guest active help in any way?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 31,666
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #6

    Very little help, Guest is basically 'neutered' in the latest version (Creators) and little use for anything. What is useful in a 'lockout' is Administrator (also disabled by default) but can be enabled in an emergency, even if you cannot log in to any accounts - Option Four here...
    Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10
    Though the elevated built-in Administrator is too risky to leave enabled and use like a regular account, it bypasses all the UAC controls so malware could sneak in unnoticed.

    Perhaps an easier 'emergency way in' (and the one I have in place) is to create another local account, make it an administrator and just use it for maintenance tasks like resetting passwords.
      My Computers


 

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