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how do i get rid of a local profile on an XP computer where delete is greyed out in the user profile area

The computer is a member of a 2003 domain and there are problems with the user's profile, so I want to get rid of it, log in again and recreate the profile from copied data. I figured I go the the user profile box (right click my computer, advanced setting, user profiles) and delete the profile, but the delete option is greyed out. I am logged in as administrator when trying this so it's not that.
I also tried delprof and remprof. Remprof showed the user as still being active and wouldn't let me delete. Delprof is a little less informative, but when I tried delprof /p, which is supposed to prompt for profile deletion, it only listed one profile and when I answered no it was done. I assume it is because all the other profiles are listed as active, and I'm assuming that like remprof it can't delete active profiles.

Does anyone know how I can get rid of these profiles? What makes them be marked as active or inactive?

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ATLTEK

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expone

If you have their file backup, you can just delete (or rename) their files in "C:\Documents and Settings\User-Name" on XP, or in "C:\Users\User-Name" on Vista and Win7.
Those files will be recreated once you login as that user and then you can copy back their documents, etc. from the backup.

rfportilla

Try renaming the user's folder (c:\documents and settings\user_name to user_name.old) and then log in as that user again. It will recreate it.

rfportilla

Um, I concur Expone

bwierzbicki

ASKER

ok, I went from domain to workgroup. While in that config, i went to user profiles and deleted the one that had previously been that user ( i determined which one it was by size, as they were all now named "unknown". First I had to go to users in control panel and delete the user. Then I rejoined the domain and logged in, recreating the profile.

I considered just changing the user folder name under documents and settings, but I was pretty sure the problem I was having was in the registry, so I wanted to make sure that was recreated.

rfportilla

For future reference, the user specific registry entries are built from files in the user's profile. If it was a registry entry, renaming the directory would have fixed and not required reboots or removal from the domain. ;-)

expone

Also for future reference, you could have accepted several solutions which you used in combination to get a desired result.

rfportilla

@expone, lol DOn't get upset, it was the first solution that the poster tried and worked. It happens all the time. The worst is when you have 3 or 4 people all submit the same correct answer at the same time and you are only seconds behind. ;-)

bwierzbicki

ASKER

Hi expone, I always try to award for multiple solutions, but this time I actually only used atltek's solution of going to a workgroup, then back to domain. Deleting the user from user profiles then going to profiles and deleting unknown profile (which I knew to be that user by it's size) was something I came up with at that time. I'm glad I did, because when I rejoined the domain those "unknown profiles" I had while in workgroup were back.

Like I said "I considered just changing the user folder name under documents and settings, but I was pretty sure the problem I was having was in the registry, so I wanted to make sure that was recreated."

Anyway, it was also 2:30 in the morning and my decision making skills may not have been in top form. My apologies if I graded this one wrong, but I really didn't try you or rf's solution.

Thanks for you comments though.

expone

Thanks for your explanation bwierzbicki and apologies to all for my misunderstanding :-)