Unknown user account
I have Windows7 RC on my system, earlier i had windows xp SP2. Recently i noticed an unknown user account (S-1-5-21-XXXXX......) in the security tab of few of the folders/files. But this user does not show up in the local user group in the control panel. Any idea what this account is and how to remove it?
November 2nd, 2009 9:52pm

Hi Cooladi,It is user account on previous Windows XP SP2. You can simply remove it in ssecurity tab. First, please take ownership of the folder/file if necessary. Then, click Edit, choose unknown ID, click Remove. Hope it helps.
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November 3rd, 2009 11:24am

Robinson, Thanks for the reply. There are too many folders/file that have this unknown user, is there any way to remove this user at system level instead of folder/file level. I tried removing at the drive level, but its still there. Any registry update/deletion would do the trick? Also why did this user exist on the system in the first place, i did a fresh install of Windows7 RC and on the same system partition that previously had XP, just curious!!
November 3rd, 2009 9:19pm

I found this thread searching for the same thing.I noticed all my Image files in documents/pictures have this unknown user when you go to properties>security. It only has Read permission. I checked some other files and didnt see it, but it may exist on others. I thought it was just weird that it was on all the pictures. Doesnt make sense at all, why would this errornous userbe a part of the system?This is a fresh install of windows 7 64. RetailI has vista 64 on teh disk before this
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November 3rd, 2009 9:39pm

Hi, @Cooladi Actually, this issue is caused by File system ACLs(Access Control List) on the harddisk, but since the account is deleted it can't be resolved to a username. You can try to use Microsoft Utility Tool (SubInACL ) to remove them. @Joesync Maybe a software/service sets a specific user account on these pic files, after changing OS or remove this user account on the computer, they also cannot be resolved. Hope it helps.
November 4th, 2009 5:51am

I hate it when people use the word "simply", and on this case, it isn't. I've tried doing the same, however, I have a TON OF FOLDER AND FILES, and NO WAY to do this to EVERY ONE AT ONCE. Is there actually a "simple" way to completely remove or replace this previously-known-but-now-windows-has-no-clue-who-or-where-the-user-came-from-but-will-label-it-with-really-unhelpful-and-long-one-line-letter-followed-by-a-massive-set-of-numbers-that-requires-a-google-search-not-bing-to-figure-out username?
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December 25th, 2010 5:59pm

I've been having the same problem with Account Unknown (S-1-5-80-2375682873-768044350-3534595160-1005545032-2873800392). It keeps showing up every 6-7 days as a object in my own c:\user\rayooooh home directory with read writes. I just simply remove it from the permissions object list for that folder which also automatically is inherited by all sub-folders. So it's easy enough to remove but damm hard as hell to figure out a permanent fix. I use Windows 7 SP1. Friends keep posting comments as this needs a solution that is easy to apply. -Rayooooh
April 27th, 2011 3:41pm

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