deleting an XP user account

[bobogs]

I recently created his and hers user accounts on our XP Pro pc, to replace the one account my wife and I were both using. The old account was an administrator, and most of the files and such on this pc were created/downloaded/edited/etc. under this account. The two new accounts are both admins.

I backed up the old account's profile (rar'd its docs and settings folder), then used the User Accounts control panel app to delete the old account. It all went well, but now I see that various files and folders have the old account's SID still listed on the Security properties tab, and if I drill deeper, the old account's SID is still listed as the object(s) owner.

Should I worry about this? As long as the Administrators group also has Full Control, my two new accounts should have full access, but this Owner thing scares me. I could change the security and owner on the high level folders and force those permissions down through the tree, but there just seems like there should be an easier way to handle this kind of thing, or that Windows should handle it better.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!
Gary

[jameshgross]

Windows is what it is, your approach is the only way. There is no shortcut.

[jimmalenko]

I don't think it will cause too many dramas - and if it does, just change the owner using the method you suggested.

[TBoneit]

As far as I know it taking ownership is it. OTOH if you can see everything....

I'm not as daring as you, I'd have left the old account for a few months just in case. However I'm also the guy that has boxes in the basement for hardware until the warrant expires and that saves every bit of packaging until past warranty expiration.

Usually taking ownership is enough even with a fresh install.

[yoda313]

However I'm also the guy that has boxes in the basement for hardware until the warrant expires and that saves every bit of packaging until past warranty expiration.

I too save the boxes for about a year just to be on the safe side. THough I usually only keep the packaging for half the time. Don't ask me why

[Scorpion King]

Windows should handle it better

Yea, right.

When you deleted the old account did you click "Keep Files"... If so then there you are. lol

[ahhaa]

your 2 new accounts are as secure as windows ever is; but your old account is now a ghost in the machine, right?
Have you tried to access anything critical using your old logins, passwords & methods?

[bobogs]

Just tried to access the d$ administrative share using net use and the old login...didn't connect (Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password.), so I suppose that's a good thing.