User account on my Windows 11 Home system that I did not create

NunyaBeeswax · May 12, 2022

I am using Windows 11 as my OS. I have only been using Win 11 for less than 3 weeks, as this is a new PC I recently built. I recently found a new user account named 'Fieldepo' with Administrator level access on my system. I did NOT create this account. When I selected this account to see if I could get into it, it asked for a password, and since I did not create this account, I did not know the password and I could never get into it. I contacted Microsoft support regarding this, and the support tech I was working with could not determine how this account got created. I have since deleted this account, and changed my password/PIN. I wanted to query the forum here to see if anyone else has had this happen. And if so, was it ever discovered how it got created?
Thanks

glasskuter · May 12, 2022

It's quite possible you have been hacked. Have you given ANYONE remote access to your computer?

Berton · May 12, 2022

Where did you buy the computer? I've had to deal with a couple that clients bought from a major retailer and they were the last in stock so were sold out of display. Frequently workers will set them up, maybe in Kiosk mode, and password them so shoppers can't change anything and in both cases the worker that did it had left the store, no way to remove except a full reset.

jvickers · May 13, 2022

Berton said:
Where did you buy the computer? I've had to deal with a couple that clients bought from a major retailer and they were the last in stock so were sold out of display. Frequently workers will set them up, maybe in Kiosk mode, and password them so shoppers can't change anything and in both cases the worker that did it had left the store, no way to remove except a full reset.

As the OP said, they built the computer.

Berton · May 13, 2022

Oops, missed that.

Servo · May 13, 2022

I would really consider a fresh install. Is the other account still active?

NunyaBeeswax · May 13, 2022

glasskuter said:
It's quite possible you have been hacked. Have you given ANYONE remote access to your computer?

well, unfortunately, yes... I had been using win 7 up until i built my new computer (3 wks ago) at which point i reluctantly went ahead and 'upgraded' to Win 11. Boy was I shocked at the difference! Well, I was having trouble figuring out an issue with the new hard drive I had installed. I did a quick web search on my issue and was still perplexed by the few results that came up that I thought were related to my issue. So, instead of taking the time to dig a little deeper, I contacted Microsoft support, and yes, I gave the service tech remote access, despite my knowing better!

Servo said:
I would really consider a fresh install. Is the other account still active?

Thank you for the advice, Servo. I am considering doing that very thing, using another thread I found on this forum site on doing a 'clean install', over the weekend. And no, I have since deleted that other unknown account, and changed my password/PIN.

glasskuter · May 13, 2022

NunyaBeeswax said:
I contacted Microsoft support,

Chances are you DID NOT contact the legitimate official Microsoft support site if you clicked willy-nilly on the first search result.
Always make sure you are dealing with their Official site.
By the way, Microsoft , the real MS, would not have been likely to help you with a hardware issue on a new build, especially not to the point of wanting access to your system.

A word to the wise, do a clean install. Delete all partitions, and install Windows on unallocated space. But first go to Microsoft account | Sign In or Create Your Account Today – Microsoft
Change your password.

Also, once you get the OS reinstalled, immediately change passwords on any account that has sensitive information-emails, banking, paypal, Amazon, credit cards, etc

NunyaBeeswax · May 13, 2022

No, glasskuter, it was official Microsoft support I was working with. I logged into my microsoft account to search for help there AFTER doing a hurried generic web search for info on my hard drive issue and not being able to find anything useful. My mistake, other than allowing ANYONE to remotely access my computer, was rushing to Microsoft support and not taking the time to do a more extensive web search to figure out my issue. I wished I had come across this forum for help before going to MS! so far, all of yall have been very helpful! of course I would have never given any one here, or anywhere else for that matter, remote access to my computer. I only did it with MS Support because I knew that it was legit and I figured, apparently incorrectly, that I could trust an MS support employee!

NunyaBeeswax · May 13, 2022

I still do intend to do a clean install over the weekend, in spite of the hassle that will be!

NunyaBeeswax · May 13, 2022

I will also be deleting my MS account! I don't use it for anything and I am not even sure why I created it in the first place. I think it had something to do with my Playstation account, but I can't remember.

glasskuter · May 13, 2022

You will need a Microsoft account. Don't delete it. Change it's password.

NunyaBeeswax · May 13, 2022

I won't need it if I do a true 'clean' install, via a post by another user on these forums. That is how I stumbled upon these forums, I was looking for info on how to re-install Win11 without using a MS acct. Like I said above, I NEVER use my MS account for anything, and I have never even logged into it again after I had created it, and don't remember why I had one to begin with, I think it might have had something to do with my playstation. Honestly, I hate anything that has to do with Microsoft! I just haven't had the time to look into other types of OSs, like Linux, to see if they would allow the same type of functionality that windows does - like I think that a game my daughter likes to play requires a windows OS to work, but I am not 100% certain on that, I am just going by what she said and I haven't had the time to look into it.

Bree · May 13, 2022

NunyaBeeswax said:
I will also be deleting my MS account! I don't use it for anything and I am not even sure why I created it in the first place.

Your specs say that your OS is "win11home". Unless you use some workaround 'hacks' you cannot clean install Windows 11 Home without a Microsoft account. The initial OOBE setup insists that you have an internet connection and use a Microsoft account to create its first user account.

NunyaBeeswax · May 13, 2022

Bree said:
Your specs say that your OS is "win11home". Unless you use some workaround 'hacks' you cannot clean install Windows 11 Home without a Microsoft account. The initial OOBE setup insists that you have an internet connection and use a Microsoft account to create its first user account.

and that is one of the many reasons why i hate MS - they are an evil company with a devil as its founder!

per user Brink - Clean Install Windows 11 Tutorial

and yes, that is a workaround hack!

clam1952 · Jun 25, 2022

You don't have to actually use the Microsoft account, just make sure you set up a local account with Admin privileges and use that, if you are not logging in with the MS account it won't bother you.

NunyaBeeswax · Jun 26, 2022

clam1952 said:
You don't have to actually use the Microsoft account, just make sure you set up a local account with Admin privileges and use that, if you are not logging in with the MS account it won't bother you.

Thank you for that info, clam1952. Since creating this thread, I have had a little more time to explore Win 11, and I did figure that out.

Lance1 · Jun 26, 2022

Always install Windows 11 with the internet disabled and or unplugged. At the point where Windows whats you to login with an MS account hit "Shift + F10" to bring up a CMD prompt. Type taskmgr. When it comes up End Task on "Network Connection Flow" From here you can create a local account.

Fabler2 · Jun 26, 2022

Lance1 · Jun 26, 2022

Fabler2 said:
View attachment 32365

No CMD... I like it! I'll have to try that on one of my test system.

User account on my Windows 11 Home system that I did not create

Member

My Computer

aka Mama Glass

My Computers

Ret. ATC

My Computers

The lunatics have taken over the asylum

My Computers

Ret. ATC

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Member

My Computer

aka Mama Glass

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

Member

My Computer

aka Mama Glass

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Member

My Computer

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Well-known member

My Computers

Similar threads