how to close programs that are using NTUSER.DAT

Question

there are 3 users on my computer running windows xp.I mistakenly misspelled one of the user names and mistaken created a 4th folder/account (all are sub folders of "documents and settings"). Let's call it folder X. I am the administrator. Folder X is not mine/not the administrator's.

I reorganized all my files in the appropriate folders for the real users, moving some files from folder X to the rightful user. Now folder X appears to be empty when I use windows explorer but it is causing some misdirections/ a bad path that is not letting the computer get one of my users to a folder they need. I thought I'd simply delete the now empty folder X by highlighting it in windows explorer and clicking "delete". But I get an error: "NTUSER.DAT cannot be deleted it is being used by another user or program. Close all programs that might be using NTUSER.DAT and try again" WHAT??! I don't understand I am not a geek or techie person. Help please.

Larry R · Answer

Have you already removed the user account that was spelled incorrectly?  Removing the account and then deleting the user directory should fix the problem (though it has been years since I ran into the problem, so I can't remember for sure if that was all I needed to do).

renee626 · Answer

Tha user account is the one that I am TRYING desparately to remove and when I try that is where I get the NTUSER.DAT error .. I can't delete the account, I can't move the account. when i try I get that error.

Windows General

how to close programs that are using NTUSER.DAT

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