Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Unable to access User Accounts Icon

0 helpful
14 replies

by 1stladytech

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
I have removed both viruses and a ton of spyware from a computer. The system appears to be clean now, but I can't access the User Accounts icon in the control panel. It just gives me the hour glass and quits after about a second. Safe mode, real mode, administrator account or administrative user account - makes no difference. Any one else seen this?

14 replies

by wcp

Logical steps:

1. System Restore and if this does not work
2. Reinstall Windows on top of the current one.

by wcp

Can you run Msconfig, Regedit, or Sfc? If you cannot, you might still have Gaobot worm or its variants.

by 1stladytech

I have already removed the virus - not a reg hook. Everything works except getting into the User Accounts to make changes.

by wcp

Assuming you already tried the two steps I suggested, clean installing is the next LOGICAL step.

by mzy

You are probably locked out by a group policy option, there's one that forbids the use of user accounts from the control panel. Instead you have to access user accounts from administrative tools. Check the option out under computer management in the admin tools.

by dustyd

Do a search for .cpl files in windows/system32 folder.
The user manager is nusrmgr.cpl This can also be run (if it's present) from the start, run command.
Also, try adding control panel as a menu item in Taskbar/Start Menu. You would not have to see an icon to select. Or, switch to classic view in the control panel folder.
Also, you may have just lost the icon.

by wcp

This is one of those questions where a poster is looking for a quick solution not a SOLUTION.

by 1stladytech

Actually, I am looking for a solution, not the Best Buy answer of "reload the system". I just wanted to see if any technical people had run into a problem like this and knew which reg key had been compromised. I fix computers for a living and reloading the image is a cop out.

This discussion is closed to new replies.