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Tech Tips / Windows NT / Users and Groups

So many profiles, so little space

Windows NT stores local profiles for all users who log on to a machine. You can delete these unnecessary profiles either locally or remotely.

Locally stored profiles can be deleted by using the System Control Panel applet. Here's how:

1. Start the System Control Panel applet (Start | Settings | Control Panel | System).
2. Click the User Profiles tab.
3. Select the profile you wish to delete and click Delete.
4. Click Yes to the confirmation.
5. Click OK.

Remember you can't delete a profile if you are currently logged on as that user. An error message stating that the profile is in use will be displayed.

To remotely delete a locally stored profile, use the Delprof.exe utility supplied with the Windows NT Server Resource Kit. The tool deletes all profiles that haven't been used for a given number of days. For example,

  C:\>delprof /p /i /c:\\homer /d:3

would delete any profiles that haven't been used for three days. The /p prompts for confirmation before deleting each profile, the /i ignores errors, /c is computer name, and /d: is the number of days since the profile was last used.