Standard User Account minus Microsoft sign-in

Hello,

So, sometime ago I bought my HP laptop from BestBuy, and while in store, asked/paid GeekSquad to make my NEW HP laptop more secure ("We'll do!').

Aside from the fact that they installed NIS (paid them to install Norton 360), yet they did manage to successfully install MBAM Premium (for which I had paid them).

What they DID NOT DO was create a Standard User Account. ;o(

What they DID DO was to create an Owner/Administrator account, hence this is how I surfed the web (in Administrator mode). Which is fine...until you end up with malware on your laptop and it can spread out (as opposed to being fenced-in in Standard User).

Which is exactly what happened to me recently! ;o(

So, while trying to create a second account on my HP laptop, Standard User Account, SETTINGS - ACCOUNTS -Family & other users - ADD ACCOUNT - (while avoiding to have to sign-in via Microsoft) choose, "I don't have this person's sign-in information" (clicked NEXT) - Add a user without a Microsoft account (clicked on aforementioned) (clicked NEXT) - Entered New User name/password/backup security questions (FILLED ALL THE EMPTY SPACE) clicked on NEXT and my entries visually frosted over, yet NO congratulations you have successfully created a new account.

Still says only Owner/Local Account/Administrator...when I restarted the laptop...only 1 account to sign-in to (not 2).

I have tried this process 6 times always with the same frustrating non-result!

1.) Is there a step in the process that I am missing (not spelled out)?

2.) Could this be the work of TRULY EVIL malware?

Any and all input is greatly appreciated! ;o)

lmacri,

Thank you ever so much for taking the to read my post and for responding! :o)

I can appreciate you detailed instructions/solutions!

And shall give them serious consideration,THANK YOU!

Hi david S.:

Further to my previous post, when you post back could you also please tell us the model of your HP laptop and whether your Windows OS is being run in "S" mode?   You mentioned a HP Stream 14" notebook yesterday in your 24-Nov 2022 topic Windows 11 in S mode? Deactivate? HP/Asus?.  I've never run Windows in "S" mode, but if you are creating a Standard User account that is also a Local user account (i.e., an offline account, as opposed to logging in as a Standard User with your online Microsoft Account) you will be severely restricted as to what you can do with your computer as long as Windows is in "S" mode- see DaveM121's warning in the Microsoft Answers forum thread Disable S Mode Without a Microsoft Account for one example.
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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.2251 * Firefox v107.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2210.6-1.1.19800.4 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.18.226-1.0.1823 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7097

David. My suggestions for resolving your issues are in your other thread. 

Here: https://community.norton.com/en/comment/8537597#comment-8537597

And here: https://community.norton.com/en/comment/8537627#comment-8537627

SA

Hi david S.:

Assuming this is the HP laptop with a Win 11 OS that you described in earlier topics, did you follow all the steps in Option # 1 of Brink's ElevenForum tutorial at Add Local User Account in Windows 11 ?  Note that you must be signed in to Windows with an account that has Administrator rights to create a new account.

If that doesn't work try the method described in Option # 2 of that ElevenForum tutorial using the built-in netplwiz.exe utility.

If that still doesn't work let us know the edition (e.g., Home, Pro, etc.), version and build number of your Win 11 OS shown at Settings | System | About | Windows Specifications.  If you haven't already done so, I would also suggest you run System File Checker (sfc /scannow) and the DISM command Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth from an elevated command prompt with Administrator rights as instructed in the ghacks.net article Use DISM to Fix Issues SFC Can't to see if those scans can find any issues with your current Windows system files. Make note of the exact message returned by these scans if they find any problems.  From my Win 10 Pro v21H2 laptop:


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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v21H2 build 19044.2251 * Firefox v107.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.2210.6-1.1.19800.4 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.5.18.226-1.0.1823 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7097