*BSD News Article 71336


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From: Ken Bigelow <kbigelow@www.play-hookey.com>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Help deleting a user
Date: Tue, 18 Jun 1996 07:35:40 -0700
Organization: Erols Internet Services
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Jordon Randall wrote:
> 
> I know this is a dumb question, but how do you erase a user?

This thread must have just gotten clipped from the NG.

If you want to totally remove this user from your system, use vipw to 
edit the password file & remove that name. Then, delete his/her home 
directory and mail directory. If any other write access is permitted on 
your system, you may also want to hunt down possible other files owned by 
that user. You should also edit the /etc/group file.

If you don't want to recycle that user ID and do want to lock him out 
forever, use chpass to stuff a nonsense password into his entry, to deny 
him login access. Since the new password is supposed to be encrypted, 
there is no way to figure it out.

Suggestion to FreeBSD team: since this question has come up again so 
soon, perhaps it belongs in the FAQ.

I hope this helps!

Ken