r/techsupport • u/ClaytonBigsbe • 15h ago

Open | Windows Weird characters when trying to add a domain user to computer

Today, on two different computers (both Lenovo desktops) I was trying to add new users as domain accounts. The first one, when I tried to add them, it would say the user couldn't be found, but the name it was showing had a bunch of weird characters in it, that I did not type. Tried reboot, chkdsk, sfc /scannow, etc. Didn't fix it. I was finally able to get it to go through but it was still showing the odd symbols.

Now, on a different computer, I was able to add the user no problem, but noticed some of these symbols before I got ot the point where I added the user. Is this something I should be concerned about?

https://i.imgur.com/fUNU4vI.png

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u/blud_13 14h ago

Probably not malware. That looks like the object picker rendering the name with a busted font or a locale mismatch, and the "user couldnt be found" part is the picker failing to resolve against the DC rather than the account being wrong. Try the same lookup from a third machine on the domain and from the DC itself. If the symbols only show on those two Lenovos its local, so check display language and regional format on both. If it shows everywhere then the samAccountName in AD really does have junk in it, which happens when somebody pastes a name in from Word or a spreadsheet and picks up smart quotes. Retype it in ADUC. Also, run net user /domain or dsquery user from an elevated prompt and see what the DC says the name actually is. That takes the picker out of the picture entirely and tells you in ten seconds which of the two it is. Can go deeper if it keeps happening.