Re: Question on Changing Users..
- From: Bruce Chambers <bchambers@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:09:13 -0600
X X X X X X X wrote:
Hi Gang.., I got a nice used Gateway laptop off of eBay a couple weeks ago.., then after I cranked it up.., of course it already had Windows XP pro installed (no problem).., but it had been installed with a user name I
didn't like. Now, I keep trying to change the "main" user name of "Owner" over to another name.., but all that happens is, another "user" name gets added. soooo, what I'd like to do is make sure I don't lose anything from the 3 other users I have on there now.., and just move everything back to "Owner", then get rid of the other users, and then finally change the "Owner".., user name to a name I want..!! Any help is good.., Thanks
With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from strangers but perhaps even if acquired from a family member or friend, your wisest course of action would definitely be to format the hard drives and start fresh. You don't want to get in trouble because the original owner may have filled the hard drive with kiddie porn, or have problems because the original owner downloaded/installed viruses or other malware.
To fix the "Registered to" information for WinNT/2K/XP, you can use Start > Run > Regedit.exe to edit:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\RegisteredOwner
and:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current
Version\RegisteredOrganization
How this will affect the name displayed in previously installed applications will vary depending upon each individual program; some read the registered owner information dynamically, while others read it only during installation.
The user profile folders (C:\Documents and Settings\Username)
_cannot_ be renamed, without risky registry editing, even if the associated user account has been. So, your best course of action would be to log on using the built-in Administrator account, create a new user account, with the username desired. Once you've logged in using this new account (and transfered any data you need to preserve, you can then delete the old user account(s).
HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783
How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151
--
Bruce Chambers
Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
.
- References:
- Question on Changing Users..
- From: X X X X X X X
- Question on Changing Users..
- Prev by Date: Re: Passwords/user names
- Next by Date: Re: Password Problem..!!
- Previous by thread: Re: Question on Changing Users..
- Next by thread: Password Problem..!!
- Index(es):
Relevant Pages
|
