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Changing user in XP

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Praytus

Senior member
My wife registered our copy of XP home when I installed the computer. I've since gone in and changed the admin user account to my name, however certain system functions still show the computer with her name, such as the home directory. Without reinstalling, how do I completly remove one user or change the user name?
 
Go to the Control Panel, then click User Accounts. From there you can add/delete users.. You cannot rename a user.

Make sure you get any files you need from that users My Documents folder...

Finally, to clear the user out, delete their folder in C:\Documents And Settings\
 
Originally posted by: dawks
Go to the Control Panel, then click User Accounts. From there you can add/delete users.. You cannot rename a user.

Make sure you get any files you need from that users My Documents folder...

Finally, to clear the user out, delete their folder in C:\Documents And Settings\
Click to expand...


I believe there's a feature that gives you a choice to keep their files, correct?
 
Don't worry about it. It makes no difference at all. Your computer now works, any attempt to "fix" things might change that.
 
You really shouldn't rename the Administrator account (if that's what you're doing) in case it gets corrupted- in which case, you have no way into the system apart from a Repair install or a format reinstall.
 
Originally posted by: Phil
You really shouldn't rename the Administrator account (if that's what you're doing) in case it gets corrupted- in which case, you have no way into the system apart from a Repair install or a format reinstall.
Click to expand...

In fact you SHOULD rename your administrator account.
What you shouldn't do is use it. XP create already one other user account for your use, with administrative rights.
Leave that account (adminstrator) for troubleshooting purposes.
Renaming the administrator account only change is name, not the account itself.
Hackers will target the account with the name administrator first of all.
 
The account was changed in the user account section, I'm talking about the XP registration/license.

Yes, I do need to muck with it as its networked to 3 computers that all have the same user info- makes filesharing a bitch.
 
Originally posted by: Praytus
The account was changed in the user account section, I'm talking about the XP registration/license.

Yes, I do need to muck with it as its networked to 3 computers that all have the same user info- makes filesharing a bitch.
Click to expand...

the registration/license info has nothing to do with file sharing.

 
It does when user folders are shared out, and the user name is tied to the registration.

Rather then telling me why what I want to do is wrong, I'd find someone explaining or linking how to do it a lot more beneficial.
 
like i said, the registration info has nothing to do with sharing folders. you just need the computers to be in the same workgroup and have the same user names and passwords on each machine. then just share the folders and set permissions.

i dont think you can change the actual name the system is registered under, not that it would help you.

 
Its not about ability to share folders, its that every shared folder has the same name

xxx's document's on volume aaa
xxx's documents on volume bbb
xxx's document's on volume ccc

Its something I'd like removed.

I'm not asking how to share a folder out, just how to change the registration name in XP.
 
THE REGISTRATION NAME IS NOT TIED TO THE FOLDER SHARING PERIOD.

Check the share information, and there is a name field.
 
:sigh:

Please, if you can't answer the question then don't respond. I'll restate it "how do you change the registration name in XP without having to do a reinstall"
 
Registration=sending in info to microsoft about who owns the OS
registration != computer information.


When you say "change the regirstation name" what are you talking about? Computer name, user name? Share name?
 
the name sent to microsoft? No, you cannot access their database and change the name.

if you mean a user name, use the control panel applet, or right click on My Computer and choose manage (not sure if that works on home). That is for managing users. backup the data, remove the user, and add a new user (or add the new user, remove the old user with the new user).


If it is the computer name, then right click my computer, choose properties, Computer name tab, Change button.

if the name of the share is what you want to change, right click on the shared folder, go to the "sharing" option and change the name.
 
Obviously I'm not referring to Microsoft's database, but when you register your copy of XP, certain functions in XP retain that information, even if you change the user name in the control panel.
I've gone through and changed the admin accounts, user names, etc- but the registration information isn't affected by that.

Obviously I can go through and do a reinstall on the 3 computers, but I'd really prefer another option.
 
what names? I have never seen this happen in all my sysadmin days. I don't understand what name you are referring to.
 
well ... I'll take a try at this
renaming accounts doesn't really work
the account folder name doesn't change
basically you want to just create accounts and remove the one you don't need anymore

but I have a feeling that not really what you're talking about

as far as renaming a user name or something
use regedit then the edit menu and find in regedit
then type the name that you want to change and do a search of the registry for it
you might find it more than once but it should be in there no matter what exactly
you're looking for.

hopefully that helps

 
Originally posted by: nweaver
what names? I have never seen this happen in all my sysadmin days. I don't understand what name you are referring to.
Click to expand...


I think the name he is referring to is the registered user that shows up on the "System properties page" when you right click the My Computer Icon. It is stored in the registry. Open regedit and search for the name as stated above in a previous post.

pcgeek11
 
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