Is it really that difficult/impossible to change your home directory's short name?!?

[MotionMan]

I just bought two MacBooks. I set up the first one for myself and, once I had it set up just right, I put it in target mode and copied everything over to my wife's computer during the set up procedure.

I was able to change most things to have my wifes name instead of mine, but I seem to be stuck with my initials as the Home directory's short name.

I looked online and it appears that changing the short name is almost impossible. That seems really stupid. Does anyone know how to do this change? (Creating a new account is not the option I am looking for)

MotionMan

 

[TheStu]

There are instructions for doing so on Apple's website. It is a little difficult and not recommended since the shortname deals with all the Unix stuff. It is your UID in the OS, and a lot of things reference back to it.

However, for your consideration

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1428

http://www.macshadows.com/kb/i...Your_Shortname_In_OS_X

 

[MotionMan]

So, is there a way to create a new login and copy over all the settings from another login so I do not have to set everything up again?

MotionMan

 

[sourceninja]

All your settings should be in your ~/Library folder. So in theory, copying that over and a proper chown should do the trick.

 

[HappyJack96]

I've used the ChangeShortName program before and it worked perfectly!
ChangeShortName 1.3 @ VersionTracker

Backup important data before using, which is a good idea anyway.

Russell

 

[HappyJack96]

Comment from VersionTracker page regarding ChangeShortName:
NOTE: If you are on 10.5 aka Leopard you shouldn't use this! Similar functionality is built into the Users Pref Pane (right click on your user to edit the short name, etc).

Enjoy!

Russell

 

[MotionMan]

My Mac-centric brother-in-law did some magic and fixed it.

Thanks.