change name

  • Thread starter Thread starter Heather Fair
  • Start date Start date
H

Heather Fair

OK, guys, I read through several threads in various newsgroups on this and I
am lost. I didn't get a response on two other newsgroups but I know SOMEONE
out there knows the answer to this.

Here's the deal:

I'm using Win XP Home on a network with an NT 4 server, a
multi-function/copy machine, a Win2000 desktop, and a Win98 desktop. I am
only working with my Win XP machine for these questions. According to my
control panel, I have three accounts: one account that is enabled as an
administrator: AB; one account that is called ASP.NET Machine A... (I have
no idea what this one is), and then I have a guest account that is NOT
enabled. Somehow when I go to c:\documents and settings\ I see AB, Default
User, and another group that we'll call Abby, as well as a hidden file
called Default User. I want to change the name of AB to something like
Abigail and I want to get rid of Abby altogether. Keep in mind, according to
the control panel, there is no account named Abby. When I try to rename or
delete Abby, I get, "Abby is a Windows system folder and is required for
Windows to run properly. It cannot be deleted." I can rename it
to whatever I want but obviously it cannot have the same name as anthing
existing in the same folder. I ran the XP Utility that Paul posted (from
dougknox.com) and it didn't do anything (as far as I could see).

So my first question is:
How do I get rid of "Abby" under c:\documents and settings (or merge it with
another name/account)?

When I try to follow Michael Stevens' post on renaming to copy AB over to
Abby, I get two messages. First is "This folder already contains a system
file named 'bc7c6d....' Would you like to replace the existing file [blah
blah blah] with this one [blah blah blah] and they appear identical. So I
say Yes To All. Then it goes on for a moment or two and comes back "Cannot
copy UsrClass: It is being used by another person or program. Close any
programs that might be using the file and try again." I click OK and it has
stopped. I don't know what could be running that could be using this file
but obviously I am signed in under AB and trying to copy AB over to Abby.

Also, when I look at the files that start with S-1-5-..., they appear to be
empty (even though I have it set to show all system & hidden files) so I
can't copy any contents over to another folder without copying the entire
folders over and then renaming them (like adding "a" or "b" to the end of
the original folder name). Will that accomplish the same thing?

Need step-by-steps guys, I don't want to screw this up!

Feel free to email responses to (e-mail address removed). Thanks.

Heather Fair
 
Heather,
I haven't got that far with my network yet, but from what I've read up so
far, on XP Home I believe you'll need to log in as administrator after
restarting in safe mode, to modify accounts the way you want.
Worth a try until the MS MVP cavalry turn up.
Chek

Heather Fair said:
OK, guys, I read through several threads in various newsgroups on this and I
am lost. I didn't get a response on two other newsgroups but I know SOMEONE
out there knows the answer to this.

Here's the deal:

I'm using Win XP Home on a network with an NT 4 server, a
multi-function/copy machine, a Win2000 desktop, and a Win98 desktop. I am
only working with my Win XP machine for these questions. According to my
control panel, I have three accounts: one account that is enabled as an
administrator: AB; one account that is called ASP.NET Machine A... (I have
no idea what this one is), and then I have a guest account that is NOT
enabled. Somehow when I go to c:\documents and settings\ I see AB, Default
User, and another group that we'll call Abby, as well as a hidden file
called Default User. I want to change the name of AB to something like
Abigail and I want to get rid of Abby altogether. Keep in mind, according to
the control panel, there is no account named Abby. When I try to rename or
delete Abby, I get, "Abby is a Windows system folder and is required for
Windows to run properly. It cannot be deleted." I can rename it
to whatever I want but obviously it cannot have the same name as anthing
existing in the same folder. I ran the XP Utility that Paul posted (from
dougknox.com) and it didn't do anything (as far as I could see).

So my first question is:
How do I get rid of "Abby" under c:\documents and settings (or merge it with
another name/account)?

When I try to follow Michael Stevens' post on renaming to copy AB over to
Abby, I get two messages. First is "This folder already contains a system
file named 'bc7c6d....' Would you like to replace the existing file [blah
blah blah] with this one [blah blah blah] and they appear identical. So I
say Yes To All. Then it goes on for a moment or two and comes back "Cannot
copy UsrClass: It is being used by another person or program. Close any
programs that might be using the file and try again." I click OK and it has
stopped. I don't know what could be running that could be using this file
but obviously I am signed in under AB and trying to copy AB over to Abby.

Also, when I look at the files that start with S-1-5-..., they appear to be
empty (even though I have it set to show all system & hidden files) so I
can't copy any contents over to another folder without copying the entire
folders over and then renaming them (like adding "a" or "b" to the end of
the original folder name). Will that accomplish the same thing?

Need step-by-steps guys, I don't want to screw this up!

Feel free to email responses to (e-mail address removed). Thanks.

Heather Fair
Click to expand...
 
Heather said:
OK, guys, I read through several threads in various newsgroups on this and I
am lost. I didn't get a response on two other newsgroups but I know SOMEONE
out there knows the answer to this.

Here's the deal:

I'm using Win XP Home on a network with an NT 4 server, a
multi-function/copy machine, a Win2000 desktop, and a Win98 desktop. I am
only working with my Win XP machine for these questions. According to my
control panel, I have three accounts: one account that is enabled as an
administrator: AB; one account that is called ASP.NET Machine A... (I have
no idea what this one is), and then I have a guest account that is NOT
enabled. Somehow when I go to c:\documents and settings\ I see AB, Default
User, and another group that we'll call Abby, as well as a hidden file
called Default User. I want to change the name of AB to something like
Abigail and I want to get rid of Abby altogether. Keep in mind, according to
the control panel, there is no account named Abby. When I try to rename or
delete Abby, I get, "Abby is a Windows system folder and is required for
Windows to run properly. It cannot be deleted." I can rename it
to whatever I want but obviously it cannot have the same name as anthing
existing in the same folder. I ran the XP Utility that Paul posted (from
dougknox.com) and it didn't do anything (as far as I could see).

So my first question is:
How do I get rid of "Abby" under c:\documents and settings (or merge it with
another name/account)?

When I try to follow Michael Stevens' post on renaming to copy AB over to
Abby, I get two messages. First is "This folder already contains a system
file named 'bc7c6d....' Would you like to replace the existing file [blah
blah blah] with this one [blah blah blah] and they appear identical. So I
say Yes To All. Then it goes on for a moment or two and comes back "Cannot
copy UsrClass: It is being used by another person or program. Close any
programs that might be using the file and try again." I click OK and it has
stopped. I don't know what could be running that could be using this file
but obviously I am signed in under AB and trying to copy AB over to Abby.

Also, when I look at the files that start with S-1-5-..., they appear to be
empty (even though I have it set to show all system & hidden files) so I
can't copy any contents over to another folder without copying the entire
folders over and then renaming them (like adding "a" or "b" to the end of
the original folder name). Will that accomplish the same thing?

Need step-by-steps guys, I don't want to screw this up!

Feel free to email responses to (e-mail address removed). Thanks.

Heather Fair
Click to expand...

Some thoughts:

-- XP has a default Administrator account that is created during the initial
installation. When you create another account in the Administrator group,
that account goes into hiding. In XP Home, you access the account by booting
to Safe Mode. In XP Pro, use Ctrl+Alt+Del twice at the welcome screen. In
both cases type in the user name as "Administrator." If you don't remember
assigning a password to this account, try leaving this field blank. This is
a good account to keep in reserve for certain administrative tasks and for
troubleshooting. Suggest creating a second account in the administrator
group for all around use.

-- XP requires the presence of at least one account in the administrator
group. If there is only one, it will not let you delete it.

-- Folders for user accounts are created the first time a user logs on. This
includes the default Administrator account. At this point the folder name
and the user name will match. If you change a user's name, the "friendly
name" that appears on the welcome screen and start menu changes BUT the
folder name will remain the same. This is normal behavior in XP.

-- Do not change the name user account folder. If you want user name and
folder name to match, create a new account. Then log on to it so that the
user folders are created.

-- You can use System Properties> Advanced> User Profiles> Settings to copy
one user profile to another. You must be logged on to an account in the
Administrator group to do this. The account you log on to must be separate
from the source account and the account you are copying to. You may find it
easier to create a temporary account in the administrator group to
accomplish these steps.
 
Speaking of administrator accounts in XP Home, is there any
harm/disadvantage to not creating any user accounts? I've just recently
bought a 2nd computer with XP Home installed, and I am operating solely from
my administrator account. No one else uses my computer. Do you guys think
I need to create one? I don't like the idea that the admin account "hides"
because it's the one that has all my settings! I hope this makes sense.

ren
 
Speaking of administrator accounts in XP Home, is there any
harm/disadvantage to not creating any user accounts? I've just recently
bought a 2nd computer with XP Home installed, and I am operating solely from
my administrator account. No one else uses my computer. Do you guys think
I need to create one? I don't like the idea that the admin account "hides"
because it's the one that has all my settings! I hope this makes sense.

ren
Click to expand...

It's more likely that your account is in the administrator group and not
*the* administrator account known simply as "Administrator." XP Home hides
the system created Administrator account. It never sees the light of day
except in Safe Mode. A security note: by default that account has no
password when it is first created. If there are any security concerns, add
one!

If you don't create another account in XP Pro, you could end up using the
builtin account for everyday. This is not the worst thing that could happen
but it's a good idea to save this account for troubleshooting. Letting it
hide in the background means that a lot of the startup drek that
accumulates will pretty much stay out of this account's startup routine -
making it that much more valuable for troubleshooting.

Two schools of thought about what you should use for everyday account.
Another account in the administrator group and/or a limited user account. I
tried an everyday limited user account for the obvious security reasons but
it gave me a headache. I run with an account in the administrator group but
*not* the default builtin Administrator. And watch my other security
measures carefully to avoid polluting the machine by running an admin
account all of the time.
 
Back
Top