Change User Account Name

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Guest

If I go to Run, type in control userpasswords2, click on my account, click
Properties, and type in a new name under "User name," and not "Full name"
(which are different in my case because I changed the name under Control
Panel>User Accounts>Change my name), will anything bad happen? And what will
happen? Will my account's folder in Documents and Settings change to the new
name? Will all the registry entries that refer to the old name change
automatically or will they be incorrect?

Also, if I click on the Advanced tab in the control userpasswords2 dialog
box, and check the Require users to press Ctrl-Alt-Delete option, will that
have an effect if I am using the Welcome screen? Or will it only show up if I
use the classic logon box?

I am using Windows XP Home.
 
Pat said:
If I go to Run, type in control userpasswords2, click on my account,
click Properties, and type in a new name under "User name," and not
"Full name" (which are different in my case because I changed the
name under Control Panel>User Accounts>Change my name), will anything
bad happen? And what will happen? Will my account's folder in
Documents and Settings change to the new name? Will all the registry
entries that refer to the old name change automatically or will they
be incorrect?
Click to expand...

Nothing will happen except now you would use that username to log into the
machine instead of the old one. The folders under C:\Documents and
Settings\ would remain the old username.
Also, if I click on the Advanced tab in the control userpasswords2
dialog box, and check the Require users to press Ctrl-Alt-Delete
option, will that have an effect if I am using the Welcome screen? Or
will it only show up if I use the classic logon box?
Click to expand...

My bet would be the "Welcome Screen" would cease to function. However,
Windows XP Home edition is not something I deal with daily.
 
Pat said:
If I go to Run, type in control userpasswords2, click on my account, click
Properties, and type in a new name under "User name," and not "Full name"
(which are different in my case because I changed the name under Control
Panel>User Accounts>Change my name), will anything bad happen?
Click to expand...


There shouldn't be any negative consequences.

And what will
happen?
Click to expand...


You'll have to start using the new username when you log in, unless
your system is already configured to login automatically.
Will my account's folder in Documents and Settings change to the new
name?
Click to expand...


No. The user profile folders (C:\Documents and Settings\Username)
_cannot_ be renamed, 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. 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

Will all the registry entries that refer to the old name change
automatically or will they be incorrect?
Click to expand...

For the most part, pre-existing registry entries will continue to
display the old name, new registry entries will bear the new name.

Also, if I click on the Advanced tab in the control userpasswords2 dialog
box, and check the Require users to press Ctrl-Alt-Delete option, will that
have an effect if I am using the Welcome screen?
Click to expand...


No, that will have no affect while the Welcome Screen is in use.




--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Ok, I went ahead and renamed my account, and everything is fine, except now
my <account name>'s Documents folder is missing from My Computer. How can I
get it back?
 
Pat said:
Ok, I went ahead and renamed my account, and everything is fine,
except now my <account name>'s Documents folder is missing from My
Computer. How can I get it back?
Click to expand...

Have the Microsoft Powertoy "TweakUI"?
If not - grab it - it will do so much more for you as well..

Anyway - My Computer --> make sure "Files stored on this computer" is
checked.. Apply and exit.
 
Shenan Stanley said:
Have the Microsoft Powertoy "TweakUI"?
If not - grab it - it will do so much more for you as well..

Anyway - My Computer --> make sure "Files stored on this computer" is
checked.. Apply and exit.
Click to expand...

Yep, I have it, and it was checked.
 
Pat said:
Ok, I went ahead and renamed my account, and everything is fine,
except now my <account name>'s Documents folder is missing from My
Computer. How can I get it back?
Click to expand...

Shenan said:
Have the Microsoft Powertoy "TweakUI"?
If not - grab it - it will do so much more for you as well..

Anyway - My Computer --> make sure "Files stored on this computer" is
checked.. Apply and exit.
Click to expand...
Yep, I have it, and it was checked.
Click to expand...

"Cycle" it..

Off.. Reboot. On.. Reboot.
 
Pat said:
Nope, still not there.
Click to expand...

Do you use "Show Common Tasks in Folders" so you have the bar on the left?
If so, when you are at the root - do you see "My Documents" listed there and
if so - what happens when you select it?
 
Pat said:
Nope, still not there.
Click to expand...

Type this command in Start/Run:

regsvr32 /n /i:U Shell32.dll

If that does not help, open Registry Editor and goto:

[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths]

What does the OLD USERNAME value read, in the right pane?
 
If that does not help, open Registry Editor and goto:
[HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\DocFolderPaths]

What does the OLD USERNAME value read, in the right pane?
Click to expand...

Ahh... I renamed the entry that represented my account to the new name and
the folder came back. Thanks a lot!
 
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