How to Change the Log On (Users) Name ???

  • Thread starter Thread starter Katmandu
  • Start date Start date
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Katmandu

I just bought a used system and need to change the PO's name in XP.

How is this accomplished ?


TIA!
 
Go to the Control Panel>>User Accounts and click on the user account you wish
to modify. You will need to log on as the Administrator to change any
account other than yours.
 
I just bought a used system and need to change the PO's name in XP.
Click to expand...


If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it would
be to reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how the
computer has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly,
what is missing, what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I
wouldn't want to live with somebody else's mistakes and problems,
possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and I wouldn't recommend that anyone
else do either.
 
Katmandu said:
I just bought a used system and need to change the PO's name in XP.

How is this accomplished ?


TIA!
Click to expand...



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:



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

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Roger that Ken. Good advice.

This laptop actually has several programs on it that I wish to retain.
Unfortunately, I did not get CDs with the laptop.

I'm pretty good at clearing out old files etc. Fortunately, the PO did not
really use this laptop much On-Line. I did all the scans
(virus/spyware/adware and registry cleaner), and it's running rather well
now.

Could I do a O/S reinstall and still be able to save the programs that are
already on this laptop ?
Click to expand...


No, you can do what's called a "Repair Installation," but that's much
more a repair than it is an installation, and won't really address the
issues I mentioned.


 
Roger that Ken. Good advice.

This laptop actually has several programs on it that I wish to retain.
Unfortunately, I did not get CDs with the laptop.

I'm pretty good at clearing out old files etc. Fortunately, the PO did not
really use this laptop much On-Line. I did all the scans
(virus/spyware/adware and registry cleaner), and it's running rather well
now.

Could I do a O/S reinstall and still be able to save the programs that are
already on this laptop ?


TIA,

ERIC
 
Great info!

Thanks Bruce!


ERIC


Bruce Chambers said:
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:



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

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
Click to expand...
 
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