Windows Folder Name Permanent?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Johnny-internet explorer 7...
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J

Johnny-internet explorer 7...

I recently bought my computer from a family member and now that I am looking
at the settings and everything... I changed the User Account Name to mine
(Johnny) but when I check the Users\ folder it displays two folders which are
Jose and Public. My brothers name (Jose) stayed. When I check the Desktop
menu John appears as the main folder. How come the folder (which is the same
as Johnny's) in the Users section differs in name... How do i change it, I
have tried everything I could think of from changing the user's name to
changing the comp's name.
 
Create a new account with the name you want. You can then delete the account
you don't want.
You might have to rename the old account so that you can use that name for
the new account.

"Johnny-internet explorer 7..."
 
Can you go to Control Panel | User Accounts and delete the undesired
account?

"Johnny-internet explorer 7..."
 
- First, DON'T use someone else's account.

Windows is a multi-user system that will allow you to create hundreds of
personal profiles for you and everyone else you want. There is NO REASON for
multiple people to use one account.

- Second, Vista uses "desktop.ini" a lot to name folders. It *may* be using
"LocalizedResourceName=" to name folders even if you have them named
something else.

But seriously, don't log in as other users. Make your own account.




"Johnny-internet explorer 7..."
 
Johnny-internet explorer 7... said:
I recently bought my computer from a family member and now that I am looking
at the settings and everything... I changed the User Account Name to mine
(Johnny) but when I check the Users\ folder it displays two folders which are
Jose and Public. My brothers name (Jose) stayed. When I check the Desktop
menu John appears as the main folder. How come the folder (which is the same
as Johnny's) in the Users section differs in name... How do i change it, I
have tried everything I could think of from changing the user's name to
changing the comp's name.
Click to expand...


Change it all back to Jose then create a new user called Johnny. At some
later stage you can remove Jose, but you might want to wait and see that
everything you want is working before you do that.

I am assuming here that Jose was an "Administrator" so you can grant
privileges to the new users, else you will need to find ask Jose for
other passwords etc.
 
Johnny-internet explorer 7... said:
I recently bought my computer from a family member and now that I am looking
at the settings and everything... I changed the User Account Name to mine
(Johnny) but when I check the Users\ folder it displays two folders which are
Jose and Public. My brothers name (Jose) stayed. When I check the Desktop
menu John appears as the main folder. How come the folder (which is the same
as Johnny's) in the Users section differs in name... How do i change it, I
have tried everything I could think of from changing the user's name to
changing the comp's name.
Click to expand...


With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from a stranger
but perhaps even if acquired from a family member or friend, your wisest
course of action would definitely be to format the hard drive(s) 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,Vista, 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, and some require the information to be entered
manually (typed in) by the installing individual. Some programs will
allow you to manually change this information from within the program;
consult each application's Help Files for specifics.

The user profile folders (C:\USERS\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) and respective profile(s).


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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
 
"Johnny-internet explorer 7..."
I recently bought my computer from a family member and now that I am
looking
at the settings and everything... I changed the User Account Name to mine
(Johnny) but when I check the Users\ folder it displays two folders which
are
Jose and Public. My brothers name (Jose) stayed. When I check the Desktop
menu John appears as the main folder. How come the folder (which is the
same
as Johnny's) in the Users section differs in name... How do i change it, I
have tried everything I could think of from changing the user's name to
changing the comp's name.
Click to expand...

While you can change the username, you cannot change the name of the folder
that the user profile is contained in. This is because the original name is
used thousands of times in the registry.

If it bothers you so much, you will need to change the name back, and then
use your name to make a new profile, then delete the old one. You will lose
program settings, unless you know how transfer them over. To do that you
need to know what you are looking for in %appdata% and the registry, so it's
not something for a less experienced person to attempt.

ss.
 
Synapse said:
"Johnny-internet explorer 7..."


While you can change the username, you cannot change the name of the folder
that the user profile is contained in. This is because the original name is
used thousands of times in the registry.

If it bothers you so much, you will need to change the name back, and then
use your name to make a new profile, then delete the old one. You will lose
program settings, unless you know how transfer them over. To do that you
need to know what you are looking for in %appdata% and the registry, so it's
not something for a less experienced person to attempt.

ss.
Click to expand...

Thanks for mentioning that, I had forgotten that some settings might get
lost, however as long as he doesn't remove the old user right away he
gets to buy some time :)
 
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