If I create a user account "ABC", then change the name to "DEF" using the
control panel user account applet, it seems that the real name of the
account is still ABC, even though it is displayed as DEF.

This is evident when changing file security and permission. If I enter DEF
in the object name box, it is not recognized. I have to use ABC.

The user account control panel applet only shows the display name. What's
the easist way to display both the display name and the real name of the
account?

Is it possible to change the real name of the account? The only way I know
is to create a new account with the desired name, then delete the old one.
But this also deletes settings which I want to keep (desktop, etc).

james wrote:
> If I create a user account "ABC", then change the name to "DEF" using the
> control panel user account applet, it seems that the real name of the
> account is still ABC, even though it is displayed as DEF.
>
> This is evident when changing file security and permission. If I enter DEF
> in the object name box, it is not recognized. I have to use ABC.
>
> The user account control panel applet only shows the display name. What's
> the easist way to display both the display name and the real name of the
> account?
>
> Is it possible to change the real name of the account? The only way I know
> is to create a new account with the desired name, then delete the old one.
> But this also deletes settings which I want to keep (desktop, etc).

This is all aesthetics and - imo - should not be worried with, however...


"new account" - name you want the directory to have
"old account" - name you no longer want directory to have

You can:

Create new account, log in once with new account, reboot and log in with old
account, use the files and settings transfer wizard (FAST) to either make a
copy of the profile/settings, log out, log on as the new account and use
FAST to import those settings.

OR

Create new account, log in once with new account, reboot and log in with
some other administrative level account, use the System Properties -->
Advanced --> User Profiles utility to copy the old account to the new
account, giving the new account full permissions.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>

is there a way to display the real name of an account, i.e. the name used to
create the account, regardless of what it was later renamed to?

james wrote:

> is there a way to display the real name of an account, i.e. the name used
> to create the account, regardless of what it was later renamed to?

Just look at C:\Documents and Settings. All the user accounts on the system
will be displayed there with their true names.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

On Sun, 12 Apr 2009 07:00:59 -0700, Malke <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>
>> is there a way to display the real name of an account, i.e. the name used
>> to create the account, regardless of what it was later renamed to?
>
>Just look at C:\Documents and Settings. All the user accounts on the system
>will be displayed there with their true names.
>
>Malke
>--
>MS-MVP
>Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
>http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

Look at it and do what?

james wrote:
> If I create a user account "ABC", then change the name to "DEF" using the
> control panel user account applet, it seems that the real name of the
> account is still ABC, even though it is displayed as DEF.
>
> This is evident when changing file security and permission. If I enter DEF
> in the object name box, it is not recognized. I have to use ABC.
>
> The user account control panel applet only shows the display name. What's
> the easist way to display both the display name and the real name of the
> account?
>
> Is it possible to change the real name of the account? The only way I know
> is to create a new account with the desired name, then delete the old one.
> But this also deletes settings which I want to keep (desktop, etc).

Shenan Stanley wrote:
> This is all aesthetics and - imo - should not be worried with,
> however...
>
>
> "new account" - name you want the directory to have
> "old account" - name you no longer want directory to have
>
> You can:
>
> Create new account, log in once with new account, reboot and log in
> with old account, use the files and settings transfer wizard (FAST)
> to either make a copy of the profile/settings, log out, log on as
> the new account and use FAST to import those settings.
>
> OR
>
> Create new account, log in once with new account, reboot and log in
> with some other administrative level account, use the System
> Properties --> Advanced --> User Profiles utility to copy the old
> account to the new account, giving the new account full permissions.

james wrote:
> is there a way to display the real name of an account, i.e. the
> name used to create the account, regardless of what it was later
> renamed to?

Malke wrote:
> Just look at C:\Documents and Settings. All the user accounts on
> the system will be displayed there with their true names.

kraut wrote:
> Look at it and do what?

Open the directory:

C:\Documents and Settings\

You'll see a list of sub-directories. Each of the sub-directories
represents the original creation/first logon name of the users on the
system. There are some default profile directories (that's what each of
these directories are - profiles of the user...) like:

"All Users"
"Default User"
"Local Service"
"NetworkService"

However - the rest are most likely actual accounts. If the user was created
and then logged onto the computer - their directory was named after their
'as created' username.

So - you would take note of the directories so you would know the
actual/original username for each user (although they seldom change - and
only if the user changes it.)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

>> is there a way to display the real name of an account, i.e. the name used
>> to create the account, regardless of what it was later renamed to?
>
> Just look at C:\Documents and Settings. All the user accounts on the
> system
> will be displayed there with their true names.

That's the best solution?

Suppose the folders show:

thomas
tom

and the login screen has two icons: tom1, tom2

how do you know which is which?

james wrote:

>>> is there a way to display the real name of an account, i.e. the name
>>> used to create the account, regardless of what it was later renamed to?
>>
>> Just look at C:\Documents and Settings. All the user accounts on the
>> system
>> will be displayed there with their true names.
>
> That's the best solution?
>
> Suppose the folders show:
>
> thomas
> tom
>
> and the login screen has two icons: tom1, tom2
>
> how do you know which is which?

Then it means that the user renamed the accounts to tom1 and tom in the User
Accounts applet (cosmetic change only) and the real user account names are
thomas and tom.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

james wrote:
>>> is there a way to display the real name of an account, i.e. the name
>>> used
>>> to create the account, regardless of what it was later renamed to?
>>
>> Just look at C:\Documents and Settings. All the user accounts on the
>> system
>> will be displayed there with their true names.
>
> That's the best solution?
>
> Suppose the folders show:
>
> thomas
> tom
>
> and the login screen has two icons: tom1, tom2
>
> how do you know which is which?

Use the Local Users and Groups Management Console Snap-in, to start the
snap-in enter lusrmgr.msc in the Start menu Run box.

John