Changing User Name in Windows XP

[Martha]

Can anyone tell me if it’s possible to change one’s User Name in
Windows XP? I have been into User Accounts and changed the
Administrator Account name in there, but the old User Name keeps
coming up in the Properties of every document and the address paths of
all folders and documents. I have tried right-clicking on the old
User Name in C:\Documents and Settings\Name, but I get an error
message saying that my old User Name is a system file and cannot be
changed. I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that it is possible to change
it, but can’t remember where. Any ideas anyone?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Martha,

The profile home path / folder name cannot be changed without editing the
registry. Use one of these methods:

Method 1
----------
How to rename or move a User Profile folder?:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/userpath.htm
Read the *warnings* mentioned in that article.

Method 2
----------
Or, you can create another user account, with your preferred user name, and
then copy the files & settings to the newly created profile.

For more information, see article "Copy a user profile"
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...ll/proddocs/en-us/sysdm_userprofile_copy.mspx

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Can anyone tell me if it's possible to change one's User Name in
Windows XP? I have been into User Accounts and changed the
Administrator Account name in there, but the old User Name keeps
coming up in the Properties of every document and the address paths of
all folders and documents. I have tried right-clicking on the old
User Name in C:\Documents and Settings\Name, but I get an error
message saying that my old User Name is a system file and cannot be
changed. I'm sure I've read somewhere that it is possible to change
it, but can't remember where. Any ideas anyone?

--
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[Bruce Chambers]

Can anyone tell me if it’s possible to change one’s User Name in
Windows XP? I have been into User Accounts and changed the
Administrator Account name in there, but the old User Name keeps
coming up in the Properties of every document and the address paths of
all folders and documents. I have tried right-clicking on the old
User Name in C:\Documents and Settings\Name, but I get an error
message saying that my old User Name is a system file and cannot be
changed. I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that it is possible to change
it, but can’t remember where. Any ideas anyone?

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, 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


--

Bruce Chambers

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