Old User Name

[TonySper]

I have a computer that belonged to another person. I have entered a new
admin user and deleted the old users name and went through the register and
deleted all the old user names. My problem is when I install a new program
like Word it pops up with the old users name. I can't seem to find where it
is getting this name from. I have searched all the folder and can't locate
it. Can anyone advise me where it is hidden??
TonySper

 

[Andrew McLaren]

it. Can anyone advise me where it is hidden??

Hi Tony,

The global Owner setting for Windows, which is picked up by new apps when
you install them, is in the Regisrty, here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
RegisteredOwner REG_SZ
RegisteredOrganization REG_SZ

Products installed via MSI will record "RegOwner" and "RegCompany" values
under the InstallProperties key for each product. Bassically you'd go to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer and
then search for all values naed RegOwner and/or RegCompany. At a command
line, you can use this command:

C:\>reg query
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer /v
RegOwner /s

In additon, individual products might additionally store the "registered
owner" info in their own data areas; such as their own HKLM\Software branch
in the Registry, or in configuration files out in the file system. But, try
adjusting the above values, first and see if that fixes it.

Other folks might have additonal info for you. I hope thsi helps a bit,

 

[TonySper]

Andrew,
Thanks for the advise. I have already manually gone through the register and
have changed all that applied to the previous owner but still have that
problem. Vista is getting the old owner from somewhere that I can't find.
Tony

 

[TonySper]

Andrew,
Sorry Andrew but you are correct, my search for some reason missed the
Registered Owner. I ran the search several times and must have not spelled
the name wrong. I now have my name as owner.
Thanks
Tony

 

[TonySper]

Brink,
Thanks for the nice article. It helped me to not only find the old name but
to also show me how to check who is the registered owner. I was doing it the
hard way.
Thanks
Tony