Account name-change leaves path name same

[Guest]

In Computer Management I changed a regular User account name (e.g. NewName),
which displayed fine from My Computer (NewName's Documents etc.), but when
looking at the proper path line, I found \Documents and Settings\OldName\.
Being a system directory, I can't simply rename it, so why has this occured
and how do I rectify it?

 

[Malke]

In Computer Management I changed a regular User account name (e.g. NewName),
which displayed fine from My Computer (NewName's Documents etc.), but when
looking at the proper path line, I found \Documents and Settings\OldName\.
Being a system directory, I can't simply rename it, so why has this occured
and how do I rectify it?

As you have discovered, simply renaming a user account is a cosmetic
change only and does not affect the underlying files/folders. You need
to create a new user account named as desired from Control Panel/User
Accounts. If you want to have all the same data, you need to copy the
original user account to the new one. You will need to log into the new
account once before you can copy anything to it.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783
Copy a User Account - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=811151


Malke

 

[Bruce Chambers]

In Computer Management I changed a regular User account name (e.g. NewName),
which displayed fine from My Computer (NewName's Documents etc.), but when
looking at the proper path line, I found \Documents and Settings\OldName\.
Being a system directory, I can't simply rename it, so why has this occured
and how do I rectify it?

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

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