Adding and Deleting a User Account

[Bitz]

Made the mistake of creating a User Account, "the Smiths," and then later
changing User Name to "Ed" with password on older computer running XP.
Would now like that account to be "Ed" to be consistent with another
computer running Vista on my LAN. Is the correct way to make this change
(1) change the User Name of "the Smiths" from "Ed" to say "Smith" as a
temporary expedient, (2) create a new User Account name "Ed," which will
generate the necessary file structure under Documents and Settings along
with its User Name of "Ed", (3) copy files from Documents and Setting\the
Smiths to Documents and Setting\Ed and (4) delete the User Account "the
Smiths"? My biggest concern is the copying of files - most of which I do
not understand their value/purpose?

Bitz

 

[Malke]

Made the mistake of creating a User Account, "the Smiths," and then later
changing User Name to "Ed" with password on older computer running XP.
Would now like that account to be "Ed" to be consistent with another
computer running Vista on my LAN. Is the correct way to make this change
(1) change the User Name of "the Smiths" from "Ed" to say "Smith" as a
temporary expedient, (2) create a new User Account name "Ed," which will
generate the necessary file structure under Documents and Settings along
with its User Name of "Ed", (3) copy files from Documents and Setting\the
Smiths to Documents and Setting\Ed and (4) delete the User Account "the
Smiths"? My biggest concern is the copying of files - most of which I do
not understand their value/purpose?

You cannot change a user account by just changing the name. Just changing
the name will make a cosmetic change only and not affect the underlying
files/folders in the profile.

1. From an account with administrative privileges, go to Control Panel>User
Accounts and create the new Standard user account named the way you want and
at least one extra Administrator account. Call the latter "CompAdmin" or
"Tech" or the like.

2. Log into the new Standard user account once so the profile files/folders
are created and then log into CompAdmin.

3. Now go to Control Panel>System>Advanced>User Profiles>Settings

4. You will see where you can copy user accounts. Copy the old account to
the new one from there. Use the Browse to select your new account (C:
\Users\newaccount).

5. Log into the new correctly named account and make sure all your stuff is
there and that it works the way you want. When you are satisfied, you can log
out and into CompAdmin and delete the old user account from Control
Panel>User Accounts.

If you wish to log into your new, corrected account automatically, do this:

Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]
Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by
UAC

Uncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this
computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on the
desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct password
for that user account (if there is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if
there is no password (null).

Malke

 

[Bitz]

1. From an account with administrative privileges, go to Control
Panel>User
Accounts and create the new Standard user account named the way you want
and
at least one extra Administrator account. Call the latter "CompAdmin" or
"Tech" or the like.

2. Log into the new Standard user account once so the profile
files/folders
are created and then log into CompAdmin.

3. Now go to Control Panel>System>Advanced>User Profiles>Settings

4. You will see where you can copy user accounts. Copy the old account to
the new one from there. Use the Browse to select your new account (C:
\Users\newaccount).

5. Log into the new correctly named account and make sure all your stuff
is
there and that it works the way you want. When you are satisfied, you can
log
out and into CompAdmin and delete the old user account from Control
Panel>User Accounts.

If you wish to log into your new, corrected account automatically, do
this:

Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]
Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by
UAC

Uncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this
computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on
the
desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct
password
for that user account (if there is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if
there is no password (null).

Malke

Malke - thanks so much - worked perfect without incident. I was aware that
you could not change the User Account filename and that the User Name simply
pointed to the User Account. I had the rough idea on how to correct my mess
but are glad you detailed including the need for the third account. I was
totally unaware of the ability to copy in the User Profiles| Settings
dialog - just never had need for more than one account on my home LANS. My
company had all stand alones except for the main frame. You can surmise
that I retired over 16 years ago.

Now you threw in an extra "log into account automatically" which apparently
can be done under Vista. - and some thing else I had not heard of
(wonders<g>). This problem was on my XP computer but my new one runs Vista
so I am interested. However for the sake of avoiding the entry of one
password is there any additional price you pay. Right now my two computers,
XP and LAN, can see each other and be mapped using Explorer. I am having
problems with automating using DOS's Net Using. Any implications of
avoiding the password here?

Again, thanks so much for understanding my question and detailing the
answer.

Ed

 

[Malke]

Malke - thanks so much - worked perfect without incident. I was aware
that you could not change the User Account filename and that the User Name
simply
pointed to the User Account. I had the rough idea on how to correct my
mess
but are glad you detailed including the need for the third account. I was
totally unaware of the ability to copy in the User Profiles| Settings
dialog - just never had need for more than one account on my home LANS.
My
company had all stand alones except for the main frame. You can surmise
that I retired over 16 years ago.

Now you threw in an extra "log into account automatically" which
apparently can be done under Vista. - and some thing else I had not heard
of
(wonders<g>). This problem was on my XP computer but my new one runs
Vista
so I am interested. However for the sake of avoiding the entry of one
password is there any additional price you pay. Right now my two
computers,
XP and LAN, can see each other and be mapped using Explorer. I am having
problems with automating using DOS's Net Using. Any implications of
avoiding the password here?

I'm very glad that sorted it for you. I'm not familiar with "DOS's Net
Using" and I'm not sure what you're trying to automate. Neither XP nor Vista
are built on any form of native DOS so most certainly DOS isn't used in
networking XP and Vista. Of course, you could be trying to run a DOS
program, I don't know.

Malke

 

[Bitz]

I'm very glad that sorted it for you. I'm not familiar with "DOS's Net
Using" and I'm not sure what you're trying to automate. Neither XP nor
Vista
are built on any form of native DOS so most certainly DOS isn't used in
networking XP and Vista. Of course, you could be trying to run a DOS
program, I don't know.

Malke

Malke,

I think of it as DOS but recognize that era is past. I still find useful
the commands included in Cmd.exe, what ever that is called. Still find
XCopy most useful is backing up changed data files. Rather than map my
second computer on this home LAN using Explorer, I have historically mapped
when I ran a batch file needing access to the other computer. The NET
command, and specifically NET USE (sorry about the USING (although a
command, not what I meant), performs that function and would be the first
instruction in my batch file. I had them working just fine between two XP's
but when one died and I added the new computer using Vista Home Premium, I
no longer can get the NET USE command to work - but that is another story
and problem.

Thanks again for the help,

Ed

 

[Malke]

Bitz wrote:

I think of it as DOS but recognize that era is past. I still find useful
the commands included in Cmd.exe, what ever that is called. Still find
XCopy most useful is backing up changed data files. Rather than map my
second computer on this home LAN using Explorer, I have historically
mapped
when I ran a batch file needing access to the other computer. The NET
command, and specifically NET USE (sorry about the USING (although a
command, not what I meant), performs that function and would be the first
instruction in my batch file. I had them working just fine between two
XP's but when one died and I added the new computer using Vista Home
Premium, I no longer can get the NET USE command to work - but that is
another story and problem.

OK. I'm really not sure why you're doing it that way, but you know what you
want. I've never wanted to map a drive from one of my machines to another
just to get access. I just use the gui.

If you're looking to sync files, there's Microsoft's Sync Toy.

http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?familyid=C26EFA36-98E0-4EE9-
A7C5-98D0592D8C52&displaylang=en

(or just Google SyncToy 2.0)

Malke

 

[Bob]

Net use Syntax

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb490717.aspx

 

[Bitz]

Bob, did not have that reference filed away. Think I know the syntax well
and a check confirms that at least what I have been doing is valid and used
between two computers running XP for the last several years. Unfortunately
I have a bit of a unique problem now, at least based on the gross of hits I
get searching of network problems or their extensive discussion of
solutions. My problem is only with my trusty (until now) batch files using
NET USE in those batch files to MAP my local two computers. The biggest
question really is need (but I am a man of principles and hate to admit I
cannot lick a problem). I have no trouble with seeing the other computers
via ping or Explorer and can readily Map and persist that Mapping with
Explorer. I can Map with NET USE to my Vista Home Premium computer from my
XP Home computer but not visa versa. Both computers now have the same User
Name and User Account and password (once I corrected with the advice from
Malke) and yes the XP directories/partitions are shared and I have tested
with out firewalls in place. I will continue to struggle with this issue,
again only the fact that I cannot lick is the real problem. In time I
should place the issue in a new thread - it does not belong buried here.

Ed

 

[Bob]

Turning "password protected sharing" OFF might be worth a try.

 

[Bitz]

Bob - I start to wonder about all the hundreds of tests I have run - kept
lousy notes. Next time<g>. My memory says I tested both with and without
Password Protected sharing off on my Vista computer, and no difference
(right now it is off and NET USE definitely will not map the XP to this
Vista. Just tried removing password from my XP machine, no difference. NET
USE only works in one direction, may be I should reposition my computers<g>
Ed