Can't change PC owner

[Guest]

Just bought a PC from "John & Jane Doe" who owned a legitimate/registered
laptop.

I've changed the registration of WindowsXP but can't figure out how to
change the 'Registered to:' field under Start>Control Panel>System>General
Tab.

How do I get my name in place of previous PC owner?

Thanks,

Kim

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

Please see the following link to Doug Knox's web site:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_change_owner.htm

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Guest]

Hi Will,

Thanks for the quick reply. Worked like a champ. I've since found a
"Windows Folder" that can't be changed either. I can't change the name
although "John & Jane" found a way. Hate to piggy-back requests but any
help would be appreciated.

Thanks again.

Kim

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

If it's a System folder, then you may not be able to change that. What's
the name of the folder?

--


Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Just bought a PC from "John & Jane Doe" who owned a legitimate/registered
laptop.

I've changed the registration of WindowsXP but can't figure out how to
change the 'Registered to:' field under Start>Control Panel>System>General
Tab.

How do I get my name in place of previous PC owner?

Thanks,

Kim

With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from strangers
but perhaps even if acquired from a family member or friend, your wisest
course of action would definitely be to format the hard drives and start
fresh. You don't want to get in trouble because the original owner may
have filled the hard drive with kiddie porn, or have problems because
the original owner downloaded/installed viruses or other malware.

However, 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

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell

 

[Guest]

Hi Bruce,

Excellent advice and I "wiped" the disk with a Symantec tool after all but
OS & drivers were removed. I followed yours (and a 7/11 post) suggestion to
build a new user account and deleted the old.

Thanks for your help.


Kim

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi Bruce,

Excellent advice and I "wiped" the disk with a Symantec tool after all but
OS & drivers were removed. I followed yours (and a 7/11 post) suggestion to
build a new user account and deleted the old.

Thanks for your help.

You're welcome.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell