change the windows owner?

[Guest]

We purchased a used laptop with Windows XP Pro on it. We want to rename the
file under Docs and Settings that has My Docs in it. .... we want to change
the persons name to ours. When we try it, I get an error message that says
the name can't be changed because it is a systems folder. What do I need to
change to be able to change the file name? Thanks, Brian

 

[Frankster]

Reboot to free memory. Logon as Administrator, or some user with admin
privileges other than the one you want to rename to/from. Navigate using
explorer to that folder and rename it.

-Frank

 

[Bruce Chambers]

We purchased a used laptop with Windows XP Pro on it. We want to rename the
file under Docs and Settings that has My Docs in it. .... we want to change
the persons name to ours. When we try it, I get an error message that says
the name can't be changed because it is a systems folder. What do I need to
change to be able to change the file name? Thanks, Brian

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.

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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[Frankster]

The user profile folders (C:\Documents and Settings\Username) _cannot_

be renamed, even if the associated user account has been.

Whoops! Sorry about giving that bad advice (to rename it). I didn't know
that. I never rename them myself, I always create a new account and delete
the old. Guess it just never occurred to me that they couldn't be renamed.

-Frank