Changing a Window system folder's name

[josh]

The two folders in my system contained in "Documents and Settings" are
"All Users" and "John Smith"
I assume Windows got the "John Smith" either from the name the computer was
registered under or the account name of the system administrator.
In any case I need to change that folder name to "Ed Smith" who is now the
my system's only user account name. The reason I need to change it is not
vanity but rather to insure that several Excel macros can run on both of my
PCs. How do I change it? The usual approach doesn't do it.
Josh

 

[GTS]

The John Smith folder is the result of creating a user by that name, who
might have been renamed later. Although a user can be renamed and a new
name will be shown under users or the log in screen, the "Documents and
Settings" folder for that user cannot be renamed. You would have to create
a new user now called "Ed Smith and then could copy the John Smith profile.

 

[Rock]

The two folders in my system contained in "Documents and Settings" are
"All Users" and "John Smith"
I assume Windows got the "John Smith" either from the name the computer was
registered under or the account name of the system administrator.
In any case I need to change that folder name to "Ed Smith" who is now the
my system's only user account name. The reason I need to change it is not
vanity but rather to insure that several Excel macros can run on both of my
PCs. How do I change it? The usual approach doesn't do it.
Josh

The name of that folder can't be changes. Instead create a new profile
in the name you want then copy settings from the original profile.
Lastly delete the old profile.

How to: Create a Custom Default User Profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=305709

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

How to Copy a User Profile
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logon.htm

 

[Kelly]

Hi Josh,

In addition:

First, create the new user whose profile defaults to "C:\Documents and
Settings\New User." Next, in Control Panel/System/Advanced/User
Profiles/Settings, copy the new user's profile to the desired location on
a separate data partition (something like F:\Documents and Settings\New
User).

Then in "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList,"
edit "ProfileImagePath" to the new location. The next time you log on to
New
User, all of the new user's settings are re-directed to the new location on
the data partition

Right click the My Computer icon on your Desktop/Properties/Advanced/User
Profiles/Settings/Copy To (new location). Then go to Start/Run/Regedit and
navigate to this key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
(Find the profile in question) and alter the ProfileImagePath.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Steve N.]

Rock wrote:

Please see my comments inline below.

The name of that folder can't be changes. Instead create a new profile
in the name you want then copy settings from the original profile.
Lastly delete the old profile.

How to: Create a Custom Default User Profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=305709

"Under Permitted to use, click Change, click Everyone, and then click
OK." - This step I have never found to be necessary.

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

This article neglects to mention you must login once as the new user
before you can copy the profile to it and it really only applies to and
intended for copying corrupted user profiles. When copying a profile
that is not corrupted there is no need to avoid copying the three ntuser
files.

How to Copy a User Profile
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logon.htm

There is no link there to "How to Copy a User Profile" that I could
find, but here's how to do it clean and easy:

1. Login with admin rights and create the new user.
2. Login as the new user.
3. Login with admin rights again but NOT as the new user OR the user you
want to copy the profile from. (Create another admin user and login as
that user if necessary.)
4. Open My Computer, Tools, Folder Options, View, mark to show hidden
files and uncheck Hide protected operating system files. Close My
Computer window.
5. Right click on My Computer, Properties, Advanced tab, User Profiles
button select the user you want to copy the profile from, click Copy to
button, browse to C:\Documents and Settings\[Name of new user you
created], click copy.
6. Login as the new user.

Steve

 

[Rock]

Rock wrote:

Please see my comments inline below.

The name of that folder can't be changes. Instead create a new
profile in the name you want then copy settings from the original
profile. Lastly delete the old profile.

How to: Create a Custom Default User Profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=305709

"Under Permitted to use, click Change, click Everyone, and then click
OK." - This step I have never found to be necessary.

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

This article neglects to mention you must login once as the new user
before you can copy the profile to it and it really only applies to and
intended for copying corrupted user profiles. When copying a profile
that is not corrupted there is no need to avoid copying the three ntuser
files.

How to Copy a User Profile
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logon.htm

There is no link there to "How to Copy a User Profile" that I could
find, but here's how to do it clean and easy:

1. Login with admin rights and create the new user.
2. Login as the new user.
3. Login with admin rights again but NOT as the new user OR the user you
want to copy the profile from. (Create another admin user and login as
that user if necessary.)
4. Open My Computer, Tools, Folder Options, View, mark to show hidden
files and uncheck Hide protected operating system files. Close My
Computer window.
5. Right click on My Computer, Properties, Advanced tab, User Profiles
button select the user you want to copy the profile from, click Copy to
button, browse to C:\Documents and Settings\[Name of new user you
created], click copy.
6. Login as the new user.

Steve

Steve your comments on the first two are duly noted. For the link to
Kelly's site that information is on the page further down under
"Understanding User Profiles" - Copy a User Profile.

 

[Steve N.]

Rock wrote:

Please see my comments inline below.

josh wrote:

The two folders in my system contained in "Documents and Settings" are
"All Users" and "John Smith"
I assume Windows got the "John Smith" either from the name the
computer was registered under or the account name of the system
administrator.
In any case I need to change that folder name to "Ed Smith" who is
now the my system's only user account name. The reason I need to
change it is not vanity but rather to insure that several Excel
macros can run on both of my PCs. How do I change it? The usual
approach doesn't do it.
Josh


The name of that folder can't be changes. Instead create a new
profile in the name you want then copy settings from the original
profile. Lastly delete the old profile.

How to: Create a Custom Default User Profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=305709

"Under Permitted to use, click Change, click Everyone, and then click
OK." - This step I have never found to be necessary.

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

This article neglects to mention you must login once as the new user
before you can copy the profile to it and it really only applies to
and intended for copying corrupted user profiles. When copying a
profile that is not corrupted there is no need to avoid copying the
three ntuser files.

How to Copy a User Profile
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logon.htm

There is no link there to "How to Copy a User Profile" that I could
find, but here's how to do it clean and easy:

1. Login with admin rights and create the new user.
2. Login as the new user.
3. Login with admin rights again but NOT as the new user OR the user
you want to copy the profile from. (Create another admin user and
login as that user if necessary.)
4. Open My Computer, Tools, Folder Options, View, mark to show hidden
files and uncheck Hide protected operating system files. Close My
Computer window.
5. Right click on My Computer, Properties, Advanced tab, User Profiles
button select the user you want to copy the profile from, click Copy
to button, browse to C:\Documents and Settings\[Name of new user you
created], click copy.
6. Login as the new user.

Steve

Steve your comments on the first two are duly noted. For the link to
Kelly's site that information is on the page further down under
"Understanding User Profiles" - Copy a User Profile.

Thanks Rock. I guess I didn't look hard enough.

Steve