How to rename the registered user of O/S software?

[Guest]

Hello
Because I bought a fairly new second-hand laptop, its operating system (WinXP pro) is already registered to the previous owner whom I bought it from, and I want to change his name to my name. To understand what I mean, go to System Properties (Control Panel>System) and click the tab General. "Registered to:__________"
Please note - I don't mean computer name
Thanks in advance
Ia

 

[VManes]

One way, modify the registry entry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion - look for
item Registered Owner.

Val Manes
--
Bringing you BeadWizard Design Software
www.beadwizard.com
***************************
Practice safe eating -- always use condiments.
***************************

Hello,
Because I bought a fairly new second-hand laptop, its operating system
(WinXP pro) is already registered to the previous owner whom I bought it
from, and I want to change his name to my name. To understand what I mean,
go to System Properties (Control Panel>System) and click the tab General.
"Registered to:__________".
Please note - I don't mean computer name.
Thanks in advance.
Ian

 

[Guest]

Thanks Val Manes, but where do I find the registry entry or the item registered owner

What is "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion"? Could you please answer in plain english? By the way, my o/s is XP Pro, not NT

Thanks again
Ian

 

[Kaylene aka Taurarian]

If you don’t wish to edit the registry:-
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Line 7 Right column "Change registered owner..."
Instructions on how to use are at the top of the page

Thanks Val Manes, but where do I find the registry entry or the item registered owner?

What is "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion"?

Could you please answer in plain english? By the way, my o/s is XP Pro, not NT.

 

[VManes]

To make this change, you have to use the registry editor - Start/Run, enter
regedit. The Key value I gave is found by tracing thru the exploer pane on
the left side of registry editor.

By your reply, it looks like this is something you should get a more XP
experienced friend to do for you or show you - messing up the registry can
mess up your system.

The Windows NT key is just part of the overall registry system - it's in XP
systems, as will as Win2K, since both are derived from NT
Val
--
Bringing you BeadWizard Design Software
www.beadwizard.com
***************************
Practice safe eating -- always use condiments.
***************************

Thanks Val Manes, but where do I find the registry entry or the item
registered owner?

What is "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion"?
Could you please answer in plain english? By the way, my o/s is XP Pro, not
NT.

Thanks again.
Ian

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

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.

However, when buying a second-hand, as you have done, the best
course of action could very well be for you to simply format the hard
drive and reinstall the OS and applications. You really don't want to
take a chance on getting in trouble for something the computer's
previous owner might have been doing, such as downloading kiddie porn,
copyrighted material, viruses, etc.

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered
the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of
the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of
boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

Hello,
Because I bought a fairly new second-hand laptop, its operating

system (WinXP pro) is already registered to the previous owner whom I
bought it from, and I want to change his name to my name. To
understand what I mean, go to System Properties (Control Panel>System)
and click the tab General. "Registered to:__________".

 

[Guest]

I've tried everything from hacking the registry to downloading programs that are supposed to do it, and the only thing that will work perfectly and get rid of all old usernames and identitys is to re-install the OS.
Thanks.
RDLA

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Greetings --

That's rather extreme, especially since all one has to do is log
in as an administrator, right-click My Computer, select Manage, select
Local Users and Groups followed by Users, and then simply delete the
user accounts no longer needed. Did you consider looking in WinXP's
Help & Support _before_ resorting to such a drastic method?

Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH

I've tried everything from hacking the registry to downloading

programs that are supposed to do it, and the only thing that will work
perfectly and get rid of all old usernames and identitys is to
re-install the OS.