My son gave me his computer

[David Schwartz]

My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use anymore
since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings that
say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's
Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see it
in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer?
It is running XP

 

[Richard in AZ]

| My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use anymore
| since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings that
| say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's
| Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see it
| in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer?
| It is running XP
| --
| David Schwartz
| Commack, NY
|
You need to go to the control panel, User Accounts) and create a new user account (yourself) and
make your account have administrative privilege.
Then restart the computer and go to the True Admistrator Account
(If you have Windows XP Home Edition you will have to start in the "Safe Mode" to see this
Administrator Account.)
When you are operating as this 3rd Party User, you can go back to the Control Panel, User Accounts,
and delete your Brian's account. You will have to decide if you want to keep his files. He should
have made copies of these himself.
When you next restart you computer, you will be the only user and you will have folders with your
name.

Note: If you don't already know, tap the F8 key as the computer is first starting to get the option
to go to the "Safe Mode".

 

[David Schwartz]

Thanks, but how ridiculously complicated!
Dave

 

[Richard in AZ]

No where in the book of life does it say it will be easy.

| Thanks, but how ridiculously complicated!
| Dave
|
|
| | >
| > | > | My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use
| > anymore
| > | since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings
| > that
| > | say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's
| > | Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see
| > it
| > | in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer?
| > | It is running XP
| > | --
| > | David Schwartz
| > | Commack, NY
| > |
| > You need to go to the control panel, User Accounts) and create a new user
| > account (yourself) and
| > make your account have administrative privilege.
| > Then restart the computer and go to the True Admistrator Account
| > (If you have Windows XP Home Edition you will have to start in the "Safe
| > Mode" to see this
| > Administrator Account.)
| > When you are operating as this 3rd Party User, you can go back to the
| > Control Panel, User Accounts,
| > and delete your Brian's account. You will have to decide if you want to
| > keep his files. He should
| > have made copies of these himself.
| > When you next restart you computer, you will be the only user and you will
| > have folders with your
| > name.
| >
| > Note: If you don't already know, tap the F8 key as the computer is first
| > starting to get the option
| > to go to the "Safe Mode".
| >
| >
|
|

 

[Xandros]

The alternative is to reformat and do a fresh install of XP supplying your
information.

 

[Onsokumaru]

No, I think you are just not very bright.

You got a free computer and need to take about 5 steps to make a change.

If it's too complicated pay someone to do it for you.

 

[Jason]

It's not that complicated.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use anymore
since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings that
say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's
Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see it
in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer?
It is running XP

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, without risky registry editing, 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. Once you've logged in using this
new account (and transfered any data you need to preserve, 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:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

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. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[David Schwartz]

Suck my sushi. Hmm, did I get it right?

No, I think you are just not very bright.

You got a free computer and need to take about 5 steps to make a change.

If it's too complicated pay someone to do it for you.

 

[Pete Angelakos]

| My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use
anymore
| since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings
that
| say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's
| Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see
it
| in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer?
| It is running XP
| --
| David Schwartz
| Commack, NY
|
You need to go to the control panel, User Accounts) and create a new user
account (yourself) and
make your account have administrative privilege.
Then restart the computer and go to the True Admistrator Account
(If you have Windows XP Home Edition you will have to start in the "Safe
Mode" to see this
Administrator Account.)
When you are operating as this 3rd Party User, you can go back to the
Control Panel, User Accounts,
and delete your Brian's account. You will have to decide if you want to
keep his files. He should
have made copies of these himself.
When you next restart you computer, you will be the only user and you will
have folders with your
name.

Note: If you don't already know, tap the F8 key as the computer is first
starting to get the option
to go to the "Safe Mode".

Will the programs installed by Brian be accessible to the new account?