Registration Name

[Guest]

I got a computer from a friend of mine but everything is registered under her
name when I do the automatic registration. Anyone know how to change that?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I got a computer from a friend of mine but everything is registered
under her name when I do the automatic registration. Anyone know
how to change that?

Registration is optional - and doesn't give you any discernable benefits.

You should format and rebuild this system anyway - it's yours now.

If this is for cosmetic reasons..
- Create all new users and delete the old ones.
- http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/32/

 

[Guest]

Is that hard to do? Format and rebuild?

Registration is optional - and doesn't give you any discernable benefits.

You should format and rebuild this system anyway - it's yours now.

If this is for cosmetic reasons..
- Create all new users and delete the old ones.
- http://www.winguides.com/registry/display.php/32/

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I got a computer from a friend of mine but everything is registered
under her name when I do the automatic registration. Anyone know how
to change that?

If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it would be to
reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how the computer
has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly, what is missing,
what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't want to live with
somebody else's mistakes and problems, possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and
I wouldn't recommend that anyone else do either.

But if you just want to change the "Registered to" name, you can do so by
editing HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\RegisteredOwner
with Regedit.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I got a computer from a friend of mine but everything is registered under her
name when I do the automatic registration. Anyone know how to change that?

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 probably 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

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

 

[Glen]

Do you have all the windows xp disc and discs containing all the programs
installed. If not then leave it alone. If you do have the discs then google
"reinstall windows xp" for web pages how to do it. To much info to explain
here.

Repair install just delete old partiton first then follow here.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

Reinstall Windows XP
http://windows.radified.com/

Two sites to get you started.

Glen P

 

[Guest]

I don't see anything like that. It had Win 98SE on it when I got it and I
don't have disks. I bought the Win XP upgrade for home version. I don't think
I can reinstall a clean version. I did new install when I put in XP.

 

[Alan]

In short it means get rid of everything you have and start again.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I don't see anything like that. It had Win 98SE on it when I got it
and I don't have disks. I bought the Win XP upgrade for home version.
I don't think I can reinstall a clean version.

The requirement to use an upgrade version is to *own* a previous qualifying
version's installation CD, not to have it installed. When setup doesn't find
a previous qualifying version installed, it will prompt you to insert its CD
as proof of ownership. Just insert the previous version's CD, and follow the
prompts. Everything proceeds quite normally and quite legitimately.

 

[cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user)]

On Sat, 21 Jan 2006 11:03:02 -0800, watch4whales

Is that hard to do? Format and rebuild?

Properly, yes - see...

http://cquirke.mvps.org/reinst.htm

If your XP CD is pre-SP2, don't hit the 'net until youhave turned on
the firewall or you may be shot to pieces.

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