Rename users, retain settings/functionality/etc.

[Guest]

I have 3 logon accounts named User1, User2 and User3. I have different
personalized settings and different 3rd party programs installed for each of
these 3 users. I would like to change the logon names from User1, User2 and
User3 to Moe, Larry, Curly. I don't want to lose any of the settings and
program functionality. Can someone provide instructions that will work on XP
Pro and XP Home? I have to do some renaming on both machines. Thank you
very much.

 

[Guest]

You can rename the users under
control panel>administrative tools>computer management>local users&groups.

Right-click the user and select rename.

An alternative is to run control userpasswords2 and select the properties
for a user. (On Home don't change group membership or you will break
file-sharing)

In either case you only change the logon-name, the profile folder remains as
before, which may cause confusion.

 

[Malke]

I have 3 logon accounts named User1, User2 and User3. I have
different personalized settings and different 3rd party programs
installed for each of
these 3 users. I would like to change the logon names from User1,
User2 and
User3 to Moe, Larry, Curly. I don't want to lose any of the settings
and
program functionality. Can someone provide instructions that will
work on XP
Pro and XP Home? I have to do some renaming on both machines. Thank
you very much.

You don't want to just rename the user accounts since that will not
change any of the files/folders. What you want to do is create new user
accounts with the names you want and then copy the old user accounts'
data and settings. You will need to log into the new accounts once
before you can copy anything to them. You must import your e-mail
messages and addresses to the new user profile before you delete the
old profile.

Copy a User Account -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=811151
Lockergnome article about copying user account -
http://tinyurl.com/74atm

Malke

 

[John Mathew]

Don wrote:

I have 3 logon accounts named User1, User2 and User3. I have
different personalized settings and different 3rd party programs
installed for each of
these 3 users. I would like to change the logon names from User1,
User2 and
User3 to Moe, Larry, Curly. I don't want to lose any of the settings
and
program functionality. Can someone provide instructions that will
work on XP
Pro and XP Home? I have to do some renaming on both machines. Thank
you very much.

You don't want to just rename the user accounts since that will not
change any of the files/folders. What you want to do is create new
user
accounts with the names you want and then copy the old user accounts'
data and settings. You will need to log into the new accounts once
before you can copy anything to them. You must import your e-mail
messages and addresses to the new user profile before you delete the
old profile.

Copy a User Account -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=811151
Lockergnome article about copying user account -
http://tinyurl.com/74atm

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Hi Malke,

I have a little doubt on this topic,hope you will clear it.

What happend to the installed programs in the old user account ?If we
try to copy all data and settings to newly created user account, does
it work fine as if in the state of old users?

Does this below mentioned setting cause any harm?

Go to start-- settings --control panel--user account, take the option
change user name and change the name for each user one by one.

Hope you will clear my doubts

John Mathew