renaming hardrive

[Guest]

I bought a computer from the company I work with....and the hardrive uses a
name that I would like to change.
Can I change the hardrive name..?...I would prefer just to use c:\ rather
than the name that is on there now...eg: c:\ hanks computer.
If I go into regedit and look for hanks computer...there are just too many
references to 'hanks computer' for me to change.
thanks...

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I bought a computer from the company I work with....and the
hardrive uses a name that I would like to change.
Can I change the hardrive name..?...I would prefer just to use c:\
rather than the name that is on there now...eg: c:\ hanks
computer.
If I go into regedit and look for hanks computer...there are just
too many references to 'hanks computer' for me to change.

First - used computer - I'd format it and start over completely.
Second - if you mean what you said and you just want to rename the hard disk
drive...

Open my computer, right-click on the c: drive, choose rename....

 

[Guest]

ok....I was able to change the hardrive name....sorry for your waste of
time....now....if I go to 'documents and settings'...it lists
'administrator...all users.....hank'.
Can I change that 'hank' to something else?...I realize it is a system
file...and when I try to change the name...I get the 'cannot rename' comes
up. Is there a way around that notification and actually change it?...my
wifes name isnt 'hank'...and I would like to make her happy.
Again...thanks....

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I bought a computer from the company I work with....and the
hardrive uses a name that I would like to change.
Can I change the hardrive name..?...I would prefer just to use c:\
rather than the name that is on there now...eg: c:\ hanks
computer.
If I go into regedit and look for hanks computer...there are just
too many references to 'hanks computer' for me to change.

First - used computer - I'd format it and start over completely.
Second - if you mean what you said and you just want to rename the
hard disk drive...

Open my computer, right-click on the c: drive, choose rename...

ok....I was able to change the hardrive name....sorry for your
waste of time....now....if I go to 'documents and settings'...it
lists 'administrator...all users.....hank'.
Can I change that 'hank' to something else?...I realize it is a
system file...and when I try to change the name...I get the 'cannot
rename' comes up. Is there a way around that notification and
actually change it?...my wifes name isnt 'hank'...and I would like
to make her happy. Again...thanks....

Hank,

Again. Format the computer and reinstall it. You'll be better off.
That way everything that is there - you know is there because you put it
there.
You named it. You created it. It'll be *all your fault*.

Otherwise...
You would need to create new users.

Create one for yourself.
Create one for your wife.
Create one for your neighbors.
Whatever you want.

 

[Guest]

oops...forgot to also mention....if I go into USERS....'hank' is NOT listed
there....just administrator and guest.

 

[Ayush]

Not recommended. Create a new account and copy your settings.

 

[Alias]

oops...forgot to also mention....if I go into USERS....'hank' is NOT listed
there....just administrator and guest.

Which could mean that Hank is the default administrator. I agree with
Shenan, do a format and reinstall XP. The company that you got the
computer from did give you an XP CD, right?

Alias

 

[Shenan Stanley]

oops...forgot to also mention....if I go into USERS....'hank' is
NOT listed there....just administrator and guest.

Format and start anew.
Format and start anew.
Format and start anew.
Format and start anew.

That's still your best course of action. If you are not "hank" (even if you
are), you would be better off knowing exactly what is on this system and
creating all the users yourself.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I bought a computer from the company I work with....and the hardrive uses a
name that I would like to change.
Can I change the hardrive name..?...I would prefer just to use c:\ rather
than the name that is on there now...eg: c:\ hanks computer.
If I go into regedit and look for hanks computer...there are just too many
references to 'hanks computer' for me to change.
thanks...

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, 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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[Rock]

I bought a computer from the company I work with....and the hardrive uses a
name that I would like to change.
Can I change the hardrive name..?...I would prefer just to use c:\ rather
than the name that is on there now...eg: c:\ hanks computer.
If I go into regedit and look for hanks computer...there are just too many
references to 'hanks computer' for me to change.

I will agree with the others. You don't know what problems exist on a used
system. Best is to do a clean install of the OS. This removes any such
problems and you can set it up the way you want.

Here is a link on how to do a clean install. Make sure you have drivers for
all the hardware and the chipset.

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