system folder

[Bob Brannon]

I am using XP Professional. Can anyone tell me how to rename a system
folder in "C:\Documents and Settings\"? Some of them can be by simply
renaming. Others can't and give an error message if one tries. One I can't
do by the simple method is the one I need to change. There must be some
way, in the registry or something? I have tried what I could find in the
registry but it didn't work, so I changed it back. I don't want to have to
reinstall to create a new one or override an existing.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

You cannot rename the folder that contains the user's name. You can create
a new profile, with the user name the way you want it to appear in the
user's folder. Then copy the old user account information to the new one.

Copy a User Profile:

Open System in Control Panel. On the User Profiles tab, and under Profiles
stored on this computer, click the user profile you want to copy, and then
click Copy To.

In the Copy To dialog box, under Copy profile to, type the location for the
new profile, or click Browse to select the path.
Click Change to open the Choose User dialog box, click a new user from the
Names list, and then click Add. The new user name will appear in Add Name.
Click OK to add the user as a new user profile on your computer.

Note: You must be logged on as an administrator to the local computer to
copy user profiles. To open a Control Panel item, click Start, point to
Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click the appropriate icon.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151
How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile

Note: You cannot copy to or from the account you are logged into.

 

[Guest]

-----Original Message-----
I am using XP Professional. Can anyone tell me how to rename a system
folder in "C:\Documents and Settings\"? Some of them can be by simply
renaming. Others can't and give an error message if one tries. One I can't
do by the simple method is the one I need to change. There must be some
way, in the registry or something? I have tried what I could find in the
registry but it didn't work, so I changed it back. I don't want to have to
reinstall to create a new one or override an existing.

you. http://windows.about.com/cs/tipsandtricks/

 

[Bob Brannon]

Here's the thing, this folder does not have a user profile associated with
it. So there is nothing to copy. That is why I just want to rename it.
Alternatively I would like to delete it but can't find a way to do that
either. Any other ideas?

You cannot rename the folder that contains the user's name. You can create
a new profile, with the user name the way you want it to appear in the
user's folder. Then copy the old user account information to the new one.

Copy a User Profile:

Open System in Control Panel. On the User Profiles tab, and under Profiles
stored on this computer, click the user profile you want to copy, and then
click Copy To.

In the Copy To dialog box, under Copy profile to, type the location for the
new profile, or click Browse to select the path.
Click Change to open the Choose User dialog box, click a new user from the
Names list, and then click Add. The new user name will appear in Add Name.
Click OK to add the user as a new user profile on your computer.

Note: You must be logged on as an administrator to the local computer to
copy user profiles. To open a Control Panel item, click Start, point to
Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click the appropriate icon.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151
How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile

Note: You cannot copy to or from the account you are logged into.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Its still a System folder, and you don't have access to it. See Help and
Support and search for "take ownership"

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308421

Additionally, you'll need to adjust the permissions on the folder so that
you can delete it.

XP PRO: In Windows Explorer, go to Tools, Folder Options, View and uncheck
Use Simple File Sharing. Now, when you right click on a drive, folder or
file (on an NTFS partition) and select Properties, you'll see a Security
tab. Here you can assign or deny permissions based on user name or user
group membership.

XP Home: By default, you can only make files and folders under My Documents
"private". This is done by right clicking a folder or file and selecting
Properties, Sharing. To change the permissions on other folders, you need
to boot the computer to Safe Mode and log in on the built in Administrator
account. In this mode, you'll see the Security tab in Properties, and you
can assign permissions based on user name or group membership.

How Do I Get the Security Tab in Properties - XP Home (makes the Security
tab appear outside of Safe Mode)
http://www.dougknox.com, Win XP Tips section

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308418

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and
Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308419

HOW TO: Disable Simplified Sharing and Password-Protect a Shared Folder in
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307874

 

[Bob Brannon]

I have all permissions set to "full control" and cannot delete the folder.
I get a message saying it is a system folder and cannot be deleted.


Its still a System folder, and you don't have access to it. See Help and
Support and search for "take ownership"

HOW TO: Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=308421

Additionally, you'll need to adjust the permissions on the folder so that
you can delete it.

XP PRO: In Windows Explorer, go to Tools, Folder Options, View and uncheck
Use Simple File Sharing. Now, when you right click on a drive, folder or
file (on an NTFS partition) and select Properties, you'll see a Security
tab. Here you can assign or deny permissions based on user name or user
group membership.

XP Home: By default, you can only make files and folders under My Documents
"private". This is done by right clicking a folder or file and selecting
Properties, Sharing. To change the permissions on other folders, you need
to boot the computer to Safe Mode and log in on the built in Administrator
account. In this mode, you'll see the Security tab in Properties, and you
can assign permissions based on user name or group membership.

How Do I Get the Security Tab in Properties - XP Home (makes the Security
tab appear outside of Safe Mode)
http://www.dougknox.com, Win XP Tips section

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove File and Folder Permissions in Windows
XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308418

HOW TO: Set, View, Change, or Remove Special Permissions for Files and
Folders
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;308419

HOW TO: Disable Simplified Sharing and Password-Protect a Shared Folder in
Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;307874

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Bob, first is this folder related to an account that you removed from the
system? If not, what is the name of the folder. There are "system"
accounts, that exist for various purposes.

If you're absolutely sure that this is a folder you don't need, open a
Command Prompt window, and enter:

CD \Documents and Settings

Then type in ATTRIB -S <foldername>

Where folder name is the actual name of the folder. If it has spaces in it,
put the folder name in quotes.

Again, only do this if you're absolutely sure of what you're removing.

 

[Bob Brannon]

Doug,

I think it may be, because I did remove an account several weeks ago. Does
that change what I should do?

Thanks,
Bob

Bob, first is this folder related to an account that you removed from the
system? If not, what is the name of the folder. There are "system"
accounts, that exist for various purposes.

If you're absolutely sure that this is a folder you don't need, open a
Command Prompt window, and enter:

CD \Documents and Settings

Then type in ATTRIB -S <foldername>

Where folder name is the actual name of the folder. If it has spaces in it,
put the folder name in quotes.

Again, only do this if you're absolutely sure of what you're removing.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

As long as it is the folder for the account that you removed, then you're
safe in deleting it. Use the ATTRIB command to remove the System property.

 

[Bob Brannon]

I should have thought of the attributes thing as I have done that before but
it has been so long I forgot about it.

Thanks,
Bob


As long as it is the folder for the account that you removed, then you're
safe in deleting it. Use the ATTRIB command to remove the System property.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Yep, the command line is often over looked, but it isn't dead yet! <G>

 

[Bob Brannon]

Well I thought that would work but it didn't. There are apparently files
being used in that directory that keep me from deleting it using the "rmdir"
command. These are an "index.dat" and "user.dat" file in the "local
settings" and "temp internet file" subfolders. I don't understand this
because that user is gone so why would those files still be getting used?


Yep, the command line is often over looked, but it isn't dead yet! <G>

 

[Daniel L. Belton]

Yep, the command line is often over looked, but it isn't dead yet! <G>

They're trying to take it away from us though...

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Bob,

Boot the computer into Safe Mode and delete the files from there. That
should prevent them from being 'in use'.

Additionally, if you still get the same error, open a Command Prompt window,
and leave it open. Then open Task Manager and locate the Explorer.exe
process. Highlight it and end the process. Delete the files from the
Command Prompt window. Then, in Task Manager, go to New, Task and enter
EXPLORER.EXE to restart the shell.

 

[Bob Brannon]

Doug,

I tried all of what you suggested, while in safe mode, and I still get a
response that the files are in use. So, I don't know what the problem may
be or what to do about it. Any other suggestions?

Bob

Bob,

Boot the computer into Safe Mode and delete the files from there. That
should prevent them from being 'in use'.

Additionally, if you still get the same error, open a Command Prompt window,
and leave it open. Then open Task Manager and locate the Explorer.exe
process. Highlight it and end the process. Delete the files from the
Command Prompt window. Then, in Task Manager, go to New, Task and enter
EXPLORER.EXE to restart the shell.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

The only other suggestion is Recovery Console. You'll need to make a change
in the Group Policy Editor (GPEDIT.MSC) to allow access to the Documents and
Settings folder.

Click Start, Run and enter GPEDIT.MSC Go to:

Computer Configuration, Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies,
Security Options

Look in the right pane for Recovery Console: Allow floppy copy and access
to all drives and folders. Double click this setting and set it to Enabled.
This will give you access to the Documents and Settings folder and its
contents. You should be able to delete the files from the Recovery Console
command prompt. Help and Support has a full list of the Recovery Console
commands that are available.

 

[Bob Brannon]

Doug,

Before I try this I thought I would pass along some more info. I clicked on
Help about in this console and noticed that the EULA is registered to the
user I am trying to delete in Documents and settings. I thought this would
have been fixed when I went into system properties and changed the name of
the computer. This is a stand-alone PC. Would this be having some
influence we have not considered?

Bob

The only other suggestion is Recovery Console. You'll need to make a change
in the Group Policy Editor (GPEDIT.MSC) to allow access to the Documents and
Settings folder.

Click Start, Run and enter GPEDIT.MSC Go to:

Computer Configuration, Windows Settings, Security Settings, Local Policies,
Security Options

Look in the right pane for Recovery Console: Allow floppy copy and access
to all drives and folders. Double click this setting and set it to Enabled.
This will give you access to the Documents and Settings folder and its
contents. You should be able to delete the files from the Recovery Console
command prompt. Help and Support has a full list of the Recovery Console
commands that are available.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Not that I'm aware of. Changing the computer name doesn't change the
information about who XP is licensed to. That's just a simple registry
setting that's easily changed.

www.dougknox.com, Win XP Utilities, Change Registered Owner and
Organization.

 

[Bob Brannon]

I installed the recovery console but when I try to startup in it it asks me
for a password. I have never assigned a password to an administrator
account, so what do I do?


Not that I'm aware of. Changing the computer name doesn't change the
information about who XP is licensed to. That's just a simple registry
setting that's easily changed.

www.dougknox.com, Win XP Utilities, Change Registered Owner and
Organization.

 

[Doug Knox MS-MVP]

Leave it blank