Transfering user settings

[Stevoisiak]

Hello. Usually, I have no problems with figuring out how do things on the PC
(except getting it to actually work WELL compared to mac ) But I have a
problem. I started using the computer on the default admin name. Now however,
I'd like to add a regular user for other people, but it wont let me since
there are no admin accounts. (Well, except the one titled ADMINISTRATOR, but
who cares about that) I need to make a new admin account. But, I'd like to
transfer the settings from the Admin account I'm using now. How can I do
this? Would copying and pasting the user setings folder work? Or is there
some hidden feature I'm unaware of?

 

[Anteaus]

Copying the contents of the Administrator profile to the "Default User"
profile will result these files and settings being copied to new users'
profiles the first time they log on. The file 'NTUSER.DAT' contains the
user's settings.

Only proviso is that this transfer cannot be done whilst the Administrator
user is logged-on, only under another account.

The profiles are under "Documents and Settings" in XP.

 

[Malke]

Hello. Usually, I have no problems with figuring out how do things on the
PC (except getting it to actually work WELL compared to mac ) But I have
a problem. I started using the computer on the default admin name. Now
however, I'd like to add a regular user for other people, but it wont let
me since there are no admin accounts. (Well, except the one titled
ADMINISTRATOR, but who cares about that) I need to make a new admin
account. But, I'd like to transfer the settings from the Admin account I'm
using now. How can I do this? Would copying and pasting the user setings
folder work? Or is there some hidden feature I'm unaware of?

Very simple to do. First create an extra administrator account. Call it
"Tech" or "CompAdmin" or whatever you want. It is always a good idea to
have an extra user account with administrative privileges anyway in case of
emergencies where the other administrative user account becomes corrupted.

Next, create your own new user account, the one you want to use. Make it
"Computer Administrator" to start with. Log into this new account once. Now
log out and into the new Tech/CompAdmin account you made.

Follow the instructions to copy the built-in Administrator account to your
new user account.

Copy a User Account - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=811151

Once done (and it will only take a few minutes), log into your new user
account. Some of the cosmetic bits (Desktop background, etc.) may be
different but everything else will be the same, including all your stuff
from My Documents. After you have everything to your liking, you can delete
the documents, etc. from the built-in Administrator account so as not to
have duplicates of your data. You won't delete this account, of course.

If you want to make your new user account a Standard account, after you've
finished your copying and are happy with it, you can do this.

Malke

 

[Stevoisiak]

Very simple to do. First create an extra administrator account. Call it
"Tech" or "CompAdmin" or whatever you want. It is always a good idea to
have an extra user account with administrative privileges anyway in case of
emergencies where the other administrative user account becomes corrupted.

Next, create your own new user account, the one you want to use. Make it
"Computer Administrator" to start with. Log into this new account once. Now
log out and into the new Tech/CompAdmin account you made.

Follow the instructions to copy the built-in Administrator account to your
new user account.

Copy a User Account - http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=811151

Once done (and it will only take a few minutes), log into your new user
account. Some of the cosmetic bits (Desktop background, etc.) may be
different but everything else will be the same, including all your stuff
from My Documents. After you have everything to your liking, you can delete
the documents, etc. from the built-in Administrator account so as not to
have duplicates of your data. You won't delete this account, of course.

If you want to make your new user account a Standard account, after you've
finished your copying and are happy with it, you can do this.

Malke

Wow. That seems annoying. 3 admins just to transfer account data. Will this
transfer programs, documents, and files, or do I need to transfer those
individually?

 

[Malke]

Wow. That seems annoying. 3 admins just to transfer account data. Will
this transfer programs, documents, and files, or do I need to transfer
those individually?

Well, I don't think having 3 accounts is a bad idea nor do I think spending
less than 10 minutes to correct the mistake of having used the
Administrative account for daily work to start with is any big deal.

Yes, the whole point of copying a user account is that all your stuff will
be in the new one. As you would have seen if you had read the article I
linked you to. Please note the caveats about emails in the article.

Malke

 

[Stevoisiak]

Well, I don't think having 3 accounts is a bad idea nor do I think spending

less than 10 minutes to correct the mistake of having used the
Administrative account for daily work to start with is any big deal.

Yes, the whole point of copying a user account is that all your stuff will
be in the new one. As you would have seen if you had read the article I
linked you to. Please note the caveats about emails in the article.

Malke

Well, no worries on having 3 accounts, the default admin dissapeared from
the logon list. Anyways, at the end of copying it said that it could not copy
"UsrClass". Should I be worried about that? Also, after the new account is
set up, is it safe to manually delete the origional admin account? Having the
files posted twice takes up so much space. Especially considering this is my
home computer. (Aka: For the most part, only I use it)