Upgrading to New User

[Gordon]

I have recently purchased a used laptop. The person who used the laptop last
created a user as their name in XP. I changed the name of the user to my name
in the control panel, but there is still a folder under C:\Documents and
Settings with the name of the old user. I have tried to rename this folder to
my name, but Win XP generates an error saying that the folder is a Windows
system folder and is required for Windows to run properly. It cannot be moved
or renamed.

Is it possible to change the name of this folder without reinstalling
windows? I would like to remove all traces of the old user. Changing the
administrator account name does not remove the folder from the other user.
Thanks for the help.

Have you tried removing the User in Control Panel-User Accounts? That's
the PROPER way to remove a user, not to just try to delete the files!

 

[Guest]

I have recently purchased a used laptop. The person who used the laptop last
created a user as their name in XP. I changed the name of the user to my name
in the control panel, but there is still a folder under C:\Documents and
Settings with the name of the old user. I have tried to rename this folder to
my name, but Win XP generates an error saying that the folder is a Windows
system folder and is required for Windows to run properly. It cannot be moved
or renamed.

Is it possible to change the name of this folder without reinstalling
windows? I would like to remove all traces of the old user. Changing the
administrator account name does not remove the folder from the other user.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Guest]

I have not deleted any files. There is only one user on this computer, and
that is me. It also say that there is a guest account but it is off. The old
user has been removed from the control panel but the old folder still
remains.

This computer has windows xp home with sp2.

 

[GTS]

windows? I would like to remove all traces of the old user. Changing the

Have you tried removing the User in Control Panel-User Accounts? That's
the PROPER way to remove a user, not to just try to delete the files!

--
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Director
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

As you learned, when you rename a user it does not rename the user directory
under the Document and Settings. This is a know XP limitation and there is
no way around it.

I agree with above advice but would recommend you create the new user FIRST
and then remove the old or at least make sure first that you can log into
the Administrator account. I've seen people delete the sole user and then
find they couldn't log into to any account to create the new user.

 

[Ron Sommer]

Create a new user profile and delete the old one.
How to Copy or Remove a User Profile
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logon.htm#usercopy

 

[Guest]

I have no problems logging in or out and my account is the admin. The old
user has been deleted from the control panel under users. I am the only one

 

[GTS]

When deleting a user there is a prompt whether to save or remove the users
files. If answered No it will leave the users directory there. I'm not
sure what your mean though when you say it's still being used. If it's
there after the user was deleted it will not be used except if you access it
directly. You should be able to just delete that folder and subfolders.
--

 

[Steve N.]

When deleting a user there is a prompt whether to save or remove the users
files. If answered No it will leave the users directory there. I'm not
sure what your mean though when you say it's still being used. If it's
there after the user was deleted it will not be used except if you access it
directly. You should be able to just delete that folder and subfolders.

You got it right the 1st time, he renamed the user which has no effect
on the original user directory name.

Steve

 

[Guest]

Create a new user then restart the pc and login as the new user. Go back to
User Accounts and delete the old user. Click on Delete Files to remove the
profile folder. If you just logout after creating the new user, the files
will remain. You must restart the machine.

Good Luck.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have recently purchased a used laptop. The person who used the laptop last
created a user as their name in XP. I changed the name of the user to my name
in the control panel, but there is still a folder under C:\Documents and
Settings with the name of the old user. I have tried to rename this folder to
my name, but Win XP generates an error saying that the folder is a Windows
system folder and is required for Windows to run properly. It cannot be moved
or renamed.

Is it possible to change the name of this folder without reinstalling
windows? I would like to remove all traces of the old user. Changing the
administrator account name does not remove the folder from the other user.
Thanks for the help.

With second-hand computers, especially if acquired from strangers
but perhaps even if acquired from a family member, 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


--

Bruce Chambers

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