User accounts

[Jack]

I am new to Windows XP.
I set up two user accounts, one for me and one for my
wife.
When I go into the Control Panel I see these two accounts
and also a Guest account.
When I go into Windows Explorer I see accounts for
myself, my wife, guest, administrator and owner.
The administrator folders are pretty much empty but the
"owner" account folders have all of my favorites, desktop
icons, cookies, etc.
Where did this administrator and owner accounts come from?
I never created these accounts and when I set up my
account with my name I thought I was the administrator.
Seeing how my fav's, desktop icons, etc are in
the "owner" account I tried changing the name from owner
to my name and it would not allow me to do this.
I tried moving the items from the "owner" account to my
account but again, I was not allowed to do this.
How can I make the "owner" account name be my name?
Thanks for any help.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Jack,

The administrator and guest accounts are system defaults and should not be
tampered with other than disabling the guest account (should you wish to).
The "owner" account is the one the system used when you first used the
machine until you setup your own accounts. This may also currently be the
one you have as your own name (you can change the name that appears for your
account, but not the folder that it uses). The AllUsers account should also
be there, this is a common account which houses items shared by all
accounts. What you are seeing is all part of the true user environment of an
NT system and is perfectly normal.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Jack]

Rick,
Thanks for you help, I appreciate it.
You are right, when I looked, I did find the AllUsers
account too.
Still a bit confused though.
When I first turn on the computer I see my (Jack) account,
my wife's account and the Guest account, which I have
turned off.
When I look in Windows Explorer I see all of the
accounts...mine, my wife's, Guest, Administrator, All
Users and Owner.

Is there a way for me to enter my name (Jack) for my
account into the accout that says Owner or will all of my
fav's, desktop icons, etc, just have to remain in the
Owner account?
Thanks again Rick

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Jack,

Just copy over the ones you want to your own folder. You can't rename the
"owner" folder (the system does not allow for renaming of the user account
folders, only the username associated with it - the one you see on the logon
screen). If your account is using the "jack" username folder, then you can
safely remove the "owner" username folder later (reboot first and see if
everything is where you want it). The rest of the username folders are
system defaults and should not be messed with.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Hi Rick,
Thanks again for your help. I will give that a try and
see what happens.