User Name

[Guest]

Having bought a second hand laptop I would like to change the user name. i
have changed the user name for logging on, but when I bring up task manager
the user name is not mine. A little bit picky on my part I know but it is
really starting to annoy me.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Logon Name Does Not Match Name in Task Manager or Under Documents and Settings Folder:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q283111/

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org


Having bought a second hand laptop I would like to change the user name. i
have changed the user name for logging on, but when I bring up task manager
the user name is not mine. A little bit picky on my part I know but it is
really starting to annoy me.

 

[Guest]

As I have XP Home edition this does not help me unfortunately. I s there
anything else I can do?

 

[Tom J]

Not for the weak at heart, but here is what I did to correct it.
Start / Run / C:/windows/regedit
Then click on Find and type in the name of the previous owner and search.
Everyplace you find that name, substitute your name. Worked for me, but I
suggest you save a backup of the registry before you do it.

Tom J

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Having bought a second hand laptop I would like to change the user name. i
have changed the user name for logging on, but when I bring up task manager
the user name is not mine. A little bit picky on my part I know but it is
really starting to annoy me.

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

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

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Creating a new user profile is the only solution, in this case.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User
http://windowsxp.mvps.org



As I have XP Home edition this does not help me unfortunately. I s there
anything else I can do?