What's In Renaming A System Folder Name?

[Susan]

How...? Why...? Uh...I'd like to rename a system folder from the primary
bogus user name I created (I was planning to sell the computer) to my name
(I'm keeping the computer). I used this bogus user name after reinstalling
a clean Windows XP Home install. So far I have been able to rename
everything concerning this bogus name folder including the
user/administrator account name. The folder is under C:\Documents and
Settings\. If I try to rename it Explorer refuses stating that this is a
System folder, etc.

Also in Documents and Settings are All Users, Default User, LocalService,
and NetworkService (and the bogus user named folder). In the old days one
could reboot to a DOS prompt, find any folder, and rename it but that
doesn't seem possible or I need a refresher course on how to do DOS in XP.

However, perhaps there is another way??? Your turn... Thank you.

I just did a search through the Registry and there are a zillion
occurrences there of this unique bogus name I used so unless there is some
key point that once changed changes all the other instances I suspect my
best plan will be living with it until I do another clean install...

Susan

 

[peter]

So in essence you are trying to change a user name??
In order to do thid you will need to create 2 new user...lets say user A and
user B both with admin privileges.
If you wish to change to user A you need to restart and log in as user B
right click MyComputer/properties/advanced
under :user profiles.....settings
here you should see a list of all users
hightlight your "bogus one" and click "copy to"
now you should see "copy profile to" click the "browse" and navigate to
C:\documents&settings\userA
click OK
OK your way out
All of your bogus settings have now been copied to user A
restart and sign on as user A....check to make sure it is all there before you
go to Control Panel and remove the bogus user as well as user B.
peter

 

[Susan]

So in essence you are trying to change a user name??
In order to do this you will need to create 2 new user...lets say user A and
user B both with admin privileges.
If you wish to change to user A you need to restart and log in as user B
right click MyComputer/properties/advanced
under :user profiles.....settings
here you should see a list of all users
highlight your "bogus one" and click "copy to"
now you should see "copy profile to" click the "browse" and navigate to
C:\documents&settings\userA
click OK
OK your way out
All of your bogus settings have now been copied to user A
restart and sign on as user A....check to make sure it is all there before you
go to Control Panel and remove the bogus user as well as user B.
peter

Wow! Very cool. Worked great! Thanks.

Hmmm... How about cleaning up the Registry? Any way of automagically get
rid of all instances of deleted user stuff? Do you know if jv16 Power
Tools' registry cleaner would seek out and purge this stuff? Anything
better? Thanks much.

Susan

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Susan,

Removing the unwanted account is sufficient. Do not worry about any
leftovers in the registry. Using registry cleaners in WinXP is not
recommended, and dead entries do not cause issues like they did in some
previous versions of Windows.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Susan]

Hi Susan,

Removing the unwanted account is sufficient. Do not worry about any
leftovers in the registry. Using registry cleaners in WinXP is not
recommended, and dead entries do not cause issues like they did in some
previous versions of Windows.

What are you...a nutcase? Are you saying WinXP's Registry doesn't get
bloated to the point where it affects speed and efficiency and never
requires formatting C: and a clean install again? Which is what I felt
compelled to do last month? I find this hard to believe and you know what
they say about that. Can you point to any proof...any collaboration? Are
you suggesting it is best for the industry to leave the Registry alone and
instead to periodically, when you can't stand it any longer, format the C:
drive and install XP again? Why not develop tools that could scour-out
_everything_ no longer needed by the current remaining OS and applications
including dll's, etc.? I guess I'm still glad I'm not a programmer. What
a mess.

Susan

 

[C.Joseph Drayton]

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Hash: SHA1

Hi Susan,

I use RegScrubXP once every three months, and have not to this point (2 years on one machine and one year on the other) needed
to clean install. The only thing I have against RegScrubXP is that it is slow (0045hrs to 0100hrs). I do notice a performance
increase after using it. I have about 15GB of applications that I use regularly and am constantly trying new software so my
registry gets cluttered on a fairly regular basis.

BTW, being a programmer is fun. I've owned my own computer consulting business here in Idaho for about 10 years and it great.
The income is more than I ever spend, I get to travel, and people pay me to do what I want to do! <vbg>.

Ciao . . . C.Joseph

That which a man buys too cheaply . . .
~ He esteems too lightly

Susan wrote:
|
|
|>Hi Susan,
|>
|>Removing the unwanted account is sufficient. Do not worry about any
|>leftovers in the registry. Using registry cleaners in WinXP is not
|>recommended, and dead entries do not cause issues like they did in some
|>previous versions of Windows.
|
|
| What are you...a nutcase? Are you saying WinXP's Registry doesn't get
| bloated to the point where it affects speed and efficiency and never
| requires formatting C: and a clean install again? Which is what I felt
| compelled to do last month? I find this hard to believe and you know what
| they say about that. Can you point to any proof...any collaboration? Are
| you suggesting it is best for the industry to leave the Registry alone and
| instead to periodically, when you can't stand it any longer, format the C:
| drive and install XP again? Why not develop tools that could scour-out
| _everything_ no longer needed by the current remaining OS and applications
| including dll's, etc.? I guess I'm still glad I'm not a programmer. What
| a mess.
|
| Susan
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[Susan]

Hi Susan,

I use RegScrubXP once every three months, and have not to this point (2 years on one machine and one year on the other) needed to clean install. The only thing I have against RegScrubXP is that it is slow (0045hrs to 0100hrs).

Why such a long time--do you know? I bet you use it one machine at a time?

Interesting...I'll check it out. Anyone else have comments on jv16 Power
Tools, RegScrubXP, or any others?

Thanks.

Susan

 

[Susan]

I use RegScrubXP once every three months, and have not to this point (2 years on one machine and one year on the other) needed to clean install.

I couldn't wait and gave RegScrubXP a try. Made a reg backup first.

Also noticed that the author acknowledges that M$ RegClean gets some M$
product things that RegScrubXP will miss. Is this because of proprietary
hooks (if that is the correct way to describe whatever I'm trying to
describe) that M$ has knowledge of that RegScrubXP and jv16 Power Tools and
the like don't? I'll look for RegClean. I haven't used it in a long time
now.

Wow! You have huge computers Joseph if RegScrubXP takes you hours on end.
I finished up my pretty bare bones desktop in less then a minute and it
went faster then jv16 even--I have no complaints so far.

Question...Regarding the problem that originally started me on this clean
the registry problem...the bogus user name I used when I last installed XP
is still listed in several registry sections in numerous path names (such
as C:\Documents and Settings\ when I installed various things. Now I know
it may be really vain but if I wanted could I edit out the bogus name and
use my user name instead in those situations?

Thanks.

Susan

 

[C.Joseph Drayton]

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Hash: SHA1

Hi Susan,

I'm not sure why it takes s long to scan my machine. I can image the drive using Drive Image in 0024hrs. My guess is that I just
collect a lot of junk in the registry. So many programs do not un-install themselves very well.

Ciao . . . C.Joseph

That which a man buys too cheaply . . .
~ He esteems too lightly

Susan wrote:
| Also noticed that the author acknowledges that M$ RegClean gets some M$
| product things that RegScrubXP will miss. Is this because of proprietary
| hooks (if that is the correct way to describe whatever I'm trying to
| describe) that M$ has knowledge of that RegScrubXP and jv16 Power Tools and
| the like don't? I'll look for RegClean. I haven't used it in a long time
| now.
|
| Wow! You have huge computers Joseph if RegScrubXP takes you hours on end.
| I finished up my pretty bare bones desktop in less then a minute and it
| went faster then jv16 even--I have no complaints so far.
|
| Question...Regarding the problem that originally started me on this clean
| the registry problem...the bogus user name I used when I last installed XP
| is still listed in several registry sections in numerous path names (such
| as C:\Documents and Settings\ when I installed various things. Now I know
| it may be really vain but if I wanted could I edit out the bogus name and
| use my user name instead in those situations?
|
| Thanks.
|
| Susan
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[peter]

I use a program called "regCleaner"
its not fancy but it works without screwing up XP
peter

 

[peter]

If your 'Bogus" name is no longer in use any registry settings that refer to
them are obsolete and may be removed.....BUT not changed to your new user
name.Those same stetings should already be listed under your new user name and
you would just be duplicating.I am surprised that they were not removed with
RegScrubXP
peter
on one machine and one year on the other) needed to clean install.

 

[Susan]

If your 'Bogus" name is no longer in use any registry settings that refer to
them are obsolete and may be removed.....BUT not changed to your new user
name.Those same settings should already be listed under your new user name and
you would just be duplicating.I am surprised that they were not removed with
RegScrubXP
peter

The only references to the bogus name were in file paths where I, logged on
using my bogus name added some programs--I think in an Install or
Installation Key. Paths like C:\Documents and Settings\{bogus
name}\subfolder name\file name. That sort of thing. I think they were
left because they are just records of what was installed by what logged
user. I didn't see any duplicates so I replaced all the bogus names with
Susan except for two or three which for some reason, when I selected
Modify, would not present the entry to edit. Well it was there but it was
empty. So I left those last ones alone. I'm in the middle of some Doom 3
on that computer or I would post the exact Key.

Susan