Windows XP professional

[Guest]

Can XP registered owner be changed when you buy someone else's computer? I
just bought a used laptop with software already installed and running. Under
my computer/properties: it shows registered to: previous owner name.

Can I change this? Does it need to be changed?

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Can XP registered owner be changed when you buy someone else's
computer? I just bought a used laptop with software already
installed and running. Under my computer/properties: it shows
registered to: previous owner name.
Can I change this? Does it need to be changed?

If I bought a used computer, the first thing I would do with it would be to
reinstall the operating system cleanly. You have no idea how the computer
has been maintained, what has been installed incorrectly, what is missing,
what viruses and spyware there may be, etc. I wouldn't want to live with
somebody else's mistakes and problems, possibility of kiddie porn, etc., and
I wouldn't recommend that anyone else do either.

But if you just want to change the "Registered to" name, you can do so by
editing HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\RegisteredOwner
with Regedit.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Can XP registered owner be changed when you buy someone else's computer? I
just bought a used laptop with software already installed and running. Under
my computer/properties: it shows registered to: previous owner name.

Can I change this? Does it need to be changed?

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

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

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