Windows XP Registration

[Guest]

Hi. I was wondering is there a way I can change the name of the person that
Windows is registered to? I've already changed the user name, I want to
change the registered name. This is what I mean, if I were to go to
C:\Documents and Settings\<name here>, I'd like my name there. The computer
I want to change it on was a gift and I just want it to be in my name. Is it
a small fix by changing a registry value? Your feedback will be greatly
appreciated, thanks.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Hi. I was wondering is there a way I can change the name of the
person that Windows is registered to? I've already changed the user
name, I want to change the registered name. This is what I mean, if
I were to go to C:\Documents and Settings\<name here>, I'd like my
name there. The computer I want to change it on was a gift and I
just want it to be in my name. Is it a small fix by changing a
registry value?

If I acquired 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.

 

[Rock]

Hi. I was wondering is there a way I can change the name of the person
that
Windows is registered to? I've already changed the user name, I want to
change the registered name. This is what I mean, if I were to go to
C:\Documents and Settings\<name here>, I'd like my name there. The
computer
I want to change it on was a gift and I just want it to be in my name. Is
it
a small fix by changing a registry value? Your feedback will be greatly
appreciated, thanks.

Edit the registry. Start | Run | Regedit | Ok

Navigate to and edit these entries.

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\RegisteredOwner

and:

HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\Current Version\RegisteredOrganization

Or use the utility on Doug Knox' site to do it for you.
http://www.dougknox.com/
Win XP Utilities
Change Owner and Organization

 

[Malke]

Hi. I was wondering is there a way I can change the name of the
person that
Windows is registered to? I've already changed the user name, I want
to
change the registered name. This is what I mean, if I were to go to
C:\Documents and Settings\<name here>, I'd like my name there. The
computer
I want to change it on was a gift and I just want it to be in my name.
Is it
a small fix by changing a registry value? Your feedback will be
greatly appreciated, thanks.

That is not the registered owner. That is a user account. You can't just
change the name of a user account. Go to the User Accounts applet in
Control Panel and create a new user account for yourself. Delete the
unwanted user account from there.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP -
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

To change the registered owner:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_change_owner.htm

Malke

 

[Patti MacLeod]

Hi CybermatriX,

In order for the new name to be registered in the Documents and Settings
folder, you will need to create a new account bearing the preferred name (if
you previously used "Change my name" in User Accounts applet to change the
current account to the preferred name, change it to something other than
what you now want it to be). After creating the new account, you can copy
the data from the old account into the new account you created. Follow the
instructions in this MSKB article:

How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151/en-us



Regards,

 

[MJJ]

Use the Doug Know utility mentioned above - have used it, and it works
fine

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Hi. I was wondering is there a way I can change the name of the person that
Windows is registered to? I've already changed the user name, I want to
change the registered name. This is what I mean, if I were to go to
C:\Documents and Settings\<name here>, I'd like my name there. The computer
I want to change it on was a gift and I just want it to be in my name. Is it
a small fix by changing a registry value? Your feedback will be greatly
appreciated, thanks.

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 definitely 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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[Guest]

The computer has been from the start. My dad bought it made it look like it
was his and suprised me by saying its for me right after I finished setting
it up and registering it in his name.

And thanx for your help and thanx for everyone else's reply on how to change
the registered owner.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

The computer has been from the start. My dad bought it made it look
like it was his and suprised me by saying its for me right after I
finished setting it up and registering it in his name.

OK, then I misunderstood.

And thanx for your help and thanx for everyone else's reply on how to
change the registered owner.

You're welcome, but as Malke and Patti MacLeod pointed out, I misunderstood
your question, which wasn't about how to change registered owner, but a User
Account. You need to follow their directions.