XP - My Documents - wrong users

[Graham]

I have just completed an XP Home installation as well moving files &
settings over newtork from my wife's previous Win98SE machine. This all
went well, but I have found a problem that I probably caused. (maybe by
renaming the users after initial installation?)

I now have two log-ons - One for my wife and one for me - Idea was for me to
be the administrator so she would be more secure on-line. I now have her
desktop populated with all her links and have her programs installed.
Everything works, but there is a small problem.

If I right click on My Documents (or My Music or My Pictures) on HER
desktop, the path is to MY "My Documents" folder in Documents & Settings.
The reverse is true is I log on - all links are to HER folders.

I thought I would as administrator, be able to rename these folders, but it
would not let me.

What I would like to do, is gain access to all folders and then rename them
properly and if neccessary, repopulate them with the correct files.

I could probably just rename the users, but if I did that, the wrong desktop
would come up. I tried making us both administrators but still could not
alter the files.

Any suggestions?

Graham

 

[rfj1001]

One way would be to create two new users with the names and access you want,
copy all the documents over to the correct users then delete the old users
from the control panel.

 

[Graham]

"rfj1001" wrote

One way would be to create two new users with the names and access you want,
copy all the documents over to the correct users then delete the old users
from the control panel.

I tried that but it seems that I cannot access one of the original accounts.
And then, there is the Desktop - It would be barebones for the new user -
can I copy that over too?

Maybe I should delete all but my wife's account, but save the files from my
account on the desktop? Then we should have the Desktop intact and maybe
then I will be able to copy the data that ended up in my My Documents?

Graham

 

[NewScience]

Close all open Windows Explorer Windows prior to this:

Open the registry and check the following registry key (when logged on as
you):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

and ensure that all paths reflect: %USERPROFILE%\......

Personal is your My Documents registry key ... make sure that points to the
correct place.
If not, change it to reflect: %USERPROFILE%\My Documents with type
REG_EXPAND_SZ

Now you wife's entry probably needs to be changed as well. You may be able
to login as your wife and try the same.

Or you can use the File | Load Hive option in the current session that you
just changed yours:

1. Click on HKEY_USERS keyname (not the '+' ... on the name itself)
2. Click on File | Load Hive...
3. Locate your wife's profile file: C:\Documents and
Settings\[USERNAME]\ntuser.dat
4. Give it a unique keyname to use (Wifee)
6. Open key:
HKEY_USERS\Wifee\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

and modify what needs changed.
7. When completed, click on Wifee key name (not '+' ... the name itself)
8. Click on File | Unload Hive...
9. Click OK

Now all should be changed and you didn't need to reboot to change you wife.

Now reboot to reflect your user changes.

 

[Graham]

Close all open Windows Explorer Windows prior to this:

Open the registry and check the following registry key (when logged on as
you):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

and ensure that all paths reflect: %USERPROFILE%\......

Personal is your My Documents registry key ... make sure that points to the
correct place.
If not, change it to reflect: %USERPROFILE%\My Documents with type
REG_EXPAND_SZ

Now you wife's entry probably needs to be changed as well. You may be able
to login as your wife and try the same.

Or you can use the File | Load Hive option in the current session that you
just changed yours:

1. Click on HKEY_USERS keyname (not the '+' ... on the name itself)
2. Click on File | Load Hive...
3. Locate your wife's profile file: C:\Documents and
Settings\[USERNAME]\ntuser.dat
4. Give it a unique keyname to use (Wifee)
6. Open key:
HKEY_USERS\Wifee\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

and modify what needs changed.
7. When completed, click on Wifee key name (not '+' ... the name itself)
8. Click on File | Unload Hive...
9. Click OK

Now all should be changed and you didn't need to reboot to change you wife.

Now reboot to reflect your user changes.

I have just completed an XP Home installation as well moving files &
settings over newtork from my wife's previous Win98SE machine. This all
went well, but I have found a problem that I probably caused. (maybe by
renaming the users after initial installation?)

I now have two log-ons - One for my wife and one for me - Idea was for me
to
be the administrator so she would be more secure on-line. I now have her
desktop populated with all her links and have her programs installed.
Everything works, but there is a small problem.

If I right click on My Documents (or My Music or My Pictures) on HER
desktop, the path is to MY "My Documents" folder in Documents & Settings.
The reverse is true is I log on - all links are to HER folders.

I thought I would as administrator, be able to rename these folders, but
it
would not let me.

What I would like to do, is gain access to all folders and then rename
them
properly and if neccessary, repopulate them with the correct files.

I could probably just rename the users, but if I did that, the wrong
desktop
would come up. I tried making us both administrators but still could not
alter the files.

Any suggestions?

Graham

 

[Graham]

Sorry for the previous blank post - must slow down the double-click on the
mouse!

I have not attempted the registry mods yet.

What I did, was log in as my wife JANE (set as administrator) and then
cancel my account and save "my" files on the desktop. I then copied the
relevant files to Jane's My Documents and restarted. Everything now
"appears" to be in the right place and Jane can access her files. I only had
an account for use as administrator, so no loss cancelling my account. There
are now just two accounts - Jane (administrator) and Guest.

I installed Belarc and it still shows that their are two accounts - Guest
plus one that is still in my name (Graham) - So it seems registry must
still have account in my name although log-in is in my wifes name.

So far, I have only noticed one problem that may or may not be caused by
this discrepancy. I tried to delete an empty file folder and it would not
delete, saying it could be in use by other users.

Questions:
- Should I leave well enough alone or should I attempt to correct the "name"
of the installation from Graham to Jane?
- How should I do this (so as not to mess up the installation)?

Thanks,

Graham

Close all open Windows Explorer Windows prior to this:

Open the registry and check the following registry key (when logged on as
you):

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

and ensure that all paths reflect: %USERPROFILE%\......

Personal is your My Documents registry key ... make sure that points to the
correct place.
If not, change it to reflect: %USERPROFILE%\My Documents with type
REG_EXPAND_SZ

Now you wife's entry probably needs to be changed as well. You may be able
to login as your wife and try the same.

Or you can use the File | Load Hive option in the current session that you
just changed yours:

1. Click on HKEY_USERS keyname (not the '+' ... on the name itself)
2. Click on File | Load Hive...
3. Locate your wife's profile file: C:\Documents and
Settings\[USERNAME]\ntuser.dat
4. Give it a unique keyname to use (Wifee)
6. Open key:
HKEY_USERS\Wifee\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User
Shell Folders

and modify what needs changed.
7. When completed, click on Wifee key name (not '+' ... the name itself)
8. Click on File | Unload Hive...
9. Click OK

Now all should be changed and you didn't need to reboot to change you wife.

Now reboot to reflect your user changes.

I have just completed an XP Home installation as well moving files &
settings over newtork from my wife's previous Win98SE machine. This all
went well, but I have found a problem that I probably caused. (maybe by
renaming the users after initial installation?)

I now have two log-ons - One for my wife and one for me - Idea was for me
to
be the administrator so she would be more secure on-line. I now have her
desktop populated with all her links and have her programs installed.
Everything works, but there is a small problem.

If I right click on My Documents (or My Music or My Pictures) on HER
desktop, the path is to MY "My Documents" folder in Documents & Settings.
The reverse is true is I log on - all links are to HER folders.

I thought I would as administrator, be able to rename these folders, but
it
would not let me.

What I would like to do, is gain access to all folders and then rename
them
properly and if neccessary, repopulate them with the correct files.

I could probably just rename the users, but if I did that, the wrong
desktop
would come up. I tried making us both administrators but still could not
alter the files.

Any suggestions?

Graham