Member Avatar for twoyorkie

:lol: I purchased a Laptop from a store that had sold it previosly and the first owner had fired up Widows XP and logged his name to it ...
Now everthing goes via C:\documents and settings\Billy>
I want to change this login to another name (cos i'm not Billy )
Please give me the answers you techies out there :rolleyes:
Thank in advance !!!!

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Dani AI

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Quick clarification (because this thread has covered a few different things). There are three separate names involved: the visible account name you see at logon, the Windows "Registered Owner" string, and the actual profile folder under C:\Documents and Settings\Billy. Changing the visible logon name (what and were pointing at) or the Registered Owner (what changed — which, as reported, fixed Office update problems) will not automatically rename the profile folder. Renaming that folder is the risky part and needs care.

Simplest, safest solution (recommended)

  • Create a new local administrator account with the name you want.
  • Log into that new account once so Windows creates the new profile folder.
  • Copy user data from the old profile to the new one (Desktop, My Documents, Favorites, and only the per-user app data you trust). Avoid copying system files like NTUSER.DAT.
  • Fix permissions if needed, test by logging into the new account, then remove the old account when satisfied.
    This avoids low-level registry edits and is reversible.

Advanced method (rename the profile folder)

  • Back up the entire profile and export the registry first.
  • Create and log into a different admin account (do not be logged into the account you will rename).
  • Rename the folder under C:\Documents and Settings\OldName to the new name.
  • In the registry update the profile path entry for the account under:
    HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
Value: ProfileImagePath
  • Reboot, sign in, and correct ownership/permissions on the folder if required.
    Warning: some applications store absolute paths and may break. If unsure, use the new-account migration method or consider a clean OEM/recovery install.

Summary: try the new-admin-and-migrate route first (it’s safest). Use the ProfileList edit only if you understand registry backup, ownership/permissions, and accept the risk.

Recommended Answers

All 17 Replies

Member Avatar for digitalocksmith

To change login names or user specifics in windows XP,
navigate ; Start>Control Panel>User Accounts

commented: many thanks +1
Member Avatar for twoyorkie

Thanks but i think you missunderstood.....Billy....is the windows system folder name ,not the username and according to the screen it says I cannot change this (probably not exactly correct) so thats my problem ??????

Member Avatar for 'Stein

Twoyorkie, to tell ya the truth, I'm suprised the computer store did not already reformatt the computer.

Do you happen to have your current XP discs? Because if so, I would definitely recommmend reformatting.

Member Avatar for twoyorkie

Hi Stein
the machine was supplied with no discs and the OS was intalled as advertised.

Member Avatar for twoyorkie

The thing is ...i only have either dodgey copys or an old ,pre sp2 disc ......bugger !!!

Member Avatar for digitalocksmith

Sorry twoyorkie, the title of your post threw me and i should have read the details better, but it was a late night!!! sigh....

Yeh, if your system was not supplied with an up to date O/S disc, take it back and get the retailer to 'clean install' an XP SP2 O/S.. this should have been part of the deal which he(as stein says) should have done for you already!

Cheers

Member Avatar for twoyorkie

Well sad to say he 's 1500 miles away in uk and i'm stuck in the costa del sol griping !!!! never mind eh!.....thanks for your time though

Member Avatar for 'Stein

an old ,pre sp2 disc

Well I'm pretty sure that would work too--as SP2 can be downloaded online.

So you really have an old XP disc? If so, that's what I'd do...

Member Avatar for gerbil

perhaps you are long since sorted... but not by anything i read here. the windows log-in name..... do you mean the one that is shown if u follow this path :- Start > control panel > system > computer name? And if u do, well, now you know how to change it. Nothing is forever....

Member Avatar for twoyorkie

Thanks gerbil but I meant the registered name in Windows ......hmmmm a bit more complicated as i do not have the origion disk as it was installed on the machine by the manufacturer.......

Member Avatar for Linuxblazer

U can do it by Start>Control panel>users. Create A new user on Your Name and don't forget to assign Administrator privilege to him.It's u after all!!

Member Avatar for gerbil

"the registered name in Windows"!!! so that's what you wish to change... you shoulda said so!! Easy. start>run>type regedit. Go to this key:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\current version [open this by highlighting it]...and there you have it, down near the botom of the list -registered owner! Highlight the name, change the data entry via edit > modify.

Member Avatar for Samashahdi

"the registered name in Windows"!!! so that's what you wish to change... you shoulda said so!! Easy. start>run>type regedit. Go to this key:
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\current version [open this by highlighting it]...and there you have it, down near the botom of the list -registered owner! Highlight the name, change the data entry via edit > modify.

This is a screen cap of my Regedit
I can,t find the key your are refering to.
I tried searching the registry for "registered owner" and didn't have any luck.
Help please

Sam

regedit.JPG 11.25 KB
commented: at last...someone who could help.CHEERS +1
Member Avatar for twoyorkie

This is a screen cap of my Regedit
I can,t find the key your are refering to.
I tried searching the registry for "registered owner" and didn't have any luck.
Help please

Sam

Brilliant ....it take one who knows ......and you did ...fan bloody tastic !!!

Member Avatar for gerbil

samashadi,
u gotta open up those listings.... [HKLM is hivekey local machine..] and i meant you to open the folder "current version" by clicking on the key, not to expand it....but more simply, when in the registry, highlight my computer , then just go up to edit tab > find, type registeredowner, and let it search. [sorry, i put a space in that word in my earlier post...] AND BE CAREFUL IN THERE!!! it is the heart of your puter. well, a fair bit of it....
Twoyorkie... are you sorted now? I got a bit confused by the threads running....

Member Avatar for gerbil

Twoyorkie... are you sorted now? i got a bit confused by the threads in here.... glad to have been of help, anyway.

Samashahdi.... HKLM is hivekey local machine... u gotta open up those folders.... now i also meant for you to open current version [by clicking on it] , and not to merely expand it by clicking the plusbox. Sorry though, in my original post i put a space in the dataword registeredowner. Try searching for that... and BE CAREFUL IN THERE!!!

commented: Much needed info supplied with ease,thanks +1
Member Avatar for twoyorkie

samashadi,
u gotta open up those listings.... [HKLM is hivekey local machine..] and i meant you to open the folder "current version" by clicking on the key, not to expand it....but more simply, when in the registry, highlight my computer , then just go up to edit tab > find, type registeredowner, and let it search. [sorry, i put a space in that word in my earlier post...] AND BE CAREFUL IN THERE!!! it is the heart of your puter. well, a fair bit of it....
Twoyorkie... are you sorted now? I got a bit confused by the threads running....

Many thanks Gerbil..........here's a funny thing though.....now the MS software is now in a new name ..all the updates for MS office that refused to go on the machine loaded with no problems,so thanks to you 2 birds killed with 1 helpfull stone top notch regards Twoyorkie

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