Change of owners name in XP?

[dvndave]

Hi folks,

Anyone know if it's possible to change the name that you enter when first setting-up xp home edition? I stupidly put my actual name, not realising that this is broadcast to anyone who looks at the root directory! I understand that it's easilly done by re-installing the system but I've got oodles of stuff on the disc. I have obtained a prog called change owners name but that just changed the user name.

Any help would be appreciated

many thanks


Dave

 

[PJH]

Hi folks,

Anyone know if it's possible to change the name that you enter when first setting-up xp home edition? I stupidly put my actual name, not realising that this is broadcast to anyone who looks at the root directory! I understand that it's easilly done by re-installing the system but I've got oodles of stuff on the disc. I have obtained a prog called change owners name but that just changed the user name.

Any help would be appreciated

many thanks


Dave

Dave, try this MS support link
I think the first item in the search results will answer your questions.

 

[dvndave]

Many thanks PJH, I tried the instructions as detailed in the link you kindly gave me, however, when I got to the last menu it displayed current user, which I changed, but there wasn't a title. . .Registered owner !

Any further suggestions?

Thanks for your help so far.


Dave

 

[andy_k]

open the registry editor and expand the trees as explained in the previous link until you have opened the Windows NT folder, click on the current version folder (not the arrow beside it) and the registry keys will be displayed in the Right hand window - registered owner should be in there towards the bottom of the list.

HTH

Andy

 

[dvndave]

Thanks Andy did as you suggested and thought sorted! However my full name still appears after local disk/documents and settings/my name/cookies. So my name still appears in all cookies! I can't rename it as it says the windows needs this file.

Am I missing something. (Like a brain!)

Confused of Devon

Thanks for our help.

 

[andy_k]

go to the control panel and click on the "system" icon, that will open up a window with a few flags in it.

Click on "computer name" and that should allow you to change the name that displays in the My Computer display.

Whilst you are in the control panel changing the computers name, even if you don't have a network installed you may consider changing it's network name - this sometimes makes other changes "stick" a little better.

HTH

Andy

 

[dvndave]

Hi Andy


When I go to control panel I don't have a system icon to click on! Is it located through another route?

Thanks for your patience.

Confused of Devon!

 

[andy_k]

hmmmmmmm, that's confusing - are you sure?

every version of Windoze I've seen has this icon and unless it's been left out of XP Home I'd really expect to find it in there, try this.......when you open the control panel, in the top left corner of the screen is there an option to "switch to classic view"? if so click on that and it will show all the icons (right clicking in the window will let you view them in a list format)

If you don't have that option, when you open the control panel click on "performance and maintainance" then you should see the system icon.

HTH

Andy

 

[dvndave]

Hi Andy

Did as you suggested and yes there was the system icon via performance and maintenance. On going into computer name it starts off "your" then a string of numbers followed by/"my offending name! iis it ok to remove these numbers as well? Iv'e left things ,as is, in case I screw it up!

Thanks again

Dave

 

[andy_k]

once you are in the "computer name" section there is a button to change the name, the numbers won't mean anything unless you are on a network so you can change them.

Andy

 

[dvndave]

Hi Andy

Did as you sugested but my name still appears after local disk/documents and settings. I tried via windows explorer to rename it but got message, "this is a windows systems folder and is required for windows to run properly. It cannot be renamed or moved"

So...... I'm obviously doing something daft!


Do hope you have some further sugestions.

Cheers

Dave

 

[Sp!ke]

if your feeling brave, then you can search the registry for each and every instance of your current computer name and change each one to what you want it to be.... You may wish to ghost your machine first before doing this

As for your name still appearing in documents and settings... thats your username not machine name. The easy way to migrate this is to create a new username and then copy old userprofile to the new one under system properties, Advanced, Profiles. This will make sure you retain all the settings. Then make sure you move all the data from My Documents accross from the old user to the new. Once done, you can remove the old user and delete his profile. Easy really.

HTH

 

[dvndave]

Thanks Spike but this is getting too complicated for my little brain I think I'm going to have to reinstall.


I'll leave it a few days in case anyone has any bright ideas then sit in a darkened room with a large scotch and start again!

Thanks everyone for the input.

cheers
Dave

 

[Sp!ke]

LOL...

Here you go then, just what you were after....


Download the ChangeOwnerOrg.zip file and save it to your hard drive. Double-click the ChangeOwnerOrg.zip file and extract the EXE file inside to your hard drive. Double click ChangeOwnerOrg.exe to run the program.

DOWNLOAD HERE

 

[dvndave]

Hi Spike

Many thanks for download I thought . . .that's it ...purfect!!! But it still dosn't change my name in this location,

My computer
Local disk (C
Documents and settings
My name here
Cookies
Desktop
etc
etc

As it's the one just above cookies it goes out to all those folks who use the cookies! If I try to rename it I get the message that this is a system file and cannot be renamed.

Many thanks for your suggestions

Cheers
Dave

 

[andy_k]

have you tried restarting in safe mode? You may be able to rename it then.

Andy

 

[dvndave]

Hi Andy,
how do I do that?

Dave

 

[andy_k]

you need to press the F8 key when windows is starting, getting it just right is the trick, try repeatedly tapping the key as soon as your BIOS has finished the initial startup and before Windows itself begins to load

You'll get a load of options but basically it runs windows in "diagnostic mode" without any of the usual system files allowing certain changes to be made

HTH

Andy