Guest David Schwartz Posted September 27, 2008 Posted September 27, 2008 My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use anymore since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings that say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see it in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer? It is running XP -- David Schwartz Commack, NY
Guest Richard in AZ Posted September 27, 2008 Posted September 27, 2008 Re: My son gave me his computer "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote in message news:48dd95cf$0$5652$607ed4bc@cv.net... | My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use anymore | since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings that | say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's | Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see it | in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer? | It is running XP | -- | David Schwartz | Commack, NY | You need to go to the control panel, User Accounts) and create a new user account (yourself) and make your account have administrative privilege. Then restart the computer and go to the True Admistrator Account (If you have Windows XP Home Edition you will have to start in the "Safe Mode" to see this Administrator Account.) When you are operating as this 3rd Party User, you can go back to the Control Panel, User Accounts, and delete your Brian's account. You will have to decide if you want to keep his files. He should have made copies of these himself. When you next restart you computer, you will be the only user and you will have folders with your name. Note: If you don't already know, tap the F8 key as the computer is first starting to get the option to go to the "Safe Mode".
Guest David Schwartz Posted September 27, 2008 Posted September 27, 2008 Re: My son gave me his computer Thanks, but how ridiculously complicated! Dave "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message news:ux0TwgEIJHA.4324@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > > "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote in message > news:48dd95cf$0$5652$607ed4bc@cv.net... > | My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use > anymore > | since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings > that > | say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's > | Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see > it > | in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer? > | It is running XP > | -- > | David Schwartz > | Commack, NY > | > You need to go to the control panel, User Accounts) and create a new user > account (yourself) and > make your account have administrative privilege. > Then restart the computer and go to the True Admistrator Account > (If you have Windows XP Home Edition you will have to start in the "Safe > Mode" to see this > Administrator Account.) > When you are operating as this 3rd Party User, you can go back to the > Control Panel, User Accounts, > and delete your Brian's account. You will have to decide if you want to > keep his files. He should > have made copies of these himself. > When you next restart you computer, you will be the only user and you will > have folders with your > name. > > Note: If you don't already know, tap the F8 key as the computer is first > starting to get the option > to go to the "Safe Mode". > >
Guest Richard in AZ Posted September 27, 2008 Posted September 27, 2008 Re: My son gave me his computer No where in the book of life does it say it will be easy. "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote in message news:48dda458$0$5658$607ed4bc@cv.net... | Thanks, but how ridiculously complicated! | Dave | | | "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message | news:ux0TwgEIJHA.4324@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... | > | > "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote in message | > news:48dd95cf$0$5652$607ed4bc@cv.net... | > | My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use | > anymore | > | since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings | > that | > | say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's | > | Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see | > it | > | in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer? | > | It is running XP | > | -- | > | David Schwartz | > | Commack, NY | > | | > You need to go to the control panel, User Accounts) and create a new user | > account (yourself) and | > make your account have administrative privilege. | > Then restart the computer and go to the True Admistrator Account | > (If you have Windows XP Home Edition you will have to start in the "Safe | > Mode" to see this | > Administrator Account.) | > When you are operating as this 3rd Party User, you can go back to the | > Control Panel, User Accounts, | > and delete your Brian's account. You will have to decide if you want to | > keep his files. He should | > have made copies of these himself. | > When you next restart you computer, you will be the only user and you will | > have folders with your | > name. | > | > Note: If you don't already know, tap the F8 key as the computer is first | > starting to get the option | > to go to the "Safe Mode". | > | > | |
Guest Xandros Posted September 27, 2008 Posted September 27, 2008 Re: My son gave me his computer The alternative is to reformat and do a fresh install of XP supplying your information. -- Xandros "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote in message news:48dda458$0$5658$607ed4bc@cv.net... > Thanks, but how ridiculously complicated! > Dave > > > "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message > news:ux0TwgEIJHA.4324@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> >> "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote in message >> news:48dd95cf$0$5652$607ed4bc@cv.net... >> | My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use >> anymore >> | since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings >> that >> | say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's >> | Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see >> it >> | in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer? >> | It is running XP >> | -- >> | David Schwartz >> | Commack, NY >> | >> You need to go to the control panel, User Accounts) and create a new user >> account (yourself) and >> make your account have administrative privilege. >> Then restart the computer and go to the True Admistrator Account >> (If you have Windows XP Home Edition you will have to start in the "Safe >> Mode" to see this >> Administrator Account.) >> When you are operating as this 3rd Party User, you can go back to the >> Control Panel, User Accounts, >> and delete your Brian's account. You will have to decide if you want to >> keep his files. He should >> have made copies of these himself. >> When you next restart you computer, you will be the only user and you >> will have folders with your >> name. >> >> Note: If you don't already know, tap the F8 key as the computer is first >> starting to get the option >> to go to the "Safe Mode". >> >> > >
Guest Onsokumaru Posted September 27, 2008 Posted September 27, 2008 Re: My son gave me his computer No, I think you are just not very bright. You got a free computer and need to take about 5 steps to make a change. If it's too complicated pay someone to do it for you. "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote in message news:48dda458$0$5658$607ed4bc@cv.net... > Thanks, but how ridiculously complicated! > Dave > > > "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message > news:ux0TwgEIJHA.4324@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> >> "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote in message >> news:48dd95cf$0$5652$607ed4bc@cv.net... >> | My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use >> anymore >> | since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings >> that >> | say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's >> | Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see >> it >> | in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer? >> | It is running XP >> | -- >> | David Schwartz >> | Commack, NY >> | >> You need to go to the control panel, User Accounts) and create a new user >> account (yourself) and >> make your account have administrative privilege. >> Then restart the computer and go to the True Admistrator Account >> (If you have Windows XP Home Edition you will have to start in the "Safe >> Mode" to see this >> Administrator Account.) >> When you are operating as this 3rd Party User, you can go back to the >> Control Panel, User Accounts, >> and delete your Brian's account. You will have to decide if you want to >> keep his files. He should >> have made copies of these himself. >> When you next restart you computer, you will be the only user and you >> will have folders with your >> name. >> >> Note: If you don't already know, tap the F8 key as the computer is first >> starting to get the option >> to go to the "Safe Mode". >> >> > >
Guest Jason Posted September 27, 2008 Posted September 27, 2008 Re: My son gave me his computer It's not that complicated. "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message news:%23dJ1JwFIJHA.1088@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl... > No where in the book of life does it say it will be easy. > > "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote in message > news:48dda458$0$5658$607ed4bc@cv.net... > | Thanks, but how ridiculously complicated! > | Dave > | > | > | "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message > | news:ux0TwgEIJHA.4324@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > | > > | > "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote in message > | > news:48dd95cf$0$5652$607ed4bc@cv.net... > | > | My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use > | > anymore > | > | since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and > Settings > | > that > | > | say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's > | > | Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I > see > | > it > | > | in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer? > | > | It is running XP > | > | -- > | > | David Schwartz > | > | Commack, NY > | > | > | > You need to go to the control panel, User Accounts) and create a new > user > | > account (yourself) and > | > make your account have administrative privilege. > | > Then restart the computer and go to the True Admistrator Account > | > (If you have Windows XP Home Edition you will have to start in the > "Safe > | > Mode" to see this > | > Administrator Account.) > | > When you are operating as this 3rd Party User, you can go back to the > | > Control Panel, User Accounts, > | > and delete your Brian's account. You will have to decide if you want > to > | > keep his files. He should > | > have made copies of these himself. > | > When you next restart you computer, you will be the only user and you > will > | > have folders with your > | > name. > | > > | > Note: If you don't already know, tap the F8 key as the computer is > first > | > starting to get the option > | > to go to the "Safe Mode". > | > > | > > | > | > >
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted September 27, 2008 Posted September 27, 2008 Re: My son gave me his computer David Schwartz wrote: > My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use anymore > since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings that > say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's > Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see it > in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer? > It is running XP 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, without risky registry editing, 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. Once you've logged in using this new account (and transfered any data you need to preserve, 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 Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot
Guest Pete Angelakos Posted September 28, 2008 Posted September 28, 2008 Re: My son gave me his computer "Richard in AZ" <me@mailinator.com> wrote in message news:ux0TwgEIJHA.4324@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > > "David Schwartz" <who4ever@optonline.net> wrote in message > news:48dd95cf$0$5652$607ed4bc@cv.net... > | My computer died, and my son gave me his desktop that he doesn't use > anymore > | since he got a laptop. How do I get rid of the Documents and Settings > that > | say Brian (his name) and establish files for me? Same with Brian's > | Documents. How do I eliminate his name and files from everywhere I see > it > | in one fell swoop and establish me as the owner of the computer? > | It is running XP > | -- > | David Schwartz > | Commack, NY > | > You need to go to the control panel, User Accounts) and create a new user > account (yourself) and > make your account have administrative privilege. > Then restart the computer and go to the True Admistrator Account > (If you have Windows XP Home Edition you will have to start in the "Safe > Mode" to see this > Administrator Account.) > When you are operating as this 3rd Party User, you can go back to the > Control Panel, User Accounts, > and delete your Brian's account. You will have to decide if you want to > keep his files. He should > have made copies of these himself. > When you next restart you computer, you will be the only user and you will > have folders with your > name. > > Note: If you don't already know, tap the F8 key as the computer is first > starting to get the option > to go to the "Safe Mode". > > Will the programs installed by Brian be accessible to the new account?
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