My son gave me his computer

[Guest David Schwartz]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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?