Changed User name but not Admin name

[Manny]

Hi guys

 

A little while ago our hard drive failed and was replaced. The guys in the shop very kindly loaded up all the operating system etc so the pc was as good as new; except that when I got it home I found they had put my own name as a User Name (and spelt it wrong!). We would never use our name anyway, so this needs to be changed (and the wrong spelling is just annoying).

 

We only have the one User account (the admin account) and I manged to change the name displayed to simply Main User, but still this other name remains on the folder in the Documents and Settings folder, and when I try to change it, it says it's a Windows System Folder and cannot be changed.

 

I think one way round this would be to create a new account from scratch, and try to copy everything over; but this seems like a big job and we would prefer to just change this name.

 

Can this be done please?

 

Thanks guys

 

:confused:

[maynardvdm]

Hi

 

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help.

 

Have a look here An error message informs you that you cannot move or rename the Documents and Settings folder

[Tootech]

I think one way round this would be to create a new account from scratch

 

I agree - it is the easiest way to do it. Create a new account and copy all of your data over to the new account.

 

If you use Outlook Express for your email, there is a fairly easy way to move it over to a new account - let us know if you need help with it.

 

When you are finished, delete the old account.

[BeeCeeBee]

I think one way round this would be to create a new account from scratch, and try to copy everything over; but this seems like a big job and we would prefer to just change this name.

About 10 minutes work. Go to your control panel (Users) and open a new account. Name it and make it a computer administrator. Log out and log into the old account. Open my computer and open the shared documents folder. Leave it open and then open "my Documents" move the contents (not the folder itself) of my documents into shared documents file. Do the same with any documents or files that may not be in My Docs (on the desktop for example)

 

Log out and log back into the new account. Now do the exact reverse. Move the contents of the shared documents folder into "my documents." When you are sure that the new account is how you want it go back to control panel and delete the old account. Done!

[Manny]

Hi guys

 

Thank you. I have the OS Express store folder in My Docs anyway, so following the instrcutions you gave should be easy, and I see why it is not as scary as I thought. (I imagine all the antivrius / firewall settings will be taken over too - and the desktop is only shortcuts).

 

Thanks again.

 

:)

[BeeCeeBee]

You should have no problem with any programs or settings unless you limited them to the current user which is unlikely.

[Tootech]

Thats great!

 

If you want to move over the Outlook Express account(s) without typing them in again - follow these instructions..

 

Open Outlook Express, go to Tools>Accounts>Mail.

 

Select an account and click Export.

 

Select a location - I often use Desktop, then save the file.

 

That will save your email address, password, server settings, and account settings to a .iaf file (Internet Account File).

 

Do that for each email account listed.

 

You can copy over the .iaf files to your new account and import the settings again.

 

Job Done.

[Manny]

Thanks again. :)

 

I will come back to this page and follow the directions to the letter. Thanks again. Great stuff. :)

[Manny]

Hi guys

 

Thanks again for your help. I think i'm there.

 

It was only once I'd finished that I found I had access to the different users' windows folders from either account, and that I did not need to go logging in and out of each account, in and out of the shared folder, copying the files over each time. Oh well, now I am that bit wiser. :)

 

I have left the old user there just in case something goes wrong, but so far so good.

 

Thanks again guys.