User account question

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  1. Posts : 82
    Windows 7 64 Bit
       #1

    User account question


    Hello,

    I have no idea where to put this question so I just put it here.

    I recently changed my name I log in with on Windows 7, but my internal name (the path) is still showing the old one.
    Could anyone tell me how to change that? Also would it cause my programs not to work anymore if I simply renamed it?

    Thanks in advance :)
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  2. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #2

    You can not rename the user folder, at least without some extensive registry editing. Here's something for you to read.

    Kari
    Last edited by Kari; 11 Feb 2011 at 18:18.
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  3. Posts : 471
    W7 Professional x64
       #3

    Why not simply change the name on your account back to what it previously was, create a new account with your new name, and then import you files?
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  4. Posts : 82
    Windows 7 64 Bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hi WebMattR,

    That is what I was thinking too, but I am afraid certain files wouldn't work so thats why I am asking.
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  5. Posts : 471
    W7 Professional x64
       #5

    Well, if you've already changed your name, how would changing it back be any different? The folder mappings themselves would technically be the same, since they never changed.
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  6. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #6

    Update for how to rename the user folder name. :)


    User Profile Folder - Change User Account Folder Name
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  7. Posts : 5,795
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #7

    Why does it matter what a folder is named on your computer that you shouldn't be accessing or messing with anyway? If you changed the display, that's all that should matter.

    If you must change, then take this as a good reason why you should be using a data drive and not the "my folders". If you needed to create a new account and move to it, you won't have to deal with permissions issues or the need to take ownership of your own files.
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  8. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #8

    DeaconFrost said:
    Why does it matter what a folder is named on your computer that you shouldn't be accessing or messing with anyway? If you changed the display, that's all that should matter.

    If you must change, then take this as a good reason why you should be using a data drive and not the "my folders". If you needed to create a new account and move to it, you won't have to deal with permissions issues or the need to take ownership of your own files.
    Some people would prefer to have their user folder name match with their changed user account name.


    Using the method at the tutorial I posted above, you will get this without having to take ownership of your own files, or having to move or copy any files. Plus, you will still retain the account's permissions.

    If you created a new account instead, you would have to manually copy all of the contents of the old user account's C:\Users\(user-name) folders (including hidden AppData folder) into the corresponding new account's C:\Users\(user-name) folder. After everything checks out ok, you could then delete the old user account while logged in the new user account. Since this is a new user account, none of the old account's permissions would be applied to the new user account.
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  9. Posts : 5,795
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #9

    Brink said:
    Some people would prefer to have their user folder name match with their changed user account name.
    If people were following good operating practices and obeying the security of Windows 7, they'd never be accessing their user folder. If mine was renamed something other than my username, I'd never notice. In fact, I don't ever really touch my C drive. Apps get installed there, yes, but other than recopying my Outlook signature files and the .nk2 file, I don't ever access the C drive as a whole. Even if I did use the Documents folder, I still would have no need to access that folder. It seems like something a person would worry about for no reason, and messing with it could easily corrupt a user account. If the system is working fine, I wouldn't take the chance.

    I'm not disagreeing with your link and saying it is impossible. Maybe I'm jaded because I've had to repair too many systems where the user wanted to change something that didn't really affect their usage. Me personally, I wouldn't worry about it or even notice that it was different.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #10

    To each their own mate, but if one wanted, then the method I used in the tutorial above would be a completely safe way to do it. I wouldn't make a tutorial on it if it wasn't. We do get a lot of people asking about how to here though.
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