Solved Old computer name won't go away, how to change?

[montejw360]

When I first ran Win 7 I used the name OWNER somewhere, or at least that was the default name that came up and I didn't change it. Now it's embedded everywhere in the Registry and I'd like to change it without doing a re-install. The user folder was originally named "Owner", I have changed that.

Searching the Registry the name "OWNER-PC" comes up all over the place. I have changed the name of the computer, and my user folder name, but the old name "Owner", "OWNER-PC", "Owner-PC", etc. comes up all over the Registry. Is there a key value that all subsequent key values get this value from?

Can I just do a search and replace? I'd create a system restore point and system backup via Windows Home Server before editing the Registry to this extent beforehand.

Cross posted here

http://social.technet.microsoft.com...l/thread/bef04763-1337-4d94-a45d-358a29adb5b2

TIA

 

[kegobeer]

Why do you need to change it? You can change the login name, if you want to see a different name - but I would just leave the folders/registry entries/etc alone.

 

[Lemur]

Agreed - don't touch the registries. You can rename your computer, create a new user if you wish, and - as kegobeer indicated - create a new login. You could also delete a user no longer being used.

 

[montejw360]

@kegobeer, The login name has always been correct. Example, login name is "bob", but the user folder name was "Owner". The name "Owner" was the default name when I first opened Windows 7, and I didn't change it at that time. At that time I also chose "bob" for my login, not "Owner". The computer name was "Owner-PC", I've changed that today also. I just changed the user folder name today, that's fine. But the old name "Owner" keeps coming up as programs are looking for files/data etc. in the old "c:\users\owner" folder that doesn't exist anymore. The name "owner" is all over the Registry as it relates to my user name, which isn't "owner" anymore. That's why I would like to change it.

 

[Brink]

Hello montejw, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Due to the reasons in the blue NOTE box at the top of this tutorial, the only true way to remove the old name of the user account is to create a new administrator account, then delete the old user account while logged in the new one.

Be sure to backup anything that you do not want to lose from the old account first though. For example, shortcuts, Start Menu shortcuts, files inside the user folders, etc....

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[montejw360]

Agreed - don't touch the registries. You can rename your computer, create a new user if you wish, and - as kegobeer indicated - create a new login. You could also delete a user no longer being used.

My login name has always been okay, my user name (isn't that the same as the login name?) has always been okay. The user folder name was what I wanted to change, and did so today. The computer name was also changed, and I think the computer name and user folder name were the same, or at least related somehow, as the user folder was "Owner" and the computer name was "OWNER-PC". The name "Owner" and "OWNER-PC" are all over in the registry.

I installed a new program today and it has subsequently grabbed and used the name "Owner" in at least one of it's key values in the registry. I can't have this old value keep coming up, that's why I want to change it.

Changing Registry values isn't a big deal, done it before. I'm looking for help on where this value originates from so I can change it and not have it come up again.

 

[montejw360]

Hello montejw, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Due to the reasons in the blue NOTE box at the top of this tutorial, the only true way to remove the old name of the user account is to create a new administrator account, then delete the old user account while logged in the new one.

Be sure to backup anything that you do not want to lose from the old account first though. For example, shortcuts, Start Menu shortcuts, files inside the user folders, etc....

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Shawn,
Thanks. I've never had problems with my user name, only the user folder name. I followed your tutorial and changed the user folder name. I don't need to delete the user, as the user name has always been okay.

 

[derekimo]

Have you tried this?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/51293-computer-name-view-change.html

 

[Brink]

Hello montejw, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Due to the reasons in the blue NOTE box at the top of this tutorial, the only true way to remove the old name of the user account is to create a new administrator account, then delete the old user account while logged in the new one.

Be sure to backup anything that you do not want to lose from the old account first though. For example, shortcuts, Start Menu shortcuts, files inside the user folders, etc....

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Shawn,
Thanks. I've never had problems with my user name, only the user folder name. I followed your tutorial and changed the user folder name. I don't need to delete the user, as the user name has always been okay.

As in the blue NOTE box at the top of that tutorial (please read to help clarify this better), even though you changed the user profile folder name (user name), both the old and new user name will always be tied to the user account (user profile). This is why you will still see the old name "OWNER" and "OWNER-PC" referenced in the registry and security settings.

 

[montejw360]

Have you tried this?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/51293-computer-name-view-change.html

Already did that. The old name "Owner" still comes up, for example here, in the User Profiles list.

 

[montejw360]

Hello montejw, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Due to the reasons in the blue NOTE box at the top of this tutorial, the only true way to remove the old name of the user account is to create a new administrator account, then delete the old user account while logged in the new one.

Be sure to backup anything that you do not want to lose from the old account first though. For example, shortcuts, Start Menu shortcuts, files inside the user folders, etc....

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Shawn,
Thanks. I've never had problems with my user name, only the user folder name. I followed your tutorial and changed the user folder name. I don't need to delete the user, as the user name has always been okay.

As in the blue NOTE box at the top of that tutorial (please read to help clarify this better), even though you changed the user profile folder name (user name), both the old and new user name will always be tied to the user account (user profile). This is why you will still see the old name "OWNER" and "OWNER-PC" referenced in the registry and security settings.

Hmm. I guess I'm stuck with creating a new user account and deleting the one I use now. I just have to transfer/copy all settings, programs, etc. to the new account. Is that correct?

thanks.

 

[Brink]

Just any files that you want in the old accounts user folders, and any shortcuts from the old account to the new one. The settings will have to be manually changed again in the new account.