User account question

[markvis14]

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

 

[Kari]

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

Kari

 

[WebMattR]

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?

 

[markvis14]

Hi WebMattR,

That is what I was thinking too, but I am afraid certain files wouldn't work so thats why I am asking.

 

[WebMattR]

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.

 

[Brink]

Update for how to rename the user folder name.


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/147545-user-profile-folder-change-user-account-folder-name.html

 

[DeaconFrost]

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.

 

[Brink]

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.

 

[DeaconFrost]

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.

 

[Brink]

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.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I'm sure if it is one of your tutorials, it is safe and well documented. I'm just honestly surprised someone would notice or worry about it.

 

[Brink]

Tru dat, but they sure do.

I just wanted to have a safe way for the ones that do want to change it to easily be able to without having to go through the trouble of having to create a new user account, or risk having user profile errors, permissions issues, or ownership issues.

 

[MacGyvr]

It is also very simple to use Windows Easy Transfer to accomplish this. Just treat one computer as both the "old" and "new" and restore the files to your new name. No, I don't want to hear how some people don't trust it to get everything. We talked that out the last time I posted the same advice. It gets everything.

 

[WebMattR]

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.

You should note at the top that creating a new account, giving it the same privileges you had, and cutting/copying your files is the same effect with a 1/3rd of the effort.