User name remove ?

[Ciara]

When the guy built this computer I bought off him he installed Windows 7 and used his name so a file path looks like (eg) C\ James\documents (etc) how can I change this to my name ?, any advice very welcome please

 

[Arc]

Control panel > User Accounts > Change your account name .

 

[Ciara]

Hi Arc , I did do that but I still have the builders name in file paths ?

 

[Arc]

The name of the computer given at the time of installation cannot be changed afterwords (as far as I know) . As far as I know, only a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html can provide the naming option (step 12 in the tutorial) .

I hope some experts like Brink ,Ted (Bare Foot Kid) or Greg (gregrocker) may give you some better advise in this issue .

 

[Ciara]

Thanks Arc, I will be doing a clean install in the next few weeks (I have 32bit and 64bit Microsoft DVDs) so I intend to go up to 64bit and I can put my own name in then

 

[Arc]

Best of luck

 

[Bill2]

Changing the name in user accounts does not not change the directory structure on the hard drive. The only way would be to create a new user, then copy your current profile over and delete the earlier account. Needless to say, you may run into problems of permissions etc. But since you plan to do a clean install anyway, might be fun to try.

 

[Ciara]

Thank you Bill2, I will try that closer to the time I change to 64bit, appreciate your help

 

[marsmimar]

You might be able to change your name through the registry by changing RegisteredOrganization and RegisteredOwner. Navigate to:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion

View attachment 117236

Click on CurrentVersion and in the right pane you should see RegisteredOrganization and RegisteredOwner. You can double-click one of the values to open a dialog box called Edit String. Edit the Value Data box with whatever name you want to use (or leave it blank) and OK you way back out.

View attachment 117237

 

[Ciara]

Thank you marsmimar , is there any risk ? as I can try close to the time I change to 64bit

 

[marsmimar]

Thank you marsmimar , is there any risk ? as I can try close to the time I change to 64bit

The only risk I know of is not spelling a chosen name correctly. :roflmao:
Happened to me because I'm not that great a typist. But I just went back in and corrected my error.

 

[Ciara]

OK thank you for your help

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

You might be able to change your name through the registry by changing RegisteredOrganization and RegisteredOwner. Navigate to:

HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion

View attachment 117236

Click on CurrentVersion and in the right pane you should see RegisteredOrganization and RegisteredOwner. You can double-click one of the values to open a dialog box called Edit String. Edit the Value Data box with whatever name you want to use (or leave it blank) and OK you way back out.

View attachment 117237

Hello Ciara.

He is spot-on with this and it took about 2 minutes, very easy to do.

I named this install wrong.

click to enlarge

​

Here's the end result.

​

Here's proof, this did say "BareFoot" before and this is now, without a restart or log-off.

​

If you're concerned about an error, create a system restore point before you do it.

How to Create a System Restore Point in Windows 7

 

[gregrocker]

You can always change the computer name at Computer>Properties link.

You can also change the Account Name at Control Panel>User Accounts, however it will not actually change the name orginally assigned until you delete the account and create a new one. This is a Windows security precaution.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

I guess you're right Greg, even after a re-boot.

​

 

[gregrocker]

Probably best to wait til the reinstall.

However any time you create a new User Account, wait until all issues are resolved before deleting the old one, then put the old User files on the desktop for awhile until you're sure you got everything.

A key issue needing to be resolved is whether installed programs will run for the new User - a good reason to always install for all Users unless you're restricting certain ones.

 

[Ciara]

Probably best to wait til the reinstall

Yeah I will, thanks guys