User Profile Folder - Change User Account Folder Name

Brink,

Thank you! It seemed to work without a hitch. I wanted to add, that while still in the newly created account (the one used to make the changes to the built-in admin account), I went to: Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Administrative Tools\, launched Local Security Policy, and then browsed to Local Policies\Security Options and changed the built-in admin name there IN ADDITION to the instructions you provided.

Now, it appears as though even the security permissions have been updated with the name change. I no longer see any instance of the old "Administrator" name which was used by default for the built-in admin account!

Can you verify that this was alright to do? I may have found a step that allows for complete name change of the built-in admin account, with no instances of the old name remaining! Perhaps this step could be added to the tutorial you showed me as an optional final step?

adi009 said:

Hi,
I tried following this tutorial, but when I got to Step 7 (renaming the user account folder from a different user account with administrator settings) an error message comes up saying that the action can't be completed because the folder or a file in it is open in another program. I restarted the computer and logged on directly into the new account, but I still get the same message.

Same problem here. Pulled hair, disconnected LAN, etc. No go. I finally booted to Safe Mode and was able to change the name with no problems. Good thing for me because this is a computer that I ordered for my wife. BUT, the builder put my name in as the owner/administrator. She was upset that her name wasn't listed as the owner/administrator.

Thanks for the tutorial, Jim

Here is another update. I notice that the old user name is still shown in a few places. For instance, if I open Task Manager, the old user name is still shown as the "User Name".

Thanks for any additional help, Jim

Hi all,

Don't know if this thread is still active, but would really appreciate some help!

I initially changed the name of my Admin account through the Start Menu control panel shortcut.

Then, I went through registry editor and (I think) changed the right file (from the old username to the new one)

However, I'm now locked out of the system - every time I try to log on, I get a message along the lines of 'Profile manager failed login, access denied'

What have I done wrong?!

If necessary/easier, I can restore my system: I created a backup and system image a few hours before.

Thanks in advance

Hi Brink,

Thanks for the reply!

I tried restoring the system from an image: it was successful, except the issue doesn't seem to be totally sorted - I could log on to the built-in administrator account, but seemingly only with a temp profile.

I've created a new admin user, and am currently copying all the original user's files across (I was told to avoid copying the ntuser.dat and ntuser.dat.log and ntuser.ini files, but they didn't seem to be there; that's possibly part of the problem?)

I'll give this a go and see if the problem will be sorted, of not, I figure I damn always do another system restore!

But one Q: am I likely to have problems given I'm creating the new user account from a 'temp' profile?

Thanks again Shawn,

Angus