How do I change the windows user name?
 

I'm not talking about the user login by the way. I'm talking about changing the user name located at C:\Documents and Settings. I can't think of any other way other than reinstalling windows and that's too time consuming. I have seperate programs that draw the user name from this subfolder and I want to change it. Appreciate any help.

Create a new user or log in as Administrator, then update the username and rename the folder.

yeah log in with administrative previlages then go start>run>type control userpasswords2

then advance tab, then advance button, then right click on a name.. rename

oh dear... that is a terrible idea... this will not copy or change permissions for any of the files in the profile... it can work if the new user is in the administrators group, but a horrible idea because it breaks spec, badly.


This will change the log on name, but not the directory where the user files are located, this will remain the old directory structure.


The best way to change the name is to copy it to a new account of the desired name. First create a new user of the name desired, log in as the new user, then log out and log in as administrator (or any administrator account that is not the account to be renamed.) right click on my computer, and select properties, click the advanced tab and user profiles button. Select the user account and click "copy to" enter the location of the new profile (C:\Documents and Settings\NEWUSENAME)(you must have already logged in as this new user, other wise it will fail as the directory has not been made yet). then click permitted to use, and enter the new user name, this gives the copy of the account permissions to use the account, and sets all of the permissions properly. log out and log in as the new user.

Make sure that you de encrypt any files encrypted by the previous user. The encryption is based off a unique ID that is not copied and only the previous user can access them..

oops all 3 of us misread the original post. reformatting answer

I know there is a way, but I can’t find it right now, i need some sleep, if you need it now, create a new user that has the correct name that you want in users and settings, copy the profile to it, delete the old user account and rename the new one to the name you want.

~dil

sleep......

Well I can’t find a way to change the path, I’m sure there is a way though. Don’t forget that the windows variables the USERPROFILE variable holds the path to the current user's profile, maybe that will help you rewrite the program.

I just did this on my computer, so I know what you're talking about, unlike the rest of these guys:
1. backup your registry
2. click start, run, "regedit"
3. navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
4. In the right pane, double click RegisteredOrganization.
5. In the Value Data text field in the dialog box, type your new name and click ok
6. Repeat the process for RegisteredOwner

Lucier I don't think he's talking about registered user associated with software installs and such....

Hardknock I'd create a new user with the new name you want. On old user account use the File and Settings Transfer Wizard and logout. Login under the new name and use same app to transfer your stuff back. Then delete the old account and user profile.

I know. this registry hack will change the Name associated with your computer. The name you entered when you first installed windows, the name at the top of your start menu, the name in the address bar for your documents, etc.

Thanks for the tip , but that didn't work. But you're right. I want to change the name you enter when you first install windows. I've been playing with it but I can't find it. There should be a way, espically in windows.

I also created a new account, but how do I copy the old profile to it?

log in as administrator (or any administrator account that is not the account being copied or coppied to) right click on my computer, and select properties, click the advanced tab and user profiles button. Select the user account and click "copy to" enter the location of the new profile (C:\Documents and Settings\NEWUSENAME)(you must have already logged in as this new user, other wise it will fail as the directory has not been made yet). then click permitted to use, and enter the new user name, this gives the copy of the account permissions to use the account, and sets all of the permissions properly. log out and log in as the new user.