The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Changing Profile Name

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Kamin_Majere, Jun 19, 2008.

  1. Kamin_Majere

    Kamin_Majere =][= Ordo Hereticus

    Reputations:
    1,522
    Messages:
    2,680
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Hello,

    I'm selling my old Acer 5920 to a friend and i've cleaned it out, but i'm having problems changine the profile name.

    I've been able to change all of the user names and what not. But i cant change the fact that Kamin_Majere is the profile name.
    (Like Go to START menu - Explore - Users Folder - Kamin_Majere)

    Is there any way to change this with out reinstalling the OS?

    The Computer has Vista Home Premium.

    Any help i can get is appreciated
    Thanks
    K_M
     
    Kamin_Majere, Jun 19, 2008
    #1
  2. Baby Boy

    Baby Boy Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    10
    Messages:
    127
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Try creating a new profile and then deleting the one you've mentioned. Or, you could reinstall Vista.
     
    Baby Boy, Jun 19, 2008
    #2
  3. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

    Reputations:
    3,886
    Messages:
    11,104
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    If you`re selling it, it`s better to format and reinstall, especially if you had sensitive data on it.
     
    eleron911, Jun 19, 2008
    #3
  4. bmwrob

    bmwrob Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    4,591
    Messages:
    2,128
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    I think Baby Boy's advice would work and answers your question, but I'm with eleron when it comes to selling a machine. Personally, I'd DBan the drive and reinstall the OS before selling the machine.
     
    bmwrob, Jun 19, 2008
    #4
  5. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    fwiw--no, you cannot change the profile name where you have described. Windows doesn't actually use the profile name as you see it to track users...it uses a long alpha-numeric string called a guid.

    The guid is hooked to that old profile folder. Renaming it would disconnected the folder from the guid, essentially breaking the profile.

    That's why when you buy an oem installed machine, that folder is always called OWNER even though the profile NAME is created at first start.
     
    gerryf19, Jun 19, 2008
    #5
  6. surfasb

    surfasb Titles Shmm-itles

    Reputations:
    2,637
    Messages:
    6,370
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    205
    Technically, the user folder names are created when the profile is created. that's why when you change your profile name, the user folder names don't change. You will have to manually rename them.
     
    surfasb, Jun 20, 2008
    #6
  7. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

    Reputations:
    2,275
    Messages:
    3,990
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Manually renaming them will break the profile.

    The OWNER folder is created by the system builder oem installation imaging/routine, which is different that a typical install.
     
    gerryf19, Jun 20, 2008
    #7
  8. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

    Reputations:
    4,429
    Messages:
    4,401
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Keep the HDD and sell it with a cheaper HDD or without it ;)
     
    Wirelessman, Jun 20, 2008
    #8
  9. nobscot6

    nobscot6 Wise One

    Reputations:
    419
    Messages:
    1,364
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    i agree w/ those above

    WIPE the drive, then re-install!!!!!!!!!!
     
    nobscot6, Jun 20, 2008
    #9