Changing User Name in Vista

Hi Guys,

I am looking for some help here. When I first installed Vista Ultimate on my system, I had chosen a specific user name for the main (and only) user account on the system. Since then, I want to give this system as a present to someone else, who wants to maintain the same system settings, desktop, etc. as I had on it. So I just went into the control panel, and changed the name of the primary account to the recipient's name.

This step went well and in explorer, the name was switched. However, under the Users folder in C:\, the original name still exists. Thus, is there any way to change that name, without having to do a clean install, reformat, or delete the entire account and create a new one?

 

In the Start Menu, right click on Computer and select "Manage." Under Local Users and Groups, select "Users." There you can change the name and display name of each user account.

 

McGrady,

Thanks for the advice. I just changed it with the management system. However, the the account's folder name within C:\Users has not changed. Any way to fix that as well?

 

You have to create a new user account with the new name and then copy all profiles and folders into it and then delete the old account.

When you change the user name it only changes the name shown and not the names attached to all of the document and profile folders.

 

Jakpro,

Thanks for the advice. Is this only real way to move it over? It would be a pain to move all the files and settings over. Unless there is any easy way to move settings over as well...

Thanks!

 

How to do the same in Vista Basic?

the menu's are different under Computer Management.

 

I looked a long time to find an easier way and if there is one, I have not found it--yet.

I thought that one might be able to do it in the registry, but there are too many references there.

You should be able to copy and paste the folders from one to the other in the profiles folders. There really is no reason to do it other than satisfaction.

 

I've come to the same conclusion, unfortunately.

 

Thanks to all for the help! I will just create a new account and start transferring the files over.

 

What about a "Files and Settings Transfer wizard", like in XP. That would move the files and settings much quicker than manually copying them over. I'm on Vista Ultimate right now, and though I don't see it, I assume it's either still there or slightly modified.