I recently installed windows 7 professional and by accident I mistyped my computer and user name when it prompted me to type it in. When I had typed the wrong characters in and hit 'Next', it wouldn't let me go back to change it so I was stuck with an
unwanted computer/user name. I managed to change the computer name to the desired word, but I still didn't know how to change my user name.
I went into User Accounts and there was an option to change account name, so I did that.
However, none of my directories changed name, and all the processes in task manager were still running under the same previous user name, which I didn't want it to be.
Is there a way to change the user name of an account so it affects all directories, files, folders, etc. without creating a new account in that name? Or if possible, copy all current account preferences and files to another account with that desired name?
You cannot change a user account by just changing the name. Just changing the name will make a cosmetic change only and not affect the underlying files/folders in the profile.
1. From an account with administrative privileges, go to Control Panel>User Accounts and create the new Standard user account named the way you want and at least one extra Administrator account. Call the latter "CompAdmin" or "Tech" or the like.
2. Log into the new Standard user account once so the profile files/folders are created and then log into CompAdmin.
3. Now go to Control Panel>System>Advanced>User Profiles>Settings
4. You will see where you can copy user accounts. Copy the old account to the new one from there. Use the Browse to select your new account (C:\Users\newaccount).
5. Log into the new correctly named account and make sure all your stuff is there and that it works the way you want. When you are satisfied, you can log out and into CompAdmin and delete the old user account from Control Panel>User Accounts.
If you wish to log into your new, corrected account automatically, do this:
Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]
Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by UAC
Uncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on the desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct password for that user account (if there
is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if there is no password (null). General Recommendations for Setting Up User Accounts
You absolutely do not want to have only one user account. Like XP, Vista and all other modern operating systems, Windows 7 is a multi-user operating system with built-in system accounts such as Administrator, Default, All Users, and Guest. These accounts should
be left alone as they are part of the operating system structure.
You particularly don't want only one user account with administrative privileges on Windows 7 because the built-in Administrator account (normally only used in emergencies) is disabled by default. If you're running as Administrator for your daily work and that
account gets corrupted, things will be Difficult. It isn't impossible to activate the built-in Administrator to rescue things, but it will require third-party tools and working outside the operating system.
The user account that is for your daily work should be a Standard user, with the extra administrative user (call it something like "CompAdmin" or "Tech" or the like) only there for elevation purposes. After you create "CompAdmin", log into it and change your
regular user account to Standard. Then log back into your regular account.
If you want to go directly to the Desktop and skip the Welcome Screen with the icons of user accounts, you can do this by following the instructions written in the first part of this post.
MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
I have followed these steps as far as the settings where, you say, I can copy user accounts. Unfortunately this option is only highlighted for the original default account and is not highlighted for my previous admin account or my 2 new ones. I am running
windows 7 Professional.
Are you logged into a user account that is not the one being copied from and not the one being copied to? If not, this is your problem. You need to be logged into the extra administrative account. You also need to have logged into the new accounts you
made at least once so that the profiles' files/folders are created.
MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
I have EXACTLY the same issue. From a 3rd admin user, the "copy" box is NOT highlighted. I am not logged into any other user. Even tried through "Safe Mode". ONLY "default" can be copied from. ANY advice would be GREATLY appreciated.
Did you log into the new user accounts first to create the profile files/folders? If not, please do that. You cannot copy anything to the new accounts if you haven't logged in once. Otherwise please give some description of your computer, your user accounts,
and what you are trying to do. This thread was started in October and has had two separate posters in it (you are the third). Your issues may not be the same as theirs were even though they may be similar.
MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
I did log into both accounts first. On the intial install it asked me the name of the home computer in addition to the workgroup. Once established it had my last name (as that was the workgroup name) as User. I used easy transfer to bring everything back
after this user was created and it linked that one to the existing name from the "old computer" user name. I just want to return it to that. for example it was "homegroup/firstname" and now it's "homegroup/firstname". I'm sure I just rushed the setup as I
had had 4 failed installs (hung at 62%) on an attempted in place upgrade. Did a custom "clean" to load and used the "easy transfer" flawlessly. Should have done that first. LOL
I did log into the created user accounts, reboots, etc. I do have 4 users (3 including me and one admin). Still the option to "copy" does not appear. I really just want to change the profile name. I still have the easy transfer and full backups but too much
tweaking so far to go back there hopefully. THANKS for your assitance !!!!
You did something wrong and I'm honestly not sure what it was. Since I can't see your computer and I can't figure out what got you where you are, don't bother copying any users. Just make a new user called whatever you want and copy the data over. It will
take you far less time to recreate the settings than it will to untangle the situation. Just make sure you don't have any user accounts with the same name as the computer. IOW, don't have a computer named be "third-wave" and a user account name be "third-wave".
You can see the computer name in the System applet in Control Panel.
I'm very sorry I was unable to help you.
MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
Thanks. How about this. Can I rerun "easy transfer" into the correct name?? Are there "administrator" priviliges inherent in the inital User that would not have migrated? Could that be why the "copy to" isn't available (dulled out)?? Again, it seems sooooo
simple but I've had "corrupted profiles" years and tears ago that took hours to remedy. I don't want to have that on this new install of 7.
Did type this incorrectly. Here's the corrected. Might have confused ya.
I just want to return it to that. for example it was "homegroup/firstname" and now it's "homegroup/lastname".
Say it was the Beatles Homegroup. There were/are John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Copied all files and settings from my Vista Home Pro hardrive. So, let's say I was John. Therefore I was Beatles-Homegroup/John.
I installed win7 home premium and created the initial User of Beatles (thinking it was asking me to name the homegroup) by mistake. So when I ran easy transfer it matched John to Beatles as the USER the problem was created.
So now its Beatles-Homegroup/Beatles. I just want to return it to Beatles-Homegroup/John.
I am VERY interested why i can't access the "copy to" function in the Advanced User Profiles. All hidden files are accessible and it is the administrator.
I can't tell from your post whether you've named your Workgroup "Homegroup" or not or you inadvertently set up a Windows 7 Homegroup. This shouldn't have anything to do with user accounts, but again - I can't see your computer from here. Since I have a mixed
OS network I don't use Homegroup and haven't seen it at clients' yet so can't claim firsthand experience with it.
I would not run the file transfer again. That's just asking for trouble. I'm sorry but I have no idea what has gone wrong with your setup but if it were me I wouldn't waste any more time on it. I'd just create a new user called "John" and copy over the data.
MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
I have the exact same problem as the OP. I followed Malkeleah's instructions to the letter and when i got to the screen where you can copy user accounts the only user account that was able to copy was the default user account.
I have a total of 3 user accounts, all with admin privleges. I then created a user account with the proper name. Then created an account titled CompAdmin with admin privileges. This gave me a total of 5 user accounts 4 with admin priv. plus the standard account
with the proper name. I then changed the account i wished to transfer to a standard account. I logged into the new account so the files would be created. I logged out of that account and logged into the CompAdmin account. The CompAdmin account was the only
logged in account. From the CompAdmin account I got to the screen that allows you to copy accounts (Control Panel>System>Advanced>User Profiles>Settings) and the only account that "copy" would highlight was the default user account.
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