how to change da acoount name of windows

[Roman]

Hi people,

how can I change my account name of Windows? I mean the folder, which is in Documents and Settings. I want to change the name of this folder. I already have tried to change it, but I always get the answer that I can't do it. I think it's because Windows wouldn't work correctly anymore. I can't believe, that it ain't possible! Does anybody have an idea how to fool Windows and change the account name? :D (by the way, I don't want to reinstall Windows)

[Alan2273]

If you are trying to change a folder name, have you tried right clicking the file and left click rename.

[cozofdeath]

Three things are holding you back as far as I can tell.

• The folder is in use.
  
• The folder path is in the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList" registry key. Which is what gives you the "%USERNAME% is a Windows system folder and is required..." error.
  
• You will probably have to change all registry values with the corrected name?
  

To get around the first. Use the recovery cd/live cd or login as another Administrator. This will eliminate access denied errors.

To get around the second. You still must be logged in as another administrator. Open regedit and change the value ProfileImagePath in the above registry key to what you want the folder name to be. Once that is done you should be able to copy everything from the original folder to the newly named folder.

To get around the third. If you experience problems or cannot boot into that account it may be because every value in the registry referring to that folder must be changed to the new name. You will also have to change the environment variable %USERPROFILE%.

Sorry I don't believe there is an easy way. This is just what I think might work. I haven't tried it mostly because I want my computer to boot. But in trying some basic things this is what I've found.

[Roman]

Thanky you it works!

I logged in in a different account(safe mode) and only then, I could rename the folder. Thanks!

[Scarecrow Man]

Just for reference; If you use the User Accounts in control panel to change the user name, it just changes the display name, not the profile name.

That is - it changes what your Log In is displayed as and your name on the start menu. But when you navigate to C:\Documents and Settings\ the user name is the same as it was before the change.

[Coreper]

what i would do is make a new account [with the same rights] with the desired name

then transfer all needed files from the old account to the new one

then remove the old account

[Scarecrow Man]

what i would do is make a new account [with the same rights] with the desired name

then transfer all needed files from the old account to the new one

then remove the old account

Good idea Coreper.

And with the File and Settings Transfer Wizard, it will feel like you never left your old workspace.

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechn...y/mgrtfset.mspx

[cozofdeath]

I logged in in a different account(safe mode) and only then, I could rename the folder. Thanks!

I think your going to have to change the rest of the stuff I mentioned as well or you will run into problems in the future. What you did was just change the folder name. Windows is still going to be looking for that folder not the new one. So you probably did nothing because if it still has the same name in the registry the folder will be recreated. Its a shell folder. Its not the same as any other folder. It has ties to the operating system. Coreper and Scarecrow Man probably have a safer method.

[Roman]

The idea of Coreper was REEAALY helpful! Thank you so much! I already have tried that out. And it has worked!

I have to say that this forum here is the best way to get a computer specialist ;)