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Thread: Change original user's name on folder under Documents and Settings

  1. #1
    Patty Guest

    Change original user's name on folder under Documents and Settings

    Hi,

    I bought a slightly used computer which is working just fine, but it annoys
    me that I can't get some of the folders that were set up under the first
    owner changed from her name to mine. It is specifically under the C: drive,
    under the computer make, under the Documents and Settings.

    I can click on the name and I get a prompt to rename but when I try, I am
    told that it is a Windows system file and cannot be renamed or moved.

    Is there anything I can do to get rid of the previous owner's identity
    forever and make this computer completely mine short of wiping out everything
    and starting over?

    Thanks for any input/suggestions.
    --
    Patty

  2. #2
    Shenan Stanley Guest

    Re: Change original user's name on folder under Documents and Settings

    Patty wrote:
    > I bought a slightly used computer which is working just fine, but
    > it annoys me that I can't get some of the folders that were set up
    > under the first owner changed from her name to mine. It is
    > specifically under the C: drive, under the computer make, under the
    > Documents and Settings.
    >
    > I can click on the name and I get a prompt to rename but when I
    > try, I am told that it is a Windows system file and cannot be
    > renamed or moved.
    >
    > Is there anything I can do to get rid of the previous owner's
    > identity forever and make this computer completely mine short of
    > wiping out everything and starting over?


    Create a new account. Start using it. Once you have everything over on it
    you need, delete the old account.

    Best though - slightly used or not - to wipe it and start from scratch.

    --
    Shenan Stanley
    MS-MVP
    --
    How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
    http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html



  3. #3
    shawn Guest

    Re: Change original user's name on folder under Documents and Settings

    I'm with Shenan. If you have a restore disc or Windows disc I'd wipe
    everything clean and start fresh.... unless you know the person you bought
    it from. I'd be concerned about stuff like hidden keylogging software that
    automatically emails the other person everything you type.

    "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
    news:u$Aa0LVlJHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    > Patty wrote:
    >> I bought a slightly used computer which is working just fine, but
    >> it annoys me that I can't get some of the folders that were set up
    >> under the first owner changed from her name to mine. It is
    >> specifically under the C: drive, under the computer make, under the
    >> Documents and Settings.
    >>
    >> I can click on the name and I get a prompt to rename but when I
    >> try, I am told that it is a Windows system file and cannot be
    >> renamed or moved.
    >>
    >> Is there anything I can do to get rid of the previous owner's
    >> identity forever and make this computer completely mine short of
    >> wiping out everything and starting over?

    >
    > Create a new account. Start using it. Once you have everything over on
    > it you need, delete the old account.
    >
    > Best though - slightly used or not - to wipe it and start from scratch.
    >
    > --
    > Shenan Stanley
    > MS-MVP
    > --
    > How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
    > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
    >




  4. #4
    Twayne Guest

    Re: Change original user's name on folder under Documents and Settings

    Whether you know the person or not, it's still best to start fresh with
    everything IMO. Because you know them doesn't mean there aren't
    malwares and other things wrong with it. One creates enough headaches
    of their own without having to have other's headaches added to the list.
    That also has the added advantage of proving that you have everything
    you need for that day in the future when everything crashes and you have
    to do the complete rebuild anyway. If you've done it once, you KNOW it
    should work again. If not, well ... .

    Regards,

    Twayne



    shawn wrote:
    > I'm with Shenan. If you have a restore disc or Windows disc I'd wipe
    > everything clean and start fresh.... unless you know the person you
    > bought it from. I'd be concerned about stuff like hidden keylogging
    > software that automatically emails the other person everything you
    > type.
    > "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
    > news:u$Aa0LVlJHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    >> Patty wrote:
    >>> I bought a slightly used computer which is working just fine, but
    >>> it annoys me that I can't get some of the folders that were set up
    >>> under the first owner changed from her name to mine. It is
    >>> specifically under the C: drive, under the computer make, under the
    >>> Documents and Settings.
    >>>
    >>> I can click on the name and I get a prompt to rename but when I
    >>> try, I am told that it is a Windows system file and cannot be
    >>> renamed or moved.
    >>>
    >>> Is there anything I can do to get rid of the previous owner's
    >>> identity forever and make this computer completely mine short of
    >>> wiping out everything and starting over?

    >>
    >> Create a new account. Start using it. Once you have everything
    >> over on it you need, delete the old account.
    >>
    >> Best though - slightly used or not - to wipe it and start from
    >> scratch. --
    >> Shenan Stanley
    >> MS-MVP
    >> --
    >> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
    >> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html





  5. #5
    Patty Guest

    Re: Change original user's name on folder under Documents and Sett

    Hi Shenan,

    I have created a new account and I have been using it, but it seems like
    there are certain files that I just can't get her name off of - they must
    have been created when she originally registered the computer.

    I appreciate the other people's comments also - I believe that this computer
    was too limited for the previous owner's use so she returned it to the store.
    It amazes me that the store didn't wipe out everything before reselling it to
    me at a discount as a display model - yeah, I know, I'm guillable.

    How do I go about "wiping out" everything to start over? nI am concerned
    about the re-registering part - will it allow me to re-register? (Yes, I'm a
    little wary of rocking the boat when everything seems to be working fine).

    Thank you once again.
    --
    Patty


    "Shenan Stanley" wrote:

    > Patty wrote:
    > > I bought a slightly used computer which is working just fine, but
    > > it annoys me that I can't get some of the folders that were set up
    > > under the first owner changed from her name to mine. It is
    > > specifically under the C: drive, under the computer make, under the
    > > Documents and Settings.
    > >
    > > I can click on the name and I get a prompt to rename but when I
    > > try, I am told that it is a Windows system file and cannot be
    > > renamed or moved.
    > >
    > > Is there anything I can do to get rid of the previous owner's
    > > identity forever and make this computer completely mine short of
    > > wiping out everything and starting over?

    >
    > Create a new account. Start using it. Once you have everything over on it
    > you need, delete the old account.
    >
    > Best though - slightly used or not - to wipe it and start from scratch.
    >
    > --
    > Shenan Stanley
    > MS-MVP
    > --
    > How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
    > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
    >
    >
    >


  6. #6
    shawn Guest

    Re: Change original user's name on folder under Documents and Settings

    Oh yeah, true. I didn't think that even though you know somebody it could
    still have malware or a virus. Good thinking.

    "Twayne" <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote in message
    news:%23lbEBtCnJHA.3572@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
    > Whether you know the person or not, it's still best to start fresh with
    > everything IMO. Because you know them doesn't mean there aren't malwares
    > and other things wrong with it. One creates enough headaches of their own
    > without having to have other's headaches added to the list.
    > That also has the added advantage of proving that you have everything
    > you need for that day in the future when everything crashes and you have
    > to do the complete rebuild anyway. If you've done it once, you KNOW it
    > should work again. If not, well ... .
    >
    > Regards,
    >
    > Twayne
    >
    >
    >
    > shawn wrote:
    >> I'm with Shenan. If you have a restore disc or Windows disc I'd wipe
    >> everything clean and start fresh.... unless you know the person you
    >> bought it from. I'd be concerned about stuff like hidden keylogging
    >> software that automatically emails the other person everything you
    >> type.
    >> "Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
    >> news:u$Aa0LVlJHA.1216@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    >>> Patty wrote:
    >>>> I bought a slightly used computer which is working just fine, but
    >>>> it annoys me that I can't get some of the folders that were set up
    >>>> under the first owner changed from her name to mine. It is
    >>>> specifically under the C: drive, under the computer make, under the
    >>>> Documents and Settings.
    >>>>
    >>>> I can click on the name and I get a prompt to rename but when I
    >>>> try, I am told that it is a Windows system file and cannot be
    >>>> renamed or moved.
    >>>>
    >>>> Is there anything I can do to get rid of the previous owner's
    >>>> identity forever and make this computer completely mine short of
    >>>> wiping out everything and starting over?
    >>>
    >>> Create a new account. Start using it. Once you have everything
    >>> over on it you need, delete the old account.
    >>>
    >>> Best though - slightly used or not - to wipe it and start from
    >>> scratch. --
    >>> Shenan Stanley
    >>> MS-MVP
    >>> --
    >>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
    >>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

    >
    >
    >




  7. #7
    shawn Guest

    Re: Change original user's name on folder under Documents and Sett

    Many newer computers store restore information right on a seperate partition
    (section) of your hard drive. It usually will display a message on booting
    up to hit F10 (although it could be another key). Pressing that will allow
    you to restore your system as if it were factory fresh.

    Depends on the brand of computer, though. Some computers instead come with
    either a restore disc or a genuine Windows disc. You would put that in the
    CD/DVD drive and turn on your computer. It should automatically load and
    prompt you what to do.

    Another option is to look where you bought the machine. If you bought it
    recently at a place such as Staples or Best Buy, they will most certaintly
    do the restore for you provided they sold you the restore disc with the
    computer or that it's already on the hard drive. I am sure they'd rather do
    the quick fix for you than have an unhappy customer.

    Restoring your computer will make it "like it came from the factory".

    "Patty" <Patty@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
    news:96E8674A-58E6-474F-B85F-08D95E0244BE@microsoft.com...
    > Hi Shenan,
    >
    > I have created a new account and I have been using it, but it seems like
    > there are certain files that I just can't get her name off of - they must
    > have been created when she originally registered the computer.
    >
    > I appreciate the other people's comments also - I believe that this
    > computer
    > was too limited for the previous owner's use so she returned it to the
    > store.
    > It amazes me that the store didn't wipe out everything before reselling it
    > to
    > me at a discount as a display model - yeah, I know, I'm guillable.
    >
    > How do I go about "wiping out" everything to start over? nI am concerned
    > about the re-registering part - will it allow me to re-register? (Yes, I'm
    > a
    > little wary of rocking the boat when everything seems to be working fine).
    >
    > Thank you once again.
    > --
    > Patty
    >
    >
    > "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
    >
    >> Patty wrote:
    >> > I bought a slightly used computer which is working just fine, but
    >> > it annoys me that I can't get some of the folders that were set up
    >> > under the first owner changed from her name to mine. It is
    >> > specifically under the C: drive, under the computer make, under the
    >> > Documents and Settings.
    >> >
    >> > I can click on the name and I get a prompt to rename but when I
    >> > try, I am told that it is a Windows system file and cannot be
    >> > renamed or moved.
    >> >
    >> > Is there anything I can do to get rid of the previous owner's
    >> > identity forever and make this computer completely mine short of
    >> > wiping out everything and starting over?

    >>
    >> Create a new account. Start using it. Once you have everything over on
    >> it
    >> you need, delete the old account.
    >>
    >> Best though - slightly used or not - to wipe it and start from scratch.
    >>
    >> --
    >> Shenan Stanley
    >> MS-MVP
    >> --
    >> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
    >> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
    >>
    >>
    >>




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