Tabular array of Contents

  • Assumptions
    • 1. You are using Windows vii Professional person
    • ii. The user to exist renamed (and related binder) is named "owner."
    • 3. The desired new (target) user/binder name for this example is "tjones"
    • 4. The temporary admin account to be used will be called "temp."
  • Steps
    • half dozen. Rename the existing user account ("owner") to the new name.
    • viii. Change the "ProfileImagePath" registry central to match the newly-renamed user.
    • 9. Remove the temporary administrator user account ("temp," in this case).
  • See Also

Inspired from and partially derived from the below TechNet Forum posting and from my own Feel.
Suggested past HarryEnri, on this TechNet thread: How to rename a default user directory...
I changed the order presented in the higher up-linked article, simplifying the unabridged process, using command-line for some portions, and booting to "safety mode" as the showtime pace.

Someone in the higher up thread mentioned that a later boot into safe mode would assistance with open files/application conflicts. Instead, I cull to boot into prophylactic mode as the first step, thus saving fourth dimension and simplifying the process.

Assumptions

1. You are using Windows seven Professional person


For purposes of this article, we volition assume the version is Windows vii Professional. The but noticeable difference in the Home edition is that the Pro version of the "User Director" is not straight available in the Home edition so, in Home edition, you will need to go to Command Console, click on "Users" and rename the user from at that place.

2. The user to be renamed (and related binder) is named "owner."


3. The desired new (target) user/folder name for this example is "tjones"

iv. The temporary admin account  to be used will be called "temp."

Steps

i. First, reboot into safe style.

Click Start, point to the "right-arrow" symbol adjacent to "Shutdown," then choose "Restart". During restart, press the "F8" key intermittently, until you see the startup bill of fare option for booting into diverse modes. Choose the the option to "Start in Safe Manner."

2. Log into "safe mode" as a privileged user

Log into safe mode in the same manner as when you log into "normal mode," as a privileged user. For this example, we tin assume that you log in equally "owner." 3. Create a new temporary user with administrator privileges.

This business relationship is used to perform the necessary maintenance against the reckoner account. This account is a temporary account and tin be named along those lines. For this instance, we create an account proper name "temp" and nosotros use a countersign of "Temp@pass1."   a. Add the "temp" user; from the control prompt, type "net user /add temp Temp@pass1" and printing "Enter."
b. Add together the "temp" user to the "administrators" group ; type: "net localgroup administrators temp /add " and press Enter

4. Log out of the electric current user account.

5. Log into "safe mode" as the new temporary admin user ("temp").

half dozen. Rename the existing user account ("owner") to the new proper noun.


   a. From the command prompt , type: "netplwiz" and press "Enter. " This will have yous to the User Accounts command applet.


b. Cull the 'Advanced' tab , and then click "Advanced" under the "Advanced User Management" section:


c. Give the existing account the desired new name .

Highlight "Users" in the left pane, and so highlight the account to exist changed ("possessor," in this case), then right-click and choose "Rename." Give the account the desired new name, "tjones" in this case

 .




If desired, right-click the new "tjones" business relationship, choose "Properties" and change the "Full Name" section to your desired proper noun, to match your needs.

7. Rename the existing (original) user binder to the desired new folder proper name.

   a. Login as the new administrator business relationship that you created earlier ("temp," in this case).
 b. Browse to the "c:\users" folder.
c. Rename the folder to the new name

       Right-click the folder to be renamed ("owner" in this case), choose rename and enter the new proper noun ("tjones" in this case)

.


8. Modify the "ProfileImagePath" registry central to match the newly-renamed user.


From command prompt, type "regedit" and press Enter. Next, navigate to the following registry cardinal :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList
Find the Profile SID associated with the user you lot wish to change ("possessor," in this case) past doing a "Find" inside the registry editor; or only browse through the keys within the "ProfileList" key, until you find the one with "ProfileImagePath" of "c:\Users\owner" (in this case). In one case found, double-click that ProfileImagePath key and change it to "c:\Users\tjones" (in this case), and click "Ok".

9. Remove the temporary administrator user account ("temp," in this example).


   a. Reboot into "normal manner (allow the calculator reboot, without choosing any options)
b. Login with your newly-renamed user ("tjones.")
c. Become to the control prompt, and and so type: "internet user temp /delete" and press "Enter."
The in a higher place step (deleting the "temp" admin user) is the final pace.

Encounter Too

  • Original TechNet Forum Posting that inspired this Wiki