Rename user folder in Windows 8

08
2013-11
  • Jeebers

    I just bought a PC with Windows 8 and am struggling to get to grips with it. When setting it up I entered the name Signon which was the wrong name. I then went into the users part of the Control Panel and changed the name to signon3admin which is what it should have been however now the user folder is still called Signon. I was worried that this could cause problems when going on the network as another computer on the network has the user name signon-pc.

    I have tried changing the user folder name as suggested in this question, however I do not have the professional edition of Windows 8 so do not have the Local Users and Group Users listed in Computer Management. I tried using the command prompt but it didn't work. I went into the registry and changed the profile image path but then when I restarted it signed me into a temporary account so I went and changed it back again.

    • I realised that I'd missed the first instruction to create a local user account - can you explain why this is necessary and what happens to it after the file user name has been changed? Does it get deleted or should I use that account and delete the original wrongly named user account that was created when I first turned on the PC?
    • Does it matter if the user folder name doesn't match the user name? Should I not bother trying to change it?
    • Does it matter if I only have one administrator account and no other user accounts as it's only me using the computer?
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    Related Question

    user accounts - Unable to log into Windows XP Pro Domain Not Available
  • Belliez

    Trying to access an old laptop I have but at the windows login screen I attempt to log in and get the message "Unable to log in because <Domain Name> is unavailable".

    This laptop is not on a domain or a network and I do not know the computer name.

    I have blanked the passwords of the local administrator and user account using Offline NT Password and Registry Editor but still unable to log in?

    Any advice would be grateful or if you can point me to the registry location I can edit or delete to remove the domain.

    Thanks


    • Related Answers
  • 8088

    Unplugged the computer from any sort of network. Then reboot the system. After it reboots, try logging in to any given user with the last password that was used successfully on that account. Probably want a user that has admin access so that you remove the domain settings. Note: This only works if the user has previously logged in to that specific system.

    Here is a easy solution to the computer name issue without logging in to any user. At the Log On to Windows screen, push [ALT]+[CTRL]+[DEL] as if you were about to attempt to log in. Then click on the Option button until you see third input option called Log on to. Once you see this, select down arrow for the Log on to drop down menu. In the list, there will be one option labeled with "this computer" in parentheses. To the left of this computer is the full computer name that you seek.

    Example Screenshot:

    The computer name along with the "This Computer"

    JBOGUS-DESKTOP is the computer name of this computer.

  • Belliez

    I had to re-install XP in the end (after backing up the hard disk first).