How do I change the registration name in Windows XP?

Factual Questions
1

I bought an open box notebook from Circuit City that the salesperson had re-initialized with his name “Ricky” in the registration setup. How do I change the Windows XP registration name in Windows XP to what I desire?

2

haven’t got access to an XP machine right now, so i can’t cross-check… but…

try this:

do a search through regedit for all instances of “Ricky”. Replace.

or take a look at this site, which might not answer your question directly, but does offer an interesting take…scroll down to XP Registration…

http://members.aol.com/axcel216/xp1.htm

3

Unless I’m misreading this question, you should be able to change the info in control panel --> user accounts --> change an account --> (Click on Ricky, I guess). At that point you should be able to change anything you want.

Unless you’re talking about deep down stuff…

4

I’ve already poked through every panel I could find listing account names and change options. “Ricky” is not a user account or the computer “name”, it was the name used to register/initialize the original XP install and is visible under the areas where they say Windows XP “registered to” > “Ricky”. Every time I install a new program it lists “Ricky” as the PC owner. I want to change this to a name or ID I choose without having to scrub and re-install XP.

5

I figured it was something deep.

I checked an XP messageboard I frequent and, unfortunately, the only thing that came back on the topic was this - <XP-erience.org>

And unfortunate in that if you click the link within the thread, it seems that the only way to do it cheaply, or without the mentioned customizer XP program, is to have the previous registered user contact MS and deactivate their account (Or whatever the hell they call it).

If that’s truly the case- that you have to go through all these hoops to simply change the damn registered user information- then it’s yet another reason to truly hate XP and all it stands for.

6

Do what xash said and check the registry*. I searched for my last name and found it in this key:

hkey_local_machine/software/microsoft/user information

hkey_local_machine/software/microsoft/windows/currentversion/installer/user data/s-1-5-18/products/0B79…72/installProperties

…i also found it in a few more places under that s-1-5-18 key, so just look for “ricky” and you will be able to make the necessary changes.

*usual registry disclaimer: don’t do it unless you are willing to take acceptance for any mishaps. please make a backup first.

7

ZipperJJ, i would trust astro to not mess up his/her registry… that’s why i didn’t put in a disclaimer meself…

for most ppl on the board i’d have to answer the same question as :

  1. look for Start on the bottom left of your screen.
  2. Click it.
  3. Hi, Opal!
  4. etc. etc. :slight_smile: