# New iMac. Problem with user name function... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 12, 2006, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-imac-problem-with-user-name-function/352305 "2006-04-12T00:50:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-imac-problem-with-user-name-function/352305/1 "2006-04-12T00:50:18Z")
Hi all, I’ve asked for help on the boards with my newfound love for all things Mac before and always recieved excellent advice. So, I’m back. Well, I finally got the brand-spanking-new iMac I kept saying I was getting. It’s fantastic. Runs like a dream. Beautiful. Only one tiny hitch. And it _is_ tiny. But a hitch nonetheless. The machine came already loaded with the Tiger OS. Great. I would have preferred doing that myself, but what the hell. Only whoever set it up named the main admin account **User** and gave it a ‘short name’ of **User**. No problem. Except everything that requires a name now is titled User. My folder. Any processes that usually put your name on them. The chess game. All called **‘User’s’ XXXX’**. 😕 So, into preferences I go. Change accounts. Great. That’ll fix it. Ok, I can change the Full Name part, but the ‘Short Name’ is shaded and I can’t alter. So I changed the Full Name and went to check on my folders and processes. All still labeled with **User.** So back to preferences. I click the lock, type my admin password. It does not unshade the 'Short Name’option. Into Help. Apparently, you cannot change the short name after the account has been created. Hmmm… Oooookay. :dubious: I decided to just create a new account and replace the old one. Many keystrokes later, behold, a new account. The original account (‘User’) is in the left hand column up the top under ‘My Account’. It appears unalterable in status as ‘My Account’ and is undeletable. Hmmm. The new account (‘Therese’ - my name) is underneath that. Under a heading ‘Other Accounts’. Cannot drag to My Account. Cannot change status to My Account. Cannot swap with My Account. Damn. :mad: I cannot figure out how to replace ‘My Account’ with a new one. I’ve been through the (otherwise very helpful) help entries. I would really like this final touch of personalization on this wonderful machine to work for me. Am I going to have to delete the current setup and re-install OS 10.4? And then re-install all my other lov-ur-ly software? If so, how do I do that? If not - what do I do instead? Thanks all, any help appreciated. I know it seems like a petty thing to be concerned about, but I really like those small personal touches in my computers. 🙂 Cheers… ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-imac-problem-with-user-name-function/352305/2 "2006-04-12T01:05:29Z")
Apple gives details on how to do it here: [http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106824](http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106824) There is also at least one shareware program out there that supposedly does it, but the lone review wasn’t encouraging. ---
**Author:** ![sunfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@sunfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunfish)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-imac-problem-with-user-name-function/352305/3 "2006-04-12T01:08:44Z")
Oops, that was for pre-10.3. Apple gives further caveats for trying this on 10.4 here: [http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107854](http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107854) Gotta say, that looks ugly! Good luck making the change. ---
**Author:** ![Topologist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/topologist/32/3208_2.png) [@Topologist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Topologist)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-imac-problem-with-user-name-function/352305/4 "2006-04-12T02:21:35Z")
> [@Buckler of Swashing](#): > > I cannot figure out how to replace ‘My Account’ with a new one. I’ve been through the (otherwise very helpful) help entries. It sounds like you need to logout of “User” and log back in as “Therese”. Then Therese becomes “My Account” and User will appear as one of the others. Your Mac may be set up to automatically login as User, though. In System Preferences/Accounts, click on “Login Options” to change that. The instructions that **sunfish** pointed out are relevant only if you have documents in the User account that you want to copy over to Therese. But, if you haven’t been using the Mac for long, you might not. (Applications you’ve installed should be available to all users, so shouldn’t be an issue.) You can just leave the User account there, or delete it once you’ve got the new account up and running. ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-imac-problem-with-user-name-function/352305/5 "2006-04-12T03:15:48Z")
> [@Topologist](#): > > It sounds like you need to logout of “User” and log back in as “Therese”. Then Therese becomes “My Account” and User will appear as one of the others. Your Mac may be set up to automatically login as User, though. In System Preferences/Accounts, click on “Login Options” to change that. > > The instructions that **sunfish** pointed out are relevant only if you have documents in the User account that you want to copy over to Therese. But, if you haven’t been using the Mac for long, you might not. (Applications you’ve installed should be available to all users, so shouldn’t be an issue.) You can just leave the User account there, or delete it once you’ve got the new account up and running. Thanks, **Topologist**. That makes sense, what you’ve advised. I’m at work right now, but will try your idea as soon as I get home tonight. Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Buckler\_of\_Swashing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buckler_of_Swashing)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2006, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-imac-problem-with-user-name-function/352305/6 "2006-04-12T06:33:08Z")
Thanks! That worked! Hurrah! Cookies and ale for all! Question answered.