20 replies to this topic

[Eddie7]

I know this might be a really newbie question but how do I change my Windows 8 "Windows User" name to something else? Here's what I'm talking about:

[shozilla]

It can be changed in the registry...

You will be able to find it then edit it.

[Eddie7]

shozilla, on 18 November 2012 - 01:56, said:

It can be changed in the registry...

You will be able to find it then edit it.

More detail would be great?

[shozilla]

Let me write up the steps... give me a minute.

[Eddie7]

shozilla, on 18 November 2012 - 02:03, said:

Let me write up the steps... give me a minute.

If you're being serious, thanks.

[shozilla]

Pull up Registry Editor (regedit)

Press CRTL key and F key at same time to pull up the Find dialog.

Type Windows User then hit enter

then press F3 key a few times until you see "Windows User" on the right hand pane...

right-click on it then select Modifiy

then type whatever you like to name it to.

then you are done.

Please note: Make sure you are on admin account otherwise it won't let you change it.

[shozilla]

Eddie7, on 18 November 2012 - 02:04, said:

If you're being serious, thanks.

Did it work for you?

[Eddie7]

shozilla, on 18 November 2012 - 02:43, said:

Did it work for you?

Well actually, I'm using an Administrator account and I opened regedit.exe as an Administrator but when I try to change it to my name, I press F3 again and then the name resets to Windows User.

[shozilla]

Once you changed it to your name... close that window... not press F3. F3 key is for "finding the word" for you.

Then use Run dialog, type winver then hit enter... you will see your name on there instead of Windows User.

[Eddie7]

shozilla, on 18 November 2012 - 03:11, said:

Once you changed it to your name... close that window... not press F3. F3 key is for "finding the word" for you.

Then use Run dialog, type winver then hit enter... you will see your name on there instead of Windows User.

No still not working unforunately... Does it work for you?

[shozilla]

Eddie7, on 18 November 2012 - 03:18, said:

No still not working unforunately... Does it work for you?

Yup it works for me and it stays there ...

[Eddie7]

Which "Name" column are you changing it under?

[mrp04]

The registry key is supposed to be located here

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
Under RegisteredOwner

It should probably work, I just checked on my Windows 8 machine and my live email is listed there and that is what the about windows dialog shows. Why is this even important though?

[shozilla]

Name column = RegisteredOwner .... Data column = Windows User but it can be changed to Eddie7 or whatever you like.

My bad, I didn't add this to the steps I wrote above.

[Eddie7]

mrp04, on 18 November 2012 - 03:21, said:

The registry key is supposed to be located here

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion]
Under RegisteredOwner

It should probably work, I just checked on my Windows 8 machine and my live email is listed there and that is what the about windows dialog shows. Why is this even important though?

Can't find it. I can go all until CurrentVersion, then I'm stuck.