NEW OWNER; OLD I.D.

[Keytapper]

Can anyone help?  I am at least the third owner of a computer that I have been given, but it is showing the original owner's name. It is running Windows XP but I have no discs for it at all. Is there a way that I can delete this obsolete name and replace it with my own? It is NOT connected to the web.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

What name are we talking about? Username?

Go to Control Panel and click User Accounts.

[Keytapper]

No, not 'User Name' This I have altered with the log in 'Password'
It is the "Owner's Name" that keeps appearing in different programmes and in the Computer Spec etc..

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

I don't think that can be changed. You may have to look in the program's settings.

As for computer specs, I assume you mean the display when you Right Click My Computer and go to Properties? (under Registered to)

[Keytapper]

Yes, that's the one. Described as 'Registered to: xxxxxxx xxxxx'

[m_260]

I don't know if this is what you are looking for but ........

Run the Registry Editor (REGEDIT.EXE).
Open HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\ Microsoft\ Windows NT\ CurrentVersion.
To change the values of the RegisteredOrganization, RegisteredOwner, or ProductId, simply double-click on them.

OR

Use this utility:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_change_owner.htm

And when you run WINVER, you should see that it's now showing it's licensed to whatever new name you give it.

HOWEVER ....
The user profile home directory name (C:\Documents and Settings\[the previous registry name]\Desktop or something similar) can't be changed. But you can create a duplicate user profile in a different name (preferred name) and remove the old profile at a convenient time but remember you gotta be an admin on your new account obviously.

Here's a website which may be of use to you: Create a duplicate user profile with a different name - Windows XP:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/dupprofile.htm

[Keytapper]

Thanks for your replies. I will try the manual method as the computer involves is not connected to the web and so I would not be able to download any links into it and I do not want to use the one I am at the moment as I do not want any problems here. Thanks again.