Jump to content

Welcome to Geeks to Go - Register now for FREE

Need help with your computer or device? Want to learn new tech skills? You're in the right place!
Geeks to Go is a friendly community of tech experts who can solve any problem you have. Just create a free account and post your question. Our volunteers will reply quickly and guide you through the steps. Don't let tech troubles stop you. Join Geeks to Go now and get the support you need!

How it Works Create Account
Photo

Changing administrator name/account


  • Please log in to reply

#1
Katrina Ian

Katrina Ian

    New Member

  • Member
  • Pip
  • 4 posts
Friends bought a new pc and gave me their old one, which is about 1 yr. old. It has WIN 7 Proffesional Edition for an OS. How do I change the name on the administrator account? For some reason though I followed MS suggestions for changing admin. account name, I now have: 1. COMP ADMIN (admin. account); Adm. account with my name and a user account for me. WHen I run a virus scan, I get a number of files from the previous owner which are password protected & I can't do anything (no delete, no "move to chest"). I followed instructions for "Rename administrator account" from MS through Local Security policy but am not allowed to do anything. What should I do to delete the old adm. files and have the pc only in my name? Also, MS Office also doesn't allow me to save some text files prompt " You don't have the right" to do it. Does that mean I have to re-register MS Office too and in this case, how do I do it? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
  • 0

Advertisements


#2
ZaRMan

ZaRMan

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 164 posts
Do you have access to the COMP ADMIN account?
  • 0

#3
Katrina Ian

Katrina Ian

    New Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • Pip
  • 4 posts
Yes, I do have access to Comp Admin; as a matter of fact, I made that account as MS forums suggest. Before I obtained the pc, there wasn't such an account. However, the same forums say that I could change the name of the account but as I wrote in my initial post, I can't perform any of the suggestions
Thanks for the reply!
Katrina
  • 0

#4
Digerati

Digerati

    Grumpy Ol' MSgt (Ret.)

  • Retired Staff
  • 3,999 posts
  • MVP
By the terms of the Windows license the previous owners agreed to when they started using that machine, when they sold you the computer with Windows still installed on it, they were required to provide you the Windows installation disk. If you don't have it, get it from them and from there, I recommend you do a fresh install of Windows with a full wipe and format of the hard disk first. This ensures first and foremost there is no malware on the disk that might be used to steal your identity, spy on (or worse) you or your children, or take clandestine control of it to use as a spamming machine or a zombie in a bot army. Second, it allows you to setup Windows the way you want and need it.

If you cannot get the disks from them, consider buying a new copy of Windows, or use one of the capable free versions of Linux.
  • 0

#5
Katrina Ian

Katrina Ian

    New Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • Pip
  • 4 posts
Thanks, Digerati! Appreciate your speedy answer. I do have the original disk but was hoping to be able to do something instead of reformatting the HD.
Katrina
  • 0

#6
Digerati

Digerati

    Grumpy Ol' MSgt (Ret.)

  • Retired Staff
  • 3,999 posts
  • MVP
If you got this machine from someone you know well and fully trust (in terms of their computer security skills) - and this includes everyone who may have used that machine, then I can see hoping to avoid a fresh install. But, still, even with this machine coming from friends, with you having issues with some files that came from them, I still recommend a fresh install. It will be a good learning experience too.
  • 0

#7
Katrina Ian

Katrina Ian

    New Member

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • Pip
  • 4 posts
Again, thanks! Yes, it will definitely be an experience of a life time!:) The problem is, I am sort of scared to do it... Could you tell me how to do it? I am a linguist with an inquisitive mind who has learned a lot about computers but don't feel so confident about reinstalling the OS.

Katrina
  • 0

#8
Digerati

Digerati

    Grumpy Ol' MSgt (Ret.)

  • Retired Staff
  • 3,999 posts
  • MVP
Check out this: http://windows.micro...lling-Windows-7
  • 0






Similar Topics

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

As Featured On:

Microsoft Yahoo BBC MSN PC Magazine Washington Post HP