Change 'Registered to:' properties

Question

I would like to give my old laptop away and have deleted my user account and personal files but I would like to change the 'Registered to:' display that shows my name under the General tab in System Properties.   Is there an easy way to do this? I tried looking at the registry with regedit but got hopelessly lost.     Many thanks.

BELL BOY · Answer

Warning: this procedure involves modifying the registry, you should not use it unless confident about doing so, also make sure that you back up registry B4 making any changes & that you understand how to restore the registry if required

Assuming its windows XP you have?

Open Registry Editor by Start > Run > type in the term regedit > OK

Open the following folder path

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion

In the right hand side pane, look for & right click on the name Registered Owner

Select the Modify option

In the Edit String name box, either delete your name & leave blank, or enter whatever name you want

Click OK & close Registry Editor

ro55m · Answer

Thanks Bell Boy, just tried that and it's fixed it.

BELL BOY · Answer

OK, just one thought, if you have deleted all your personal data, emptied history folders etc. then if not already done you should also defrag your hard drive(s).

Alternatively you wipe everything by clean reinstall of windows, only if you are confident about doing that & have the time?

ro55m · Answer

Thanks, I've deleted all my files and my account as well as defragging.     Cheers

Windows General

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