I need advice about an issue I accidentally created

Question

I recently purchased a new PC, an XPS 8940. I wasn't quite ready to switch over to it from my old one when it arrived around the middle of last month. There was some construction work being done in my main room when it arrived, so I left it safely stored in it's box until the construction was done.

I set it up a few days ago, and it was while I was setting up my user profile that I accidentally created a problem for myself. Except for my previous PC, all computers I have owned used a local offline user account. It was only with the previous one that I set up a Microsoft account.

When setting up this new computer, I was initially under the impression that I needed to enter my E-mail address as the user profile name and that would in-turn lead to having to log into my microsoft account. As I began typing, I noticed that there was an option to log into the microsoft account directly, so I went with that. I had only typed in the first few letters of my email address and now when I look in the users folder, my user profile folder is just the first few letters of my email address.

I know that is going to keep bothering me until I do something about it. Is there a way to rename my windows user profile account and in turn update it's corresponding users folder to match? I would like to change it to my first name if I can.

Tesla1856 · Answer

You can Google that (I see some hits).

I can tell you that I have tried similar things like that over the years (hacking User Accounts from the Registry and/or changing auto-generated User Folder names) and IIRC, it has never gone well. I ended up with a corrupt User Profile, or corrupt Windows.

If you try, I suggest you be sure to completely backup first, and be ready to Clean-Install Windows if required.

You CAN create a new User Account (Local or Online) with Admin Privileges with no problems. However, I don't think it's a good idea to ever completely delete the old Admin-class account (that was originally used to install Windows on this particular machine).

The above info assumes a non-domain or non-server controlled Windows computer.

redxps630 · Answer

Re:Is there a way to rename my windows user profile account and in turn update it's corresponding users folder to match? I would like to change it to my first name if I can.

one option is to change user account to local and use your name as local account user name (see steps below from support.Microsoft.com). after that is done you can delete the accidentally created incomplete MS account (see steps from support.Microsoft.com).

Switch your Windows 10 device to a local account

Save all your work.
In Start , select Settings > Accounts > Your info.
Select Sign in with a local account instead.
Type the user name, password, and password hint for your new account. ...
Select Next,then select Sign out and finish.

To remove a Microsoft account from your Windows 10 PC:

Click the Start button, and then click Settings.
Click Accounts, scroll down, and then click the Microsoft account you would like to delete.
Click Remove, and then click Yes.

Customizer · Answer

I forgot to mention that my new PC uses Windows 11, not windows 10. I have heard that the two OS' share similiar builds and menus, but I am no techie. Would the steps you listed be doable under Windows 11? If not, can you provide instructions for Windows 11?

redxps630 · Answer

add a local account first on your PC, before removing the other account. Follow the steps below:

To create a local account on your Windows 10 PC:

Press the Windows key + R.
Type netplwiz, and then click OK.
Click Add.
Click Sign in without a Microsoft account (not recommended).
Click Local account, type a username, and a password (if you'd like one).
Click Next, and then click Finish.
Sign out of the Microsoft account you want to delete, sign in using thelocal account you created, and then remove the account you want to delete.

To remove a Microsoft account from your Windows 10 PC:

Click the Start button, and then click Settings.
Click Accounts, scroll down, and then click the Microsoft account you would like to delete.
Click Remove, and then click Yes.

redxps630 · Answer

Yes the second msg I sent applies to Windows 11 as well.

Windows General

I need advice about an issue I accidentally created

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