Ahoy there
I was wondering if u can tell me how u can change the computers owners name?
say u got a computer from a mate and his name jim smith how would i go about changing it 2my own
with out reformatting?

Mod Edit: Split topic, added title and moved to more appropriate forum. ~ Animal

Hi bigbadmel, You can do this thru the registry. But as changing the registry can be quite dangerous to your PC's stability, yuo'll need proper instruction. Please post your question in the forum in the link below that corresponds to your Operating System. There you will receive the proper help.

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum76.html

I Just Got a Computer From my Friend but I Want My Name to Show Up. How do I do this?

* Log in with Admin rights and go to Start>Control Panel>Classic View>User Accounts
* Select Create new user (This will be the name you want to use ) and choose Administrator for the account type and assign password.
* Logoff and then logon as the new user (This will allow Windows to create the profile for your new name.)
* Logoff then logon as the master administrator (in safe mode)
* Right click My Computer
* Select Properties
* Select the Advanced Tab
* Select settings under User Profiles, highlite the owners profile and select Copy To:
* Browse to your new profile and click OK and let Windows copy the profile for you.
* Log off and back on under your new profile and make sure everything works fine, then:
* DO NOT DELETE THE OWNER'S ACCOUNT!
* Reason: It is very likely that the owner's account is a recovery agent, by default, Windows assigns this role to the first user
account that logged on successfully.
* Simply disable the owners account:
- Right click My Computer
- Select Manage
- In the left hand pane expand My Computer
- Expand Local Users and Groups
- Click Users
- In the right hand pane look for the owners username and double click it.
- Check the box "Account is disabled" and click OK.

The above will copy the owners profile and all settings to your new profile, however if you don't mind keeping the owner's profile, you can
right click My Computer, Select Manage, then Local Users and Groups, then Users, double click on the owners account then where it says
full name, type your name in. Doing it this way will not change your login name as you will still log in under the owner's account, but Windows will
display the full name at the top of the start menu.

I hope this gives you an idea.

Use imatechie's method to change the welcome screen name and/or start screen name.
To change the owners name, which I presume that's what your asking, go here;

http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org/how_do_i_...egistered_o.htm

REMEMBER: This is a registry change, so back up the registry before making any changes and any changes that you decide to make are at your own risk.

Hope this helps
Don