Sorting out my users/folders

stub · 29 Oct 2017

I am totally new to Windows until I got Windows 10 maybe 1 month ago. I've done quite some research on my problem. But still confused.

When I got my new computer, it had Windows 10 Pro installed. There was 1 user, Administrator, which goes to the folder \Users\x. I have successfully changed the name to something more appropriate, my name, and I'm using this user to login to microsoft.com.

What I want to do is rename the directory \Users\x to \Users\MyName. I understand that I cannot just rename this folder, as it would probably lead to a broken system, and I firstly need to create another Administrator Account. Which I've done. So I now have 2 administrator accounts basically with the 1st Administrator being my name which logs into with Microsoft.com and uses folder \Users\x, and the 2nd Administrator being a short version of my name using \Users\MyShortName, which doesn't login to Microsoft.com

But from there I get confused. I still need to rename \Users\x which I'm not supposed to do. Is this now as simple as copying everything under \Users\x to \Users\MyShortName ,making this my microsoft account and deleting \Users\x and Adminstrator 1. Also can I use the same microsoft login for Administrator 2 as I have done for Administrator 1? Should/Can I do this before I delete Administrator 1?

After I've done all this. I intent to create a normal account which I would use on a daily basis. Is this a good idea? Or should I stick with using my Administrator Account all the time. With secure password of course. I still have quite a long way to go in setting up Windows 10 as I would like, including the files structure. I would say I have quite a lot of experience with computers (I can build my own desktop computer for example), but no experience at all with Windows.

Any answers, comments, and other ideas are welcome.

Brink · 29 Oct 2017

Hello stub, :)

If you like, the tutorial below can help show you how to safely rename your the user profile folder.

Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

stub · 29 Oct 2017

I'm following those instructions. I've got down to #11. When I right click on the folder named "x" there is no rename. I'm stuck.

Brink · 29 Oct 2017

Just to verify, are you signed out of the account you want to rename its profile folder, and signed in to another administrator account?

stub · 29 Oct 2017

Yep. I thought that too. So I checked and I was logged in as Administrator 2. But something didn't look right. So I set everything back to original, and rebooted. Logged in as Administrator 2. The only difference between Adminstrator 1 & 2 as far as I can tell is that Admin 2 is a Local Account.

So I tried again. This time at #11 there was a Rename option. But it would not accept my input saying that I needed Administrator permissions (WTF I am Administrator 2), and when I tried to continue, I was told the folder was in use by another user. I don't know if it is material, but the very first time I tried this, it wouldn't let me change the name of this folder "x", and when I checked, the \Users\newname folder was created and empty. (both x and the new name folders were present). So I deleted the new name. Would that deleted folder still have permissions somewhere? And on checking, the folder had not been created. So I cannot understand why this Administrator 1 folder "x" was in use by another program.

Brink · 30 Oct 2017

It sounds like "Administrator 2" may be a standard user instead of an administrator account. You can verify using the method in the tutorial below.

Determine Account Type in Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

If it's not an administrator, then you can change it to be so.

Change Account Type in Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

If you used the credentials from "Administrator 1" to continue, then that would have cause the "in use" issue.

mrgeek · 30 Oct 2017

"Is this now as simple as copying everything under \Users\x to \Users\MyShortName ,making this my microsoft account and deleting \Users\x and Adminstrator 1."

Yes, I've dome this a few times for several people. 'x' is using your MS account so can't be used for 'MyShortName' until it is deleted. Make 'MyShortName' a Local account with admin privs and remember the password !
Copy all the folder contents under This PC, like Music, Pictures, etc from 'x' to the corresponding folders in 'MyShortName'. Double check that all files you want to keep have been moved and/or backed up.
Use Run command (Win+R) netplwiz to see the users list and delete the 'x' account (double check that the Local account is an admin acct here). Reboot and C:/Users should only have your 'MyShortName' listed.
Go to All settings/Accounts/Your info and use the 'Sign in with MS account instead' option to complete conversion to 'MyShortName' with a MS sign-in instead of the Local. Good Luck.

Caledon Ken · 30 Oct 2017

Do you have to expose hidden files to copy the ones down the Appdata path to get things like profiles for Firefox or other app related data.

Ken

stub · 30 Oct 2017

Brink said:

It sounds like "Administrator 2" may be a standard user instead of an administrator account. You can verify using the method in the tutorial below.

Option 1 says both Administrator 1 and Administrator 2 are both Administrator Accounts.

I am definitely logged in as Administrator 2 when trying to rename the Administrator 1 folder name.

Brink · 30 Oct 2017

In that case, temporarily enable the built-in Administrator account, sign in to it, and try renaming the profile folder for the "Administrator 1" account. When successfully finished, you can disable the built-in Administrator.

Be sure "Administrator 1" is signed out.

Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials