Search This Blog

Sunday, July 17, 2011

How to Rename the Windows 7 Built-in Administrator Account

This will show you how to rename the built-in Administrator account name
to a name you like instead to be displayed in the log on screen and Start
menu in Windows 7. You can have better security by not using the same
default name as everyone else to log in with.
The built-in Administrator account is not enabled by default in Windows 7.
Instead you use a default normal administrator account that was created
during installation. This normal administrator account is not the same as the
built-in Administrator account.
When you change a name of a user account, the original name is still tied
to that account even though the new name is displayed in the Start menu
and at log on. So you will not be able to use both names to rename another
account with without deleting the other account that already has the name.
• If you have ever enabled the built-in Administrator account before changing
the name, then the C:\Users\Administrator folder will be the default folder
name and cannot be changed again without a clean reinstall.
• If you change the built-in Administrator account name before ever enabling
the built-in Administrator account (OPTION ONE below), then the
C:\Users\(renamed Administrator) folder will be the default folder name and
cannot be changed again without a clean reinstall.
You can only change the name of the built-in Administrator account while
either logged into the built-in Administrator account or a default
administrator account (ex: one setup during installation of Windows 7).

OPTION ONE
Through Local Security Policy

Start menu -> type secpol.msc in search line and press enter ->
Local Security Policy editor -> In the left pane, expand Local Policies, and
click on Security Options -> the right pane, right click on Accounts: Rename
administrator account and click on Properties -> Type in a name you want
instead that has not ever been used by any other user account on the
computer, and click on OK -> Close the Local Security Policy window
If you have enabled the built-in Administrator account, then you can log off
or switch users to see it's log on icon with the new name in the log on screen.

OPTION TWO
Through User Accounts

If you have not already, you will need to enable the built-in Administrator
account.
Control Panel (All Items View) -> User Accounts -> Manage another account ->
If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes -> Click on the listed built-in
Administrator account -> Change the account name -> Type in a name you
want instead that has not been used by any other user on the computer,
and click on the Change Name -> . The built-in Administrator account is now
renamed. Close the User Account window.
You can now log off or switch users to see built-in Administrator account's
log on icon with the new name in the log on screen.

OPTION THREE
Through Local Users and Groups

Start menu -> type lusrmgr.msc in search line and press enter -> Open the
Local Users and Groups manager -> In the left pane click on Users -> In the
right pane, right click on Administrator and click on Properties -> In the
General tab and to the right of Full name, type in a name you want instead
that has not been used by any other user on the computer and click on OK ->
Close Local Users and Groups window
You can now log off or switch users to see built-in Administrator account's
log on icon with the new name in the log on screen

OPTION FOUR
Through renameuser.exe

This method will work on all version of windows vista and windows 7
you need to download systemtool's renameuser from Google
Once it is downloaded, extract the zip file and copy the renameuser.exe into
c:\windows\system32\folder

Start -> right click on the computer -> properties -> find the computer name
Write down your computer name as you will need it in a future step

Start -> accessories -> command prompt
when at the elevated command prompt, to rename your administrator
account enter the following commands renameuser.exe administrator >
To use renameuser
renameuser

Once you renamed your administrator account, you should type exit to exit
the command prompt

No comments:

Post a Comment