Registered to name

Is there any way the "Registered To" name on a XP home machine be changed short of reinstalling Windows. I know I can change the computer name but can't figure out the registered to thing. I want to shorten it up as my backup software doesn't like the long file names in restoring some of my documents.
Thanks
Floyd

 

regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion

In the right pane, RegisteredOwner, right click>modify

 

noahdfear, you nailed it but....
I just realized that's not the problem. I thought that when I changed the registered users name that my "documents and settings/my name (which is the same as the old registered to name), would change also. It didn't so I guess my question is different now. Sorry.
How do I change my name under documents and settings folder to an abbreviation , in that folder. I get an error message that tells me Windows needs that and I can't rename it. I also changed my user name in User Accounts also to no avail. The long name still stays under documents and settings.
Thanks again. I don't know what I'd do without this forum. You guys are always so helpful.
Floyd

 

I'm pretty sure that XP keeps the user profile folder well protected, and the only way to change that is to create another user account with that name. You would need to first change the name on the current account so that it's not in use. Then create the new account and logon to it, delete the old, saving the documents and favorites, then recustomize the new account. If you do that, go slowly to ensure you get everything you want transferred to the new account. It may be possible to change the existing username folder through a regedit or safemode, but not sure. I've got some things to go do today but will experiment a bit later on if no-one else has an solution by then.

 

Thanks Dave. I'll wait to hear from you before I experiment deleting and rebuilding a my user account.
Floyd

 

The way Dave wrote is about the only safe way to do what you want.

 

Yep. I trolled around the registry, trying this and that, and was unsuccessful. There's a bit of resetting options and preferences involved with creating/switching to a new account, but if it's needed, there's no avoiding it.