How to rename a System folder?

I have a System Folder in XP Home, located in "Documents and Settings" which needs to be renamed. Currently it is "All Users.WINDOWS ". This prevents me from creating any other Accounts. I've tried renaming it to what I think? is the default name, "All Users ", but it is not allowed, even when in Safe Mode.

Does anyone know a way I can rename this file to it's correct name without doing a complete reformat of the HD and reinstalling XP?

Thanks,

Jeff

 

What makes you think that folder is stopping you from creating other users?

What errors do you get when you try?

I think I'd try quite a few things before trying to mess with a protected, system folder. Often times the results ain't pretty.

 

Because when you create a new account or enable the "Guest" account it is directly dependent upon the "All Users" system directory. Since mine has been corrupted with the name change "All Users.WINDOWS" no accounts other than my own Administrator account can be created.

When I have tried to either delete and/or rename the "All Users.WINDOWS" folder, I get but one error message that says in essence that it is a System folder being used, blah, blah and cannot be deleted or renamed, etc.

From what I've read, the "Recovery Console" is supposed to let you rename, delete, ,modify system files. But I've never used it before and I'm therefore just a bit hesitant to jump right in until I can get some assurance from someone with more experience.

Jeff

 

Have you tried creating a new folder named "All Users" and copying the contents of the "All Users.Windows" folder into it?

Not real elegant but, hey, if it works.

If it does work, maybe then it'll let you dump the "All Users.Windows" folder.

 

Miz,

Great idea! But it is one that I also tried. I can indeed create the new "All Users" folder and even copy the files from the "All Users.WINDOWS" folder into it, but I cannot delete, move or rename it. Obviously, being a system folder, there is a constant "connection" (in use) function involved here, which I'm assuming (guessing) must be eliminated/disabled first before anything else can be changed.

Another issue that "might" need to be considered is if this "All Users.WINDOWS" folder is being linked to, then will all the relationships that are related to it be lost if the folder is renamed?

Of course, I'm optimistic that this CAN be done.... it's just a matter of finding out the proper way to do it.

As I suggested above in my previous reply, this "Recovery Console" sounds like it just might be the "proper" method to rename this folder to what it should be without negative results. But, it would be great to hear from someone who has used this utility first, before plunging into it ignorantly and causing more trouble than what I have now.

Jeff

 

See if this Google Groups article helps. See the reply from Kent W. England and the follow-ups.

Subject: removing redundant all users folder

 

Kevin,

That was a great find....... THANKS! I did some Registry mods and eventually was able to remove the "All Users.WINDOWS" folder after copying over all the data in it to a new "All Users" folder.

Now... one last thing! hahaha I don't remember what folders were in the "Documents and Settings" folder, but it just seems like I now have an additional one, but that might not be the case. Here's a screenshot of what I have now after the "fix ":



The items that I'm not sure about are "Administrator" and "Adminstrator.PILGRIM ". (Pilgrim is my computer name).

Jeff

 

Glad that helped. Administrator should be there. Just a guess, but "Adminstrator.PILGRIM" is likely an archival copy of the original Administrator folder.

 

Jeff, I had the same problem, and solved it only the day before yesterday.
Several posts in this thread were on the right track, but didn't take the
process far enough.

I was trying to delete a system folder in C:\Documents and Settings, but when I
booted into Safe Mode and logged on as Administrator, a new system folder named
Administrator.Desktop-XP was created in Docs& Settings (Desktop-XP being the
name of my computer). I could delete it in Normal Mode, but it was recreated
every time I booted back into Safe Mode as Administrator.

I found that the fix was easiest to accomplish working in Windows Explorer,
using the Classic details view. Follow these steps:

1. On the View tab in the Tools > Folder Options menu, make sure that "Show
hidden files and folders" is selected, and uncheck "Hide protected operating
system files (Recommended) ".

2. Make sure that ALL files and folders in your Administrator.Pilgrim
folder also appear in the Administrator folder.

3. Set a System Restore point, just in case. :^)

4. Search the Registry (I use a free utility from PCMag called Registry
Detective, available at: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,4149,73719,00.asp)
for all instances of "Administrator.Pilgrim" and edit them (Registry
Detective automatically opens the selected entry with RegEdit) to
"Administrator ", if possible, or delete them, if not.

5. Delete the Administrator.Pilgrim folder and reboot in Safe Mode as
Administrator (just to see if the folder has been re-created ... if it has,
you missed something in the Registry).

That SHOULD get rid of the Administrator.Pilgrim folder for good. Good luck!

 

Jim,

Thanks for the belated instructional! Interestingly enough, that is exactly the procedure I used to finally rid myself of the "Administrator.PILGRIM" folder. Finally, all those duplicate and unwanted, misnamed, etc., folders within the "Documents and Settings" directory are gone, fixed, etc.

Even though I had already done this before you posted your reply, it is good to have verification of what I did and it will surely help others who might run into the same or similar problems. Most likely, all this came about with a re-install of XP. But whatever the reason, it's fixed and I'm happy as a clam! .

Jeff