Giving away G5, need to change name of "home" folder

I'm giving my G5 to my grandson and have deleted most of my files. I've successfully renamed the computer, but the home folder still bears my name. What are my options? I don't want to to a clean install, as I want to give him all my software, some bookmarks, etc.

Create a new user account in his name and a temporary password. Give it admin status. Log into the new account and delete your old account.

Similar Messages

How to change name on Home folder?

I have an Apple iBook PPC G4 1.33 GHz running Leopard OS X version 10.5.8 and with 1 GB Memory. I just purchased this machine, which is in excellent condition, but I have a problem. It is not earthshattering and doesn't threaten the life of the machine in any way, but it is my machine and I would like the Home directory to reflect that.
The name in the System Preferences for Administrator is "gdavies", which is myself, but the Home Folder in the Finder sidebar is named "macuser". I went in as root user and came close to complete disaster, but got out in time. Having me named as administrator in Accounts but not on the Home directory is unusual. If both were called "macuser" I believe I could fix it, but this requires a greater level of expertise than I have.
Any ideas how to make home folder read "gdavies"? I just bought this iBook and it came with the Home folder named as "macuser". I changed the computer's name in "Sharing" in system prefs and I believe I may have changed the name in the Accounts. I know I should not have done it that way, but it doesn't help changing it back.
When I open the Users folder in the Mac HD there are there folders, one called "gdavies" with 10 items, most empty, such as desktop, downloads and so on, though dropbox is there.
The next folder is the house icon for the Home directory named "macuser" with 38 items and is the working folder. Then there is a folder called "shared", which contains no items.
How do I change the Home directory name in the Finder window sidebar to "gdavies'?

Kappy, you are indeed working overtime to help me and I just want you to know how appreciative I am.
Now, I shall take your answer step by step.
1. Log into Accounts using the admin password for "macuser". That password and the "other" admin password for gadvies is one and the same. However, done.
2. Click on Login Options, done - verify gdavies has admin status - done - answer "yes, gadvies has admin status".
3. Turn off Auto login - done.
4. Logged out then logged into "gdavies".
5. Returned to Accounts pane authenticating with "gdavies" password - done. But remember that the admin password is one and the same for "macuser" and "gdavies". Now, I did *not* set it up like that. It just seemed to happen. do I :- ) or do I :- ( ???
6. Select "macuser" account and using Login options delete. Select the option to remove completely.
I am sorry Kappy, but this pesky "macuser" sits in the home directory without any account in Accounts. So there is no "macuser" account to delete.
I went through all the motions and I was sort of hoping that a "macuser" account would *appear* in the Accounts pane beneath the Guest account so that I could delete it, but no such luck. You know, sometimes things like that do happen.
Thanks a heap for the try, Kappy, I do appreciate you exercising on my behalf "those little grey cells" as Hercule Poirot would say - my favorite Private Eye (Agatha Christie).
Cheers, Gareth

Changed name in home folder - all files gone

i wanted to change the name of my home folder so i right clicked it and renamed it to something else. now all my pictures, music, and documents have disspeared. when i open iphoto and itunes everything is gone. i've found a folder with the original name inside the users folder of macintosh HD, but my files aren't there either. can anyone help?

Hello, Tommdog.
This link might be of help you.
Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4 or later: Return to default desktop, apparent "loss" of home directory
No Alibi.

Changed name of "home" folder, then lost all user settings

recently bought my computer second hand from a friend. i right clicked on the home folder and changed it's name to mine, restarted, and now i no longer have access to my iphoto directory and my itunes library. i've tried changing the home folder back to what i believe it was before and restarting the computer...but i've had no luck getting my settings back. unfortunately, i think i may have forgotten the original home folder name. can someone help me recover it?

Not recommended!
This may help:
Apparent 'Loss' of Home Folder:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107854

Change name on "Home" folder or new admin

I just got a Mac at ABT Electronics and it was a open box return with the old OSX on it so they instaled it for me. But since it wasnt purchased by me they got all the names wrong. I want to change the home name but I cant find a way. Would it be easier to just get a whole new admin account and delete this one?

Hi There
I suggest creating a new admin user and deleting the current one as changing the name can cause erratic behaviour, just make sure to move any important files over to the new admin user before deleting the current one.
I also suggest creating a standard account to be used for everyday computing eg. checking email, web browsing etc. and just using the Admin account to install software and updates. This also adds an extra layer of security to your machine.
Hope this helps
J.C

Need to change name on Track Changes

I purchased this MAC all-in-one from my nephew, and although he has deleted his name as the owner, his last name keeps showing up as the person who makes suggestions in Track Changes. I need to eliminate him and add my name, but I can't figure out how to do it. Help?
Mizging

If you're asking about Microsoft Word's "Track Changes" feature, you'll need to change Word's preferences. Look under Preferences > User Information.

Need to change name and e-mail address on an account - change of employee

I need to change the name and e-mail address of a current adobe account to another employees.

If you know the answers to your security questions, then from http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5312 :
Navigate to appleid.apple.com using your web browser.
Click "Manage your account"
When prompted, sign in using your Apple ID and password.
Click Password & Security
You'll be asked to answer 2 of your 3 security questions before you can make any modifications. If you are unable to remember your answers, you can choose to send an email to your rescue email to reset your security questions.
After you've validated your identity by correctly answering your security questions, click Edit to the right of your rescue email address.
Once you've finished editing your rescue email address, click the Save button directly below the email field.
If you can't remember your answers then you will need to contact iTunes Support / Apple in your country to get the questions reset, before you can then use the above steps for potential future use.
Contacting Apple about account security : http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5699

Changing the name of home folder

When I set up my machine, I set up the name of my home folder without knowing some of the ramifications of using it. I reviewed the steps in http://www.macworld.com/article/132693/2008/03/changeshortusername.html which seemed reasonably straight forward.
I created another user called limited, and logged out of my administrators account, and into the newly created "limited" account.
All of the steps, up to step 10, went smoothly - modified the short name, and Home directory to the desired new name.
Step 10 required changing the folder name using the following sudo command syntax:
sudo mv /Users/oldusername /Users/newusername
I received the following error after I entered the password:
"limited is not in the sudoers file."
The only thing I could think of was that the account I created, "limited", was not set up with admin rights - so I went in and selected the "Allow user to administer this computer" checkbox for this account. However, a warning saying the change won't take affect until I logout and back in. I'm reluctant to do this, in case something happens where the Mac requires shutting down before all steps have been completed. I'm thinking of changing the short name and home directory settings (in the Account Preferences) back so they agree with the home folder name, and then redo the process once I know the "sudo" command will work. *Does this seem like a reasonable precaution?* I want to avoid having half the job done in case something happens and the Mac has to be restarted.
At this point, I don't know if my assumption is correct about the failure to execute the sudo command. Will adding the Admin rights to the account "limited" insert "limited" into the sudoers file? If not, what do I need to do to resolve that problem.
I've included the steps below:
============================================
1. If Automatic Login is enabled (in Accounts preferences) for the account you’re modifying, disable it. Similarly, if File Vault is enabled (in Security preferences), disable it. You can re-enable these features, if desired, after completing the procedure.
2. Log in as a different user than the one you want to modify; make sure the account you want to modify is not logged in.
3. Open the Accounts pane of System Preferences.
4. If the lock icon in the lower-left of the Accounts window is “locked,” click on it and provide an administrative username and password; this allows you to make changes.
5. In the list of accounts on the left, right-click (or Control-click) on the name of the account you want to modify; choose Advanced Options from the resulting menu.
6. In the Advanced Options screen, delete your current short username in the Short Name field, and then type in your desired new short username.
7. In the Home Directory field, change /Users/oldusername to /Users/newusername, where oldusername is your original short username and newusername is your new short username. Make note of the original and new paths.
8. Click on OK and close System Preferences.
9. Open Terminal (in /Applications/Utilities).
10. Type the following command, all on one line, and then press Return; when prompted, provide the password of the admin account you’re currently using, and then press Return again:
sudo mv /Users/oldusername /Users/newusername
(These are the original and new Home Directory paths from Step 7; oldusername is your original short username and newusername is your new short username.) This step renames your home folder in the Finder.
11. Restart your Mac.

NibblesNBits wrote:
When I set up my machine, I set up the name of my home folder without knowing some of the ramifications of using it. I reviewed the steps in http://www.macworld.com/article/132693/2008/03/changeshortusername.html which seemed reasonably straight forward.
I created another user called limited, and logged out of my administrators account, and into the newly created "limited" account.
All of the steps, up to step 10, went smoothly - modified the short name, and Home directory to the desired new name.
Step 10 required changing the folder name using the following sudo command syntax:
sudo mv /Users/oldusername /Users/newusername
I received the following error after I entered the password:
"limited is not in the sudoers file."
The only thing I could think of was that the account I created, "limited", was not set up with admin rights - so I went in and selected the "Allow user to administer this computer" checkbox for this account. However, a warning saying the change won't take affect until I logout and back in. I'm reluctant to do this, in case something happens where the Mac requires shutting down before all steps have been completed.
nothing will happen. just log out/in and rerun the command. an account has to be admin to use sudo.
Message was edited by: V.K.

How to change the name of home folder?

I migrated from an old MacBook to a new one, and in doing so, I imported data into an account which I had given a temporary name. Now I've changed the name of the account in System Prefs/Accounts, and the new name is displayed on startup, but the home folder stubbornly displays the temporary name. If I open the info wondow for the folder, the name field is in gray. Any way to do this? Terminal?

What you're looking to do is change the short username, which is not as easy as Niel's recommendation, and generally not recommended unless you really know what you're doing. For full instructions, see:
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1428
You're probably better off creating a new account with the appropriate username and then copy data over from the old account.

Help please, I need to change my default home page.

Hi,
Help please in changing my default home page.
Thanks

See: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How+to+set+the+home+page
 
 
'''You need to update the following plugin:'''
*Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape
#'''''Check your plugin versions''''' on either of the following links':
#*http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
#*https://www-trunk.stage.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/
#*'''Note: plugin check page does not have information on all plugin versions'''
#'''Update Adobe Reader (PDF plugin):'''
#*From within your existing Adobe Reader ('''if you have it already installed'''):
#**Open the Adobe Reader program from your Programs list
#**Click Help > Check for Updates
#**Follow the prompts for updating
#**If this method works for you, skip the "Download complete installer" section below and proceed to "After the installation" below
#*Download complete installer ('''if you do NOT have Adobe Reader installed'''):
#**SAVE the installer to your hard drive (save to your Desktop so that you can find it after the download). Exit/Close Firefox. Run the installer you just downloaded.
#**Use either of the links below:
#***https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Adobe+Reader+plugin+with+Firefox ''(click on "Installing and updating Adobe Reader")''
#***''Also see Download link''': http://get.adobe.com/reader/otherversions/
#*After the installation, start Firefox and check your version again.

Changing name of "Home" in Finder under Places

Some way I have changed "Home" to another name in Finder and now I want to change it back to "Home" but I do not remember how (or why) I had changed it originally.
I would appreciate your help.
Thanks.

RetiredVRS wrote:
Thanks for the information. I was not aware that my login name was correct in appearing there.
The purpose of changing it to "Home" is to be able to distinguish it more readily as my home directory of my MBP when I have my iMac and MBP connected.
Any other information and/or suggestion(s) are welcome.
Thanks again.
You know it's home because of the small home or house icon next to it.
It's generically referred to as Home in the Finder Sidebar preferences. Maybe that's what you are recalling.
Message was edited by: nerowolfe

Changed name of home and lost all app config

I changed the name of my home folder from "matthewcrossley" to "mjc". Much to my dismay I lost all of my safari bookmarks and configurations. Mail also asks me to set it up all over again. I had a highly personalized machine and would like to undue the damage I have done. Any ideas what has happened and how to fix it?
powerbook G4 15" Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Instead of using those instructions, open the NetInfo Manager application in the /Applications/Utilities/ folder; next, click the padlock and type in your administrator password. In the list of users, locate the matthewcrossley account's home property, and change this to '/Users/mjc' without the quote marks. Don't alter or delete any other accounts, properties, or groups. Log out and back in to restore your data while keeping the new home folder name.
(11685)

Change Admin Acct - Home Folder Short Name

Hi Folks,
I'm a new MAC user and I accidentally "fat-fingered" the short name of the administrator's home folder during initial configuration of my machine. I think I remember seeing that the short name of the adminstrator's home folder can't be changed.
Is there a workaround that will allow me to change the short name of the administrator's home folder?
I don't want to have to look at this grossly-mispelled folder name for the next umpteen years.
Thanks much for any help.
Descartes
iMac 20inch Core 2 Duo, 2.33 GHz, 3MB SDRAM, 256MB VRAM Mac OS X (10.4.7) iBM Think Pad T41P, 1.7 GHz, WinXP
iMac 20inch Core 2 Duo, 2.33 GHz, 3MB SDRAM, 256MB VRAM Mac OS X (10.4.7) iBM Think Pad T41P, 1.7 GHz, WinXP

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106824 should do it for you.

How to change/apply new home folder path to 350+ users?

quick intro:
...had a screwy server, planned a rebuild.
added all active users to a specific group.
Exported said group, exported ALL users, exported anything I could think of!
Have vanilla built 10.4.10 server, few teething probs with a DNS glitch, think I'm over it...
not 100 percent sure, but 4 users I've tested appear to be working.
imported specific group, didnt show any members.
Had to import ALL users before they populated, unfortunatley ALL users appear to have active accounts, only want specific group active
(was I expecting to much?)
In a bid to tidy up home dirs, correct privelages etc.
is there a simple way to apply the same privs to hundreds of folders rather than selecting each one?
I basically want <user> as the owner, <admin> as the group, everyone else none.
Also need to change/apply a new home dir path to 350plus users
What is the easiest way to do this?
TIA
a very tired and frustrated system admin :-\

eeeff wrote:
quick intro:
...had a screwy server, planned a rebuild.
added all active users to a specific group.
Exported said group, exported ALL users, exported anything I could think of!
Have vanilla built 10.4.10 server, few teething probs with a DNS glitch, think I'm over it...
not 100 percent sure, but 4 users I've tested appear to be working.
imported specific group, didnt show any members.
Had to import ALL users before they populated, unfortunatley ALL users appear to have active accounts, only want specific group active
(was I expecting to much?)
Use the Search feature in WGM (upper right icon). If you want to apply a setting to say all users in the group "Teachers" and the GID is 100 then you would search and "Group ID IS 100. Check the box preform a batch edit. Now make any changes you want and save. WGM will prompt you with a list of users the change will apply to. Also if you don't check the box you will see a list of all users in that group, you can use this to delete all the members of another group OR export only the members in a group (highlight them all after a search).
In a bid to tidy up home dirs, correct privelages etc.
is there a simple way to apply the same privs to hundreds of folders rather than selecting each one?
I basically want <user> as the owner, <admin> as the group, everyone else none.
The following terminal command will apply privileges to every folder inside the current folder. Note that the folder name and the short name for the user must match exactly. cd to the directory with home folders first.
sudo for i in `ls`;do chown -R $i $i;done
(cut and paste to reduce the chance of devastating typo
Also need to change/apply a new home dir path to 350plus users
What is the easiest way to do this?
TIA
a very tired and frustrated system admin :-\

HELP! Changed shortname of home folder on Mtn. Lion and now everything is "gone"

Hello all,
Last night I was trying to boot up a brand new MacBook Pro using the latest update from my external drive used for Time Machine backups. It worked great... and then I decided to follow Apple's instructions on changing the shortname (via using a command on Terminal) of my user account because I got married 6 months ago and wanted to change my name. Now, unfortunately when I sign in on either the new administrative account I had to create to do that OR the original account, I can't access any of my files. So then I attempted to restore the new computer from my Time Machine backup again to just wipe it clean and redo it. However, my Time Machine now says my latest back up is 8 days old and it won't find the backup I just did from my OLD MacBook last night prior to trying to boot the new computer from it. I didn't want to try to figure out what was missing, so I decided to use Migration Assistant over WiFi instead, but that is going to take an additional 7 1/2 hours even from letting it run for the last 7 hours last night.
SO... is there any way to stop Migration Assistant and just FIND the files that are "hiding" from me since I changed the shortname and now can't find my files? AND, if I continue with Migration Assistant, is it going to create duplicates of all my files?
UGH... HELP!!!!
-Katie

Well... I fixed it by using Migration Assistant over WiFi (which took oh, 14 hours or so). Once my computer had received all the data from the old one (for the second time), I was able to locate the home folder I renamed and delete all of that data so it wasn't clogging up my computer. Was I thrilled to wait nearly 24 hours after receiving my brand new computer to use it? No. But, at least it all works.

Giving away G5, need to change name of "home" folder

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