Solved: renaming user accounts

[Lvenable]

I am using windows server 2003, I have a user who is using someone else's account, she was never issued her own instead just took over an old acount. If I rename the user account it should have not affect on any of the information, correct? I just need to make sure as the new user is in our accounting dept. I really can't afford to lose any info. Thanks

 

[Squashman]

I usually just create a new user account and copy all the settings and attributes over to the new account. I would assume that 2003 has the ability to create a new user based on a template or another user account. This way it will copy over all the user attributes to the new user. Then just copy over the files to the new users directory. Keep the old account around for a while until you are sure things are ok. Just keep it locked.

 

[Lvenable]

I know how to copy the user's account to make a new account but that will not allow the user to keep the same desktop and shortcuts. I would prefer to just rename that account if it does not affect any of the information. Does anyone know if by renaming the account I will lose any info?

 

[Squashman]

Cant you copy the profile and desktop shortcuts.

 

[Edenalig]

Cant you copy the profile and desktop shortcuts.

Yeh, rename the foder in your user home space to what there new account will be and then point the new profile at it in AD.

If your using roaming profiles then just rename it to and point at it in AD as above, that would take a min at most

 

[Lvenable]

I'm not sure I understand Edenalig's suggestion. However, I would just like to know, if I go into Active Directory users and Computers, select the user account in question, right click, Select properties, change the users info, Select the account tab, and then change the user logon name; will I lose any information? I appreciate all of the suggestions, but i really just want to rename the accoutn and not recreate it. Thanks

 

[Lvenable]

The answer to my question is yes, you can simply right click on the user's name in the active users and computers directory. select rename and then enter the new information. No information is lost and the only change made is the user's name. Hope this helps someone else.