[Eden Aurora]

I purchased a new iMac for my brother. I took it home and set it up and configured it with all the software he would need. During the initial setup, I made the computer username "Greg". Now he tells me that he changed his mind and wants a Powerbook. ok.

So my sister says that she needs a computer and she would like the iMac. Great for me, cause it's already configured.

My only problem is that when i setup the computer and i had to enter a Username (which it told me at the time i was setting it up couldn't be changed). I don't want my sisters computer to have the user name of "Greg".

Is there a way to change this?

I don't want to format and reinstall all the software and i don't want to setup a second account name in the system. I want the main account to be hers. I want the main account to be named "Lilly".

[Simon]

Sys Prefs > Accounts > authenticate (lock icon), right-click admin account > Advanced options...

[Eden Aurora]

and what exactly am i changing on that screen? Is it just the username or do i have to change the home folder as well ?

or, when i change the username, it automatically creates a new home folder?

[OreoCookie]

It changes the home folder as well (unless you don't change the short user name). Do not simply rename the user's home folder, this will break the user account. You can easily change the long user name in the System Prefs under Users. If you want to change the short user name and adjust the name of the home folder, you need to follow Simon's instructions. Short names must be all lower-case and contain no spaces and special characters.

For detailed instructions, check out the last point (`The full monty: …') on macworld.com.

Make sure to have a backup handy, just in case!

[Radioflyer]

This is of interest to me too having bought a used MacBook. How do I "right click" without a mouse? Can you recommend an alternate method or path to get from the Admin Account to its "Advanced options"?

I can edit the Admin's "Full Name" but the Home Folder still has the old name. That's what I'd like to edit.

[Chuckit]

Two-finger-click, right-trackpad-click, control-click, etc.

[tooki]

It's a lot easier to just create a new user account, make it an admin, and then delete the old admin account. There is no such thing as "a main account". Every admin account on the system is equal.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by tooki 

It's a lot easier to just create a new user account, make it an admin, and then delete the old admin account. There is no such thing as "a main account". Every admin account on the system is equal.

Yup.

[Simon]

Except that the OP explicitly stated she didn't want to do that.

Originally Posted by Eden Aurora 

... and i don't want to setup a second account name in the system.

Sounds to me like setting up the original account involved a lot of work and she doesn't want to have to do again.

[tooki]

It's not always wise to take the question asker's requirements at face value, and I suspect this is one of those cases.

[slugslugslug]

Also, from reading the OP’s original post, it seems to me she just doesn’t want there to be >1 account, so adding one and removing the original still leaves her with one. Unless she did lots of tweaks to Greg’s user settings, tooki’s advice really seems like the most painless way to go.

[Eden Aurora]

Thanks Tooki!

In the end, so long as i have 1 account i'm happy. That was my goal. So creating a new admin account and then deleting the old account is exactly what i'll do.

Thanks for reading between the lines. didn't realize my question was blurry.

[tooki]

You're welcome. I'm just experienced in distilling a user's stated requirements ("don't wanna make a second account") into actual requirements ("don't want to end up with unnecessary accounts").

Good luck, eden!

[Judge_Fire]

Originally Posted by OreoCookie 

Do not simply rename the user's home folder, this will break the user account.

Does 10.6 actually still let you do this? ( No, I'm not going to try )