Changing your username from administrator or owner
to your Thomas username in Windows XP

Re-naming the account username does NOT really re-name the account. You MUST create a new user account.  To prove this, right click on the start button, and choose explore.  Windows explorer comes up and shows you the start menu folder for the current user account that is logged in.  If you navigate to the folder that contains the start menu folder, you will note that the current user account is displayed as the original username.  Even if you re-name the account username, it will always use the original username for identification of the account.

How to change your username in Windows XP:

Note:  Using this method, you will lose all saved settings that you made under the previous account, including your desktop background pictures, color schemes, event sounds, etc.

1. Login to your computer (with administrative privileges).
2. Click Start, Control Panel
3. Double-click User Accounts
4. Click Create a New Account in the Pick a Task list box
5. Type the name for the account (this should be your Thomas username).
6. Type a password for this account (this should be the same as your Thomas username if you want to password protect this account).
7. Select the desired account type (Computer Administrator).
8. Click Create Account.
9. Click Ok.
10. Click Start, Log Off.
11. Log in using the new account username and password.
12. Copy saved documents, start menu items, Internet Explorer favorites and cookies from old user account profile.
1. Right-click on the Start button
2. Choose Explore.
3. You will be in the Start Menu folder of your new username.  The folder tree should look similar to this:
   
4. Navigate to your OLD User folder (it is probably labeled either Owner or Administrator.)
5. Right-Click on the Cookies folder, choose Copy.
6. Navigate to your NEW User folder (this should be your username.)
7. Right-Click on your username and choose Paste.
8. If a prompt asks you to overwrite an existing file, choose Yes.
9. Follow steps 4 through 8 in this section for these other folders:  Favorites, Start Menu, and My Documents.
13. Close Windows Explorer.
14. You are finished. From now on, login using this new account to use your computer.