How to change Windows Greeting?

Robert A. Macy · Apr 26, 2008

How do I change the Windows greeting? Win 98SE

I inherited from a fellow employee an IBM ThinkPad [laptop], which he
kindly converted for my use. The only residual left was a greeting
with his name on it asking for a password that only required I hit
CANCEL to boot up Windows and fully use the laptop.

He is no longer with the firm, all the licenses for all the software
are legitmate. I've used this unit for a while with a lot of my own
installations added to the existing structures, and I'm reluctant to
reinstall from scratch.

So how do I change the greeting to use my name, or bypass the request?

Robert

philo · Apr 26, 2008

"Robert A. Macy" <macy@california.com> wrote in message
news:36736714-d3e7-4498-a72a-6553ed9a6b18@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> How do I change the Windows greeting? Win 98SE
>
> I inherited from a fellow employee an IBM ThinkPad [laptop], which he
> kindly converted for my use. The only residual left was a greeting
> with his name on it asking for a password that only required I hit
> CANCEL to boot up Windows and fully use the laptop.
>
> He is no longer with the firm, all the licenses for all the software
> are legitmate. I've used this unit for a while with a lot of my own
> installations added to the existing structures, and I'm reluctant to
> reinstall from scratch.
>
> So how do I change the greeting to use my name, or bypass the request?
>
> Robert

Win98 has two possible log-on's that I can think of.

Typically, the log on screen will have a name that you can simply click
on...
then you can "back over" it and enter your own name and password or hit
"enter" for no password.

The other possible log on screen you might get is one where you would have
to simply add your own profile
and delete the existing one.

Either way...do a drive search for files ending in .pwl
and delete any non-wanted profiles

There are a few add'l options I'm sure you can find on a quick Google search

Gary S. Terhune · Apr 26, 2008

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/152104

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
www.grystmill.com

"Robert A. Macy" <macy@california.com> wrote in message
news:36736714-d3e7-4498-a72a-6553ed9a6b18@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> How do I change the Windows greeting? Win 98SE
>
> I inherited from a fellow employee an IBM ThinkPad [laptop], which he
> kindly converted for my use. The only residual left was a greeting
> with his name on it asking for a password that only required I hit
> CANCEL to boot up Windows and fully use the laptop.
>
> He is no longer with the firm, all the licenses for all the software
> are legitmate. I've used this unit for a while with a lot of my own
> installations added to the existing structures, and I'm reluctant to
> reinstall from scratch.
>
> So how do I change the greeting to use my name, or bypass the request?
>
> Robert

Robert A. Macy · Apr 26, 2008

On Apr 26, 3:08 pm, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:
> Seehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/152104
>
> --
> Gary S. Terhune
> MS-MVP Shell/Userwww.grystmill.com
>
> "Robert A. Macy" <m...@california.com> wrote in messagenews:36736714-d3e7-4498-a72a-6553ed9a6b18@z24g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > How do I change the Windows greeting? Win 98SE
>
> > I inherited from a fellow employee an IBM ThinkPad [laptop], which he
> > kindly converted for my use. The only residual left was a greeting
> > with his name on it asking for a password that only required I hit
> > CANCEL to boot up Windows and fully use the laptop.
>
> > He is no longer with the firm, all the licenses for all the software
> > are legitmate. I've used this unit for a while with a lot of my own
> > installations added to the existing structures, and I'm reluctant to
> > reinstall from scratch.
>
> > So how do I change the greeting to use my name, or bypass the request?
>
> > Robert- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you philo and Gary for reply. Will check into the processes.

For some reason Gary, the URL would not allow me to save it for later
review, just came back with a sorry can't save !!! I could save it
using .txt, which will work, but it's more difficult to read. Oh,
well.

At least I have several starting points.

Robert

PCR · Apr 27, 2008

Robert A. Macy wrote:
| How do I change the Windows greeting? Win 98SE
|
| I inherited from a fellow employee an IBM ThinkPad [laptop], which he
| kindly converted for my use. The only residual left was a greeting
| with his name on it asking for a password that only required I hit
| CANCEL to boot up Windows and fully use the laptop.
|
| He is no longer with the firm, all the licenses for all the software
| are legitmate. I've used this unit for a while with a lot of my own
| installations added to the existing structures, and I'm reluctant to
| reinstall from scratch.
|
| So how do I change the greeting to use my name, or bypass the request?

Can it be you need to become the registered owner...?...

Take a look in this Registry key...
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
RegisteredOwner "Name of registered owner"

SO...

(a) "START button, Run, Regedit".
"My Computer" should be highlighted in the left pane.
(b) Using the Edit menu, Find the unwanted name.
(c) When found, R-Clk it in the right pane, & select "Modify".
(d) Proceed again from (b), until RegEdit says there are no more.

CAREFUL in the Registry, though. DON'T willy-nilly change anything you
see! Also, RegEdit's Find is SLOW-- be patient, or take...
http://www.pcmag.com/ 's Registry Detective, which incredibly will find
all matches to any search in 10 seconds & put them all to the screen for
examination. Take RegEdit+ as well!
http://www.pcmag.com/ 's Registry Detective, which incredibly will find
all matches to any search in 10 seconds & put them all to the screen for
examination.

Also, look inside...
C:\WINDOWS\helpdesk\winrep\UserInfo.txt

To find more...
(a) "START button, Find, Files or Folders".
(b) Enter the unwanted name in the "Containing text" field.
(c) Click the Advanced button, & select "Text Document".
from the "Of Type" dropdown menu.
(d) Click the Find Now button.

| Robert

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net

PCR · Apr 27, 2008

Robert A. Macy wrote:
| On Apr 26, 3:08 pm, "Gary S. Terhune" <none> wrote:
|> Seehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/152104
|>
|> --
|> Gary S. Terhune
|> MS-MVP Shell/Userwww.grystmill.com
|>
|> "Robert A. Macy" <m...@california.com> wrote in
|>
messagenews:36736714-d3e7-4498-a72a-6553ed9a6b18@z24g2000prf.googlegroup
s.com...
|>
|>
|>
|> > How do I change the Windows greeting? Win 98SE
|>
|> > I inherited from a fellow employee an IBM ThinkPad [laptop], which
|> > he kindly converted for my use. The only residual left was a
|> > greeting with his name on it asking for a password that only
|> > required I hit CANCEL to boot up Windows and fully use the laptop.
|>
|> > He is no longer with the firm, all the licenses for all the
|> > software are legitmate. I've used this unit for a while with a lot
|> > of my own installations added to the existing structures, and I'm
|> > reluctant to reinstall from scratch.
|>
|> > So how do I change the greeting to use my name, or bypass the
|> > request?
|>
|> > Robert- Hide quoted text -
|>
|> - Show quoted text -
|
| Thank you philo and Gary for reply. Will check into the processes.
|
| For some reason Gary, the URL would not allow me to save it for later
| review, just came back with a sorry can't save !!! I could save it
| using .txt, which will work, but it's more difficult to read. Oh,
| well.

Did you use the File menu & click Save As? It worked for me, but created
a folder & a veritable ton of files...

Directory of C:\WINDOWS\TEMP
HOWTOP~1 <DIR> 04-27-08 8:56p How to Prevent a Windows 95, Windows
98, or Windows Me Logon Prompt at Startup_files
HOWTOP~1 HTM 42,736 04-27-08 8:57p How to Prevent a Windows 95,
Windows 98, or Windows Me Logon Prompt at Startup.htm

Directory of C:\WINDOWS\TEMP\How to Prevent a Windows 95, Windows 98, or
Windows Me Logon Prompt at Startup_files

AC JS 13,353 04-20-08 12:02a ac.js
BRANDING CSS 10,653 04-27-08 8:57p branding.css
BRANDING JS 2,734 04-14-08 7:35p branding.js
BRANDI~1 CSS 1,312 04-27-08 8:57p brandingPngFilter.css
CAWPQNSD GIF 43 04-27-08 8:57p CAWPQNSD.gif
COMMON JS 49,302 04-14-08 7:34p common.js
DEFAULT CSS 59,087 04-27-08 8:57p default.css
GSFX_B~1 PNG 3,440 04-14-08 7:34p gsfx_brnd_ms_logo.png
GSFX_B~2 PNG 1,081 04-14-08 7:35p gsfx_brnd_ms_logo_sml_wht.png
GSSSM_~1 GIF 418 01-19-08 6:28p GSSSM_rltlngRelatedlanguages.gif
NJS GIF 67 04-27-08 8:57p njs.gif
ONEPIX GIF 43 01-19-08 6:28p onepix.gif
OVERRIDE CSS 703 04-27-08 8:57p override.css
SEARCH JS 11,020 04-14-08 7:34p search.js
SURVEY JS 21,599 04-14-08 7:34p survey.js
SURVEY~1 CSS 506 04-27-08 8:57p surveytrigger.css
SURVEY~1 JS 2,044 04-14-08 7:34p surveycookieutil.js
SURVEY~2 JS 7,025 04-14-08 7:34p surveytrigger.js
UPARROW GIF 827 01-19-08 6:28p uparrow.gif
WTCORE JS 12,299 04-14-08 7:35p wtCore.js
WTINIT JS 577 04-14-08 7:35p wtInit.js
XMLCON~1 CSS 11,863 04-27-08 8:57p xmlContent.css
22 file(s) 209,996 bytes

Note the folder & main file name are very long. I can think Windows
might refuse to create them, if put deep into a nest of folders-- there
may be a limit to length! Try creating it in C:\Windows\Temp or
something else that is short.

| At least I have several starting points.
|
| Robert

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net

Mart · Apr 28, 2008

Or, if you prefer to do it the safe way :-

Try http://billsway.com/vbspage/
and look for the 'Change Registered Owner and/or Organization' VBS tool (6th
from top in 2nd set)

Mart

"PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message
news:%23gFgb0MqIHA.4848@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Robert A. Macy wrote:
> | How do I change the Windows greeting? Win 98SE
> |
> | I inherited from a fellow employee an IBM ThinkPad [laptop], which he
> | kindly converted for my use. The only residual left was a greeting
> | with his name on it asking for a password that only required I hit
> | CANCEL to boot up Windows and fully use the laptop.
> |
> | He is no longer with the firm, all the licenses for all the software
> | are legitmate. I've used this unit for a while with a lot of my own
> | installations added to the existing structures, and I'm reluctant to
> | reinstall from scratch.
> |
> | So how do I change the greeting to use my name, or bypass the request?
>
> Can it be you need to become the registered owner...?...
>
> Take a look in this Registry key...
> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
> RegisteredOwner "Name of registered owner"
>
> SO...
>
> (a) "START button, Run, Regedit".
> "My Computer" should be highlighted in the left pane.
> (b) Using the Edit menu, Find the unwanted name.
> (c) When found, R-Clk it in the right pane, & select "Modify".
> (d) Proceed again from (b), until RegEdit says there are no more.
>
> CAREFUL in the Registry, though. DON'T willy-nilly change anything you
> see! Also, RegEdit's Find is SLOW-- be patient, or take...
> http://www.pcmag.com/ 's Registry Detective, which incredibly will find
> all matches to any search in 10 seconds & put them all to the screen for
> examination. Take RegEdit+ as well!
> http://www.pcmag.com/ 's Registry Detective, which incredibly will find
> all matches to any search in 10 seconds & put them all to the screen for
> examination.
>
> Also, look inside...
> C:\WINDOWS\helpdesk\winrep\UserInfo.txt
>
> To find more...
> (a) "START button, Find, Files or Folders".
> (b) Enter the unwanted name in the "Containing text" field.
> (c) Click the Advanced button, & select "Text Document".
> from the "Of Type" dropdown menu.
> (d) Click the Find Now button.
>
> | Robert
>
> --
> Thanks or Good Luck,
> There may be humor in this post, and,
> Naturally, you will not sue,
> Should things get worse after this,
> PCR
> pcrrcp@netzero.net
>
>

PCR · Apr 28, 2008

Robert A. Macy · May 3, 2008

On Apr 28, 5:24 pm, "PCR" <pcr...@netzero.net> wrote:
> Mart wrote:
>
> | Or, if you prefer to do it the safe way :-
> |
> | Tryhttp://billsway.com/vbspage/
> | and look for the 'Change Registered Owner and/or Organization' VBS
> | tool (6th from top in 2nd set)
>
> That has the look of an excellent site, & I intend to spend time there
> when I decide to learn scripting in earnest. Looks to me the script
> there you mention would get the RegisteredOwner in that one Registry
> key. (My method would find the name perhaps registered to other products
> too. One should search also for just the last name, as mine is like that
> in an MSWorks Registry key.)
>
> BUT what is this other key mentioned in the same BillsWay script, where
> he seeks to put RegisteredOrganization...?...
>
> HKCU\Software\Microsoft\MS Setup (ACME)\User Info\
>
> I have no such key! (But I'm no organization.)
>
> | Mart
> |
> |
> || "PCR" <pcr...@netzero.net> wrote in message
>
> |news:%23gFgb0MqIHA.4848@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> |> Robert A. Macy wrote:
> |> | How do I change the Windows greeting? Win 98SE
> |> |
> |> | I inherited from a fellow employee an IBM ThinkPad [laptop], which
> |> | he kindly converted for my use. The only residual left was a
> |> | greeting with his name on it asking for a password that only
> |> | required I hit CANCEL to boot up Windows and fully use the laptop.
> |> |
> |> | He is no longer with the firm, all the licenses for all the
> |> | software are legitmate. I've used this unit for a while with a lot
> |> | of my own installations added to the existing structures, and I'm
> |> | reluctant to reinstall from scratch.
> |> |
> |> | So how do I change the greeting to use my name, or bypass the
> |> | request?
> |>
> |> Can it be you need to become the registered owner...?...
> |>
> |> Take a look in this Registry key...
> |> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
> |> RegisteredOwner "Name of registered owner"
> |>
> |> SO...
> |>
> |> (a) "START button, Run, Regedit".
> |> "My Computer" should be highlighted in the left pane.
> |> (b) Using the Edit menu, Find the unwanted name.
> |> (c) When found, R-Clk it in the right pane, & select "Modify".
> |> (d) Proceed again from (b), until RegEdit says there are no more.
> |>
> |> CAREFUL in the Registry, though. DON'T willy-nilly change anything
> |> you see! Also, RegEdit's Find is SLOW-- be patient, or take...
> |>http://www.pcmag.com/'s Registry Detective, which incredibly will
> |> find all matches to any search in 10 seconds & put them all to the
> |> screen for examination. Take RegEdit+ as well!
> |>http://www.pcmag.com/'s Registry Detective, which incredibly will
> |> find all matches to any search in 10 seconds & put them all to the
> |> screen for examination.
> |>
> |> Also, look inside...
> |> C:\WINDOWS\helpdesk\winrep\UserInfo.txt
> |>
> |> To find more...
> |> (a) "START button, Find, Files or Folders".
> |> (b) Enter the unwanted name in the "Containing text" field.
> |> (c) Click the Advanced button, & select "Text Document".
> |> from the "Of Type" dropdown menu.
> |> (d) Click the Find Now button.
> |>
> |> | Robert
> |>
> |> --
> |> Thanks or Good Luck,
> |> There may be humor in this post, and,
> |> Naturally, you will not sue,
> |> Should things get worse after this,
> |> PCR
> |> pcr...@netzero.net
>
> --
> Thanks or Good Luck,
> There may be humor in this post, and,
> Naturally, you will not sue,
> Should things get worse after this,
> PCR
> pcr...@netzero.net

Gentlemen,

Thank you VERY much.

I first followed Gary's idea of removing profiles, then removing the
lists, which it did not allow me to do.

I then followed the instructions to use EDIT and remove every
reference to the names, and that found quite a few. After removing
all the references, then Gary's suggestion of removing all profiles
worked. BUT...the name kept appearing on boot up. Until I read the
message and it said hit ENTER and upon doing that the message has gone
away permanently.

Now on boot up, the machine goes right to my screen, so I can boot up
unattended and save time.

However, I never found anything relating to REGISTEROWNER or such.
But that's all a moot point now that you all have solved my problem.
Thanks again.

Robert

PCR · May 3, 2008

Robert A. Macy wrote:
| On Apr 28, 5:24 pm, "PCR" <pcr...@netzero.net> wrote:
|> Mart wrote:
|>
|> | Or, if you prefer to do it the safe way :-
|> |
|> | Tryhttp://billsway.com/vbspage/
|> | and look for the 'Change Registered Owner and/or Organization' VBS
|> | tool (6th from top in 2nd set)
|>
|> That has the look of an excellent site, & I intend to spend time
|> there when I decide to learn scripting in earnest. Looks to me the
|> script there you mention would get the RegisteredOwner in that one
|> Registry key. (My method would find the name perhaps registered to
|> other products too. One should search also for just the last name,
|> as mine is like that in an MSWorks Registry key.)
|>
|> BUT what is this other key mentioned in the same BillsWay script,
|> where he seeks to put RegisteredOrganization...?...
|>
|> HKCU\Software\Microsoft\MS Setup (ACME)\User Info\
|>
|> I have no such key! (But I'm no organization.)
|>
|> | Mart
|> |
|> |
|> || "PCR" <pcr...@netzero.net> wrote in message
|> |> news:%23gFgb0MqIHA.4848@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... Robert A. Macy
|> |> wrote:
|> |> | How do I change the Windows greeting? Win 98SE
|> |> |
|> |> | I inherited from a fellow employee an IBM ThinkPad [laptop],
|> |> | which he kindly converted for my use. The only residual left
|> |> | was a greeting with his name on it asking for a password that
|> |> | only required I hit CANCEL to boot up Windows and fully use the
|> |> | laptop.
|> |> |
|> |> | He is no longer with the firm, all the licenses for all the
|> |> | software are legitmate. I've used this unit for a while with a
|> |> | lot of my own installations added to the existing structures,
|> |> | and I'm reluctant to reinstall from scratch.
|> |> |
|> |> | So how do I change the greeting to use my name, or bypass the
|> |> | request?
|> |>
|> |> Can it be you need to become the registered owner...?...
|> |>
|> |> Take a look in this Registry key...
|> |> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
|> |> RegisteredOwner "Name of registered owner"
|> |>
|> |> SO...
|> |>
|> |> (a) "START button, Run, Regedit".
|> |> "My Computer" should be highlighted in the left pane.
|> |> (b) Using the Edit menu, Find the unwanted name.
|> |> (c) When found, R-Clk it in the right pane, & select "Modify".
|> |> (d) Proceed again from (b), until RegEdit says there are no more.
|> |>
|> |> CAREFUL in the Registry, though. DON'T willy-nilly change anything
|> |> you see! Also, RegEdit's Find is SLOW-- be patient, or take...
|> |>http://www.pcmag.com/'s Registry Detective, which incredibly will
|> |> find all matches to any search in 10 seconds & put them all to the
|> |> screen for examination. Take RegEdit+ as well!
|> |>http://www.pcmag.com/'s Registry Detective, which incredibly will
|> |> find all matches to any search in 10 seconds & put them all to the
|> |> screen for examination.
|> |>
|> |> Also, look inside...
|> |> C:\WINDOWS\helpdesk\winrep\UserInfo.txt
|> |>
|> |> To find more...
|> |> (a) "START button, Find, Files or Folders".
|> |> (b) Enter the unwanted name in the "Containing text" field.
|> |> (c) Click the Advanced button, & select "Text Document".
|> |> from the "Of Type" dropdown menu.
|> |> (d) Click the Find Now button.
|> |>
|> |> | Robert
|> |>
|> |> --
|> |> Thanks or Good Luck,
|> |> There may be humor in this post, and,
|> |> Naturally, you will not sue,
|> |> Should things get worse after this,
|> |> PCR
|> |> pcr...@netzero.net
|>
|> --
|> Thanks or Good Luck,
|> There may be humor in this post, and,
|> Naturally, you will not sue,
|> Should things get worse after this,
|> PCR
|> pcr...@netzero.net
|
| Gentlemen,
|
| Thank you VERY much.
|
| I first followed Gary's idea of removing profiles, then removing the
| lists, which it did not allow me to do.
|
| I then followed the instructions to use EDIT and remove every
| reference to the names, and that found quite a few. After removing
| all the references, then Gary's suggestion of removing all profiles
| worked. BUT...the name kept appearing on boot up. Until I read the
| message and it said hit ENTER and upon doing that the message has gone
| away permanently.
|
| Now on boot up, the machine goes right to my screen, so I can boot up
| unattended and save time.
|
| However, I never found anything relating to REGISTEROWNER or such.
| But that's all a moot point now that you all have solved my problem.
| Thanks again.

You are welcome. That was...

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion
RegisteredOwner "Name of registered owner"

However, sounds as if you are fine now. Glad to hear it. Sounds like
Terhune was primarily responsible. And he works with a cannibalized
machine held together with spit & mud!

| Robert

--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net

How to change Windows Greeting?

Robert A. Macy

philo

Gary S. Terhune

Robert A. Macy

PCR

PCR

Mart

PCR

Robert A. Macy

PCR

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