Solved New HP WIN 11 laptop has user name of 12036

LeoT · Dec 25, 2021

I bought a new WIN 11 HP laptop to replace my 10 year old WIN 10 which is failing. When I finished the startup prompts it occurred to me it either never asked me for the system users name (usually my name) or it did and I fumbled. I checked config for users and found my name is 12036. I found porting configuration from old to new laptop is messy. For example Directory OPUS require I change my name to a number in four places. I foresee many more name fixes yet to go.
Question: I've always believed changing the name of the Primary user is a disaster. All files you created have the old user name and become inaccessible. Is that true for WIN 11 and can I go to users and do a rename.

TheMystic · Dec 25, 2021

LeoT said:
I bought a new WIN 11 HP laptop to replace my 10 year old WIN 10 which is failing. When I finished the startup prompts it occurred to me it either never asked me for the system users name (usually my name) or it did and I fumbled. I checked config for users and found my name is 12036. I found porting configuration from old to new laptop is messy. For example Directory OPUS require I change my name to a number in four places. I foresee many more name fixes yet to go.
Question: I've always believed changing the name of the Primary user is a disaster. All files you created have the old user name and become inaccessible. Is that true for WIN 11 and can I go to users and do a rename.

You can't rename the user folder. Don't know why Microsoft didn't make it easy to rename. Even if you try registry modifications, it will not work (some keys cannot be modified any longer).

Your only option is to create a new user with a name of your choice. Copy all your files and folders to the new user. Once you are certain everything is copied, delete the old user (including the user folder).

You can rename your computer under Advanced System Settings, and that is very simple.

Stigg · Dec 25, 2021

Changing the user name should be easy and shouldn't present problems. Changing the user folder name is a bit harder.

Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to rename a user profile folder for any account (local account or Microsoft account) in Windows 10 and Windows 11. When adding a new user account in Windows, a profile for the account is automatically created when the user signs in to the new account for the...

www.elevenforum.com

glasskuter · Dec 26, 2021

Since you are just beginning to set it up to your liking, why not make a new user with whatever username you want. Make sure it has administrative privileges.

While logged into 12036, if you have data files in your personal folders, go to C:\Users\12036
copy your files to the "public" user account folders. (Do not copy the appdata files, only those in DOCUMENTS, MUSIC, DESKTOP, VIDEOS, PICTURES, DOWNLOADS)

Logout of 12036 and login to the NEW USER and delete 12036 user account. You can then browse to C:\Users\Public. Cut the files from the "public" folders and paste them into your new user account. (By using the public folder as the 'middle man' you don't have to worry about file permissions.)

As for as your files on your Windows 10 computer, the best way to get them to the new computer is to copy them onto external media and paste them into your new user account on your new computer. You should not have any permission issues that way.

cereberus · Dec 26, 2021

LeoT said:
I bought a new WIN 11 HP laptop to replace my 10 year old WIN 10 which is failing. When I finished the startup prompts it occurred to me it either never asked me for the system users name (usually my name) or it did and I fumbled. I checked config for users and found my name is 12036. I found porting configuration from old to new laptop is messy. For example Directory OPUS require I change my name to a number in four places. I foresee many more name fixes yet to go.
Question: I've always believed changing the name of the Primary user is a disaster. All files you created have the old user name and become inaccessible. Is that true for WIN 11 and can I go to users and do a rename.

No - the rename is only for renaming pc. Eaaiest way is to reset your pc and start over.

LeoT · Dec 26, 2021

Wow, that was fast! It looks like I have a plan going forward.

When I discovered my user name was 12036 I made a second administrator using the name & password I intended. I have a second admin on most of my computers just in case the superuser gets corrupted. It looks like I've done the first step suggested by TheMystic! There is little admin data or user software installed because I stopped configuring when I discovered the login name problem. Almost all user data on my machines is in My Documents on all my computers.

I'm typing on my main computer, an Intel Devils Canyon overclocked to 4.4 Ghz.

I do have a backup plan, I found the BIOS has a restore to factory default. If I mess up I can start over where it was on arrival Dec 23. Many HP Windows machines have a restore partition.

DISCLOSURE: I retired from Hewlett Packard after 35 years, mostly in computer service.

Leo

zbook · Dec 26, 2021

For backup plans you can save files and install a fresh copy of Windows.

Recovery options in Windows - Microsoft Support

Learn about the recovery options in Windows. Find out how to reset your PC, go back to a previous version of Windows, or use media to reinstall Windows.

support.microsoft.com

Another tutorial with user profile options:

Fix User Profile Service Failed the Sign-in Error in Windows 10

How to Fix 'The User Profile Service service failed the sign-in. User Profile cannot be loaded.' Error in Windows 10

www.tenforums.com

LeoT · Dec 26, 2021

Hello,

Everything Worked! I had already created a second administrator so I'll comment from there. I verified the new login was working fully and eventually removed user 12036 and its files under \users. I added a new backup admin. Nothing bad happened so I resumed the installation. It is taking awhile, but should be finished in a few days.

I thank all of you for your great support!

glasskuter · Dec 26, 2021

@LeoT Just want to verify that when you removed the user 12036 that you did it from settings-account-family and other users. (which is the proper way to remover a second account)

LeoT · Dec 26, 2021

What I did is what I always use for USER editing.

Computer Management > Local Users and Groups > Users > Highlight the user > Right Click > Delete

I just followed your thread and found Family & other users and see only the backup admin I created.

Leo

TheMystic · Dec 26, 2021

LeoT said:
Hello,

Everything Worked! I had already created a second administrator so I'll comment from there. I verified the new login was working fully and eventually removed user 12036 and its files under \users. I added a new backup admin. Nothing bad happened so I resumed the installation. It is taking awhile, but should be finished in a few days.

I thank all of you for your great support!

Just so you know, there is a built-in hidden administrator account by default. You don't have to create one just as a back-up account.

From command prompt:

ENABLE BUILT-IN ADMINISTRATOR

net user administrator /active:yes

DISABLE BUILT-IN ADMINISTRATOR

net user administrator /active:no

unifex · Dec 27, 2021

Perhaps not entirely relevant since the question seems to be resolved, but I always avoid this kind of problem by never using the Users folder structure created by Microsoft in the first place. I just create a separate partition for my files and structure the folder tree there the way I like it (I find Documents, Pictures, Videos, etc. to be completely useless to me). My machines are typically single user machines, so I don't worry about permissions (as in preventing other users from reading and overwriting my files). In that case, file ownership is mostly irrelevant, so when I transfer files from another machine, I just copy files, there is no need for any software to do that. Messing up (or changing or whatever) Windows users has absolutely no effect on my files (other than the owner becomes a long string if the original user is no longer there). Another advantage is that reinstalling (or upgrading or what not) Windows similarly has no effect on my files since they are physically on a different partition (ideally, on a separate drive, but in a laptop that is not always possible).

LeoT · Dec 27, 2021

TheMystic,

Thank you!
I always saw a user called administrator described as "Built-in account for administrating the computer/domain" but could not figure out how to use it. When a friend messed up his login so he could not access his computer we tried to login using that name.
1. We did not know you have to enable it beforehand.
2. We did not know its password.

Therefore I always created a user for backup but will keep your message on hand!

I just activated administrator as you described on the new laptop. When I rebooted it came up as administrator without a password. So I signed out and selected my name to get back in control. So I started to assign this new user a password. I got a dire warning not to do this! The warning did recommend a less drastic way of changing a password using control alt delete. That didn't work, you have to have the current password to change it!

So I went back to my old way again using Computer Management when logged in as Administrator. I figured if the account does not have a password adding one should not cause loss of data. It appears it works! Having Administrator on the login page without a password is a huge security risk. My desktops never leave the house but I have taken my laptop places like McDonald's or a diner!

All's well that ends well! I have two backup administrators which is fine and my name is no longer 12036.

Thank you again.

Leo.

The Pool Man · Dec 27, 2021

cereberus said:
No - the rename is only for renaming pc. Eaaiest way is to reset your pc and start over.

And Bingo was his name-o!

Winuser · Dec 28, 2021

I know that when first setting up Windows if you use your MS account Windows will use the first five characters of your E-mail address. Have you ever used the number 12036 for anything or was it just a random number?

LeoT · Dec 28, 2021

WinUser,

I can't think of any connection to 12036 for me. I had to create a MS account during the initial questions using my real name. I've owned Windows versions starting with WIN 3.1. I used WIN 2 breifly at HP but a co worker owned it. WIN 11 is the first version to force me to have an account.

Leo

unifex · Dec 30, 2021

I suppose that if a laptop comes with an existing user then it could be that it's not a new laptop - at least, someone did something to it creating the user in the process. Whenever I install Windows - or set up a brad new laptop for the first time - there are no "pre-existing" users on that system. Now, I never use Microsoft accounts for local users and I never setup Windows while connected to the internet, but I doubt that any of that is relevant here. While there are several solutions to remove that mysterious user and setup the user you want, if I were you, I would simply exchange the laptop for another unit, making sure it's not refurbished or something. I'm not saying that's what you've got, but I'd be very suspicious if my brand new laptop had a user account that I did not create.

The-Hive · Dec 30, 2021

Was it brand new or 2nd user machine? where did you get it?

iko22 · Dec 30, 2021

LeoT said:
Question: I've always believed changing the name of the Primary user is a disaster. All files you created have the old user name and become inaccessible. Is that true for WIN 11 and can I go to users and do a rename.

This is now much easier to do in Windows 11. You can read about making such changes in the forum tutorials:

Change Name of User Profile Folder in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to rename a user profile folder for any account (local account or Microsoft account) in Windows 10 and Windows 11. When adding a new user account in Windows, a profile for the account is automatically created when the user signs in to the new account for the...

www.elevenforum.com

and

Change User Account Name in Windows 11 Tutorial

This tutorial will show you how to change the name of a local account or Microsoft account in Windows 10 and Windows 11. Having different accounts on a shared PC lets multiple people use the same device, all while giving everyone their own sign-in info, plus access to their own files, browser...

www.elevenforum.com

before deciding on whether you want to make those changes yourself. Always worthwhile creating a backup before making any changes.

LeoT · Dec 30, 2021

Still getting lots of replies.

The-Hive: Brand new, bought from HP Web Site, first turn on so it went directly to first configuration. I did not see a prompt for the user name but I may have missed it. I definitely didn't type in five digits. But this laptop has a touch screen so accidental swipes are a possibility.

iko22: I've already changed the name with help from ElevenForum. I'm almost finished with adding/configuring my software. Early on I copied My Documents from the computer I'm typing on. About 80 TB and I keep the same directory on my 5 desktops and 2 active Laptops. It took 16 hours because the new laptop lacks an RJ-45 LAN port!

I just received a USB-C to RJ45 adapter and a USB DVD to solve the two things about the HP I did not like. The world is moving toward WIFI and and no Removable Media and TouchScreens. I'm too "Old School" to like that! A lot of programs I installed yesterday were on CD/DVD. I knew it would not have a DVD but missed the fact that no LAN port was mentioned in the literature.

BTW: Updates of My Documents between my computers are via Directory OPUS synchronize on my Gigabit LAN. They don't take long! Just think of how many backups I have of my data!

I'm getting off subject but I do like my new laptop!

Leo