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Q: Can't change Home Directory name

Problem: I inherited an iMac from my father - v10.9.4.  I made myself the new administrator and deleted him as a user.  The home directory is still under his name.  I suspect this is because when I deleted him as a user, I selected the option "Don't change the home folder - the home folder remains in the Users folder".  I did this, perhaps erroneously, to still have access to the files (music / photos) he left for me on the HD. 

 

Goal: to change the home directory name to match my account name yet still have access to the files my father left for me.

 

I have tried the directions listed in HT1428: OS X: How to change user account name or home directory name.  I followed step 1 in the section for OS X v10.7 and later and set up a new, second admin account.  Yet, when I log into the new second admin account, there is no /Users folder in Finder.  Finder is virtually blank, and no Mac HD icon on the desktop either.  So I can't get to the home folder to rename it. 

 

Guidance appreciated!

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Aug 29, 2014 11:50 AM

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Q: Can't change Home Directory name

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  • by Niel,Solvedanswer

    Niel Niel Aug 29, 2014 11:53 AM in response to pmacseattle
    Level 10 (313,513 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 29, 2014 11:53 AM in response to pmacseattle

    Choose Computer from the Finder’s Go menu, double-click the internal drive, and locate the Users folder. If desired, open the General tab of the Finder’s preferences and check the Hard disks box.

     

    (111729)

  • by pmacseattle,

    pmacseattle pmacseattle Aug 29, 2014 12:34 PM in response to Niel
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 29, 2014 12:34 PM in response to Niel

    Thanks Neil, this worked and allowed me to delete the old account and save it to disk image. However, the deletion appears to be slow - over 20" have passed. Any idea how long to expect this process to last?  Can I do other set-up activities while this is going on?

     

    Thanks again

  • by twtwtw,

    twtwtw twtwtw Aug 29, 2014 1:31 PM in response to pmacseattle
    Level 5 (4,935 points)
    Aug 29, 2014 1:31 PM in response to pmacseattle

    As an observation, often it's easier in cases like this merely to make a new user account for yourself and copy over all the files you want from the old account. That way you're sure to get a clean system (without whatever dross might have accumulated over time in your father's account). You can then archive or delete the old account as you prefer.