hardware crashed, how can i recover iLife ?

If the "hardware crashed" then how did it "come back"?

If you bought iLife or it was included with your iMac, reinstall it from the Applications installation disc. If you bought it through the App Store you can download the apps again. You do not have to pay again.

I do not recall seeing a version of iLife that was distributed as a .zip file, but can you unzip it?

At that time bundled apps would have been included on a separate disc labeled "Applications Install DVD". The iLife suite was distributed on it, and you can reinstall the missing apps using that disc. Including the disc was the responsibility of the seller.

Were you able to unzip the file named "iLife.zip"?

Changing your home folder name is a bit involved. To change it follow this carefully:

Changing the account name

Though there are other methods by which an advanced user may change the short name and related information, the easier and safer workaround is described below.

Before following these steps, you may wish to back up your important data.

For Mac OS X v10.5 or later

1. Enable the root user.
2. Log in as root.
3. Navigate to the /Users folder.
4. Select the Home folder with the short name you want to change, and rename it just like you would rename any folder. Keep in mind that the shortname must be all lowercase, with no spaces, and only contain letters.
5. Use the Users & Groups pane (Accounts pane in Mac OS X v10.6.8 or earlier) in System Preferences to create a new user with the Account name or Short Name that you used in the previous step.
6. Click OK when "A folder in the Users folder already has the name 'account name'. Would you like to use that folder as the Home folder for this user account?" appears. Note: This will correct the ownership of all files in the Home folder, and avoid permissions issues with the contents.
7. Choose Log Out from the Apple menu.
8. Log in as the newly created user. You should be able to access all of your original files (on the desktop, in Documents, and in the other folders of this Home).
9. After verifying that your data is as expected, you can delete the original user account via the Users & Groups pane (Accounts pane in Mac OS X v10.6.8 or earlier).
10. Disable the root user.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1428

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im tryin to change the name, how do i log in the ROOT USER?

Use caution and back up your system - goes without saying. You might want to print this before proceeding.

To enable the root user:

Mac OS X v10.6.x

1. From the Apple menu choose System Preferences....
2. From the View menu choose Accounts.
3. Click on the lock and authenticate with an administrator account.
4. Click Login Options....
5. Click the "Edit..." or "Join..." button at the bottom right.
6. Click the "Open Directory Utility..." button.
7. Click the lock in the Directory Utility window.
8. Enter an administrator account name and password, then click OK.
9. Choose Enable Root User from the Edit menu.
10. Enter the root password you wish to use in both the Password and Verify fields, then click OK.

Follow the steps above to change your account name, copied here for reference:

1. Log in as root.
2. Navigate to the /Users folder.
3. Select the Home folder with the short name you want to change, and rename it just like you would rename any folder. Keep in mind that the shortname must be all lowercase, with no spaces, and only contain letters.
4. Use the Users & Groups pane (Accounts pane in Mac OS X v10.6.8 or earlier) in System Preferences to create a new user with the Account name or Short Name that you used in the previous step.
5. Click OK when "A folder in the Users folder already has the name 'account name'. Would you like to use that folder as the Home folder for this user account?" appears. Note: This will correct the ownership of all files in the Home folder, and avoid permissions issues with the contents.
6. Choose Log Out from the Apple menu.
7. Log in as the newly created user. You should be able to access all of your original files (on the desktop, in Documents, and in the other folders of this Home).
8. After verifying that your data is as expected, you can delete the original user account via the Users & Groups pane (Accounts pane in Mac OS X v10.6.8 or earlier)

Then, disable the root user:

Mac OS X v10.6.x

1. From the Apple menu choose System Preferences....
2. From the View menu choose Accounts.
3. Click on the lock and authenticate with an administrator account.
4. Click Login Options....
5. Click the "Edit..." or "Join..." button at the bottom right
6. Click the "Open Directory Utility..." button.
7. Click the lock in the Directory Utility window.
8. Enter an administrator account name and password, then click OK.
9. Choose Disable Root User from the Edit menu.

The Apple Knowledgebase articles that explain the above procedure, I just put it all in one place for you to follow for OS X 10.6.8.

Here are the links:

OS X: How to change user account name or home directory name

Enabling and using the "root" user in Mac OS X

If there's no important data in the 'owner 1' account, just go to System Preferences > Accounts, click the lock at the bottom and authenticate with the 'owner 1' account password.

Click the + (plus) button below the pane, and fill out the form to create a new account in your name. Ensure the box to 'enable user to administer this computer' is checked.

Then log out of the owner 1 account and in to the new account. Go back to Accounts Prefs, unlock again (this time with the new account's password).

Select the owner 1 account in the left pane and click the - (minus) button below the pane.

You'll be given a choice of what to do with the home folder for that account - if there's nothing in it you need, select delete. If you're not sure, select to either keep it or archive it; you can delete it later when you're sure you don't need anything from it.

You now have the sole account on the computer in your own name.