lilmiss83

Q: How i change the shortname on a 2007 Macbook Pro

So I have received my friends 2007 MacBook pro and need to change the shortname to my own. Now I had previously a 2010 MacBook pro, and I'm now learning that most of my newer software that was on there is not compatible with this computer, so I have to upgrade the system to snow leopard. Do I need to change the shortname before I upgrade to the snow leopard or will I be able to do so once I reinstall? Yes I am down grading, from a 2010 MacBook pro to a 2007 MacBook Pro its not a typo.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Jan 3, 2013 10:28 PM

Close

Q: How i change the shortname on a 2007 Macbook Pro

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by remy17,

    remy17 remy17 Jan 3, 2013 10:40 PM in response to lilmiss83
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jan 3, 2013 10:40 PM in response to lilmiss83

    To edit or change the device name it should be under system preferences > sharing -- then at the top it has device name or local host name, and you just change that name.

     

    Hope that's what your looking for

  • by remy17,

    remy17 remy17 Jan 3, 2013 10:41 PM in response to remy17
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jan 3, 2013 10:41 PM in response to remy17

    ** follow up ** sorry, I misread your question and thought you just said computer name.

  • by remy17,

    remy17 remy17 Jan 3, 2013 10:52 PM in response to remy17
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jan 3, 2013 10:52 PM in response to remy17

    To put it simply, I haven't come across an easy way to just "change" the shorname of a user. It usually causes more harm than benefit.

     

    If you we're intent on using his user data, just backup the data/files and copy the, over to the new user account that you can create from scratch/new @ system preferences>accounts(in SL/10.6)>then add account thirst there.

     

    Using that method and an external drive is the easiest way IMO.

     

    Also, I'd recommend running a " reset home folders/ACLs" after finishing the file transfer, to make sure you have correct permissions levels with your user files you just copied over.

     

    To reset the home folder permissions in 10.6, you'd boot to install DVD, run the utilities > reset password utility, and @ the bottom left of it should be a button that says reset home folder permissions and ACLs.

     

    Again, only run that AFTER manually copying the files over from the other user account/external HDD

  • by remy17,

    remy17 remy17 Jan 3, 2013 11:00 PM in response to remy17
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jan 3, 2013 11:00 PM in response to remy17

    But, I do believe that the terminal command for you to change that short username should be like this

     

    sudo mv /Users/FRIENDSHORTNAME /Users/YOURSHORTNAME

     

    and there is a space between the end of friend's short name and /

     

    So, for example if I wanted to move my current account "lamer" to the new shot name "coolguy" then you'd use this terminal command

     

    sudo mv /Users/lamer /Users/coolguy

     

    Please don't be logged into the account while doing this. You can either enable root, or create just a test admin acct for the short time.

     

    **USE TERMINAL JUDO/commands at your own risk I take no responsibility for any issues or problems from using my terminal commands, use at your own risk

  • by remy17,

    remy17 remy17 Jan 4, 2013 5:06 PM in response to lilmiss83
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Jan 4, 2013 5:06 PM in response to lilmiss83

    Silly me, I found this @ work the day after posting your response, it was late last night, I didn't even think to search Apple's "kbase" (knowledge base)

     

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

     

    Will give you step by step detailed instructions on how to do it, and how to do it properly.