Can't rename the Home Folder?

>>Can I post a screen shot here so you can see what I've done if right?

Yes - just click the camera icon in the toolbar above where you type any reply.

Here's the two folders:

Open Info windows for them...

Change the Users folder so that admin group has read/write, change the ...(Deleted) one to give staff read/write

Note the name above, can be edited...

& don't forget to revert the permission changes...

You must be admin for that to work.

If it doesn't for you - I'd use Terminal instead

>>Is that /oldshortname(deleted) folder was only created only because I deleted the User account?

Yes, you get the choice of three :

'Don't change...' changes the name to ..(Deleted)

'Save the home folder...' adds a disk image - 'username.dmg' to a folder within /Users - 'Deleted Users'

creating that if it doesn't exist. Any admin user can open the folder & dmg.

In 10.6.8 ?

If so, you'll need to temporarily give admin read & write for the /Users folder, as well as giving staff read & write for the 'deleted' folder.

You can also use Terminal, or enable Root, but that's not worth the effort.

>>you'll need to temporarily give admin read & write for the /Users folder, as well as giving staff read & write for the 'deleted' folder

It's not enough, even as admin user, to have read/write for oldshortname(deleted)

you need it (temporarily) for the MacintoshHD/Users folder too.

Or at least... that works here on 10.6.8, whereas just as you say, the DOC 3872 way doesn't.

Open Finder Info windows for both /Users and Users/Oldname (Deleted)

In the one for /Users - give the admin group read/write, & leave the window open (unlocking the settings via the padlock & an admin name/pass)

In the one for /Users/Oldname(Deleted) give the staff group read/write (unlocking the settings via the padlock & an admin name/pass)

& you should then able to change the name in the same Info window...

Finally, revert the permission changes, either manually, or via the action (gear wheel) menu at the bottom of each Info window.

If you now create a new account, with the exact name you changed the folder to, you should get the message:

"...folder in the Users folder already has the name “xyz.” Would you like to use that folder as the home folder for this user account?"

I can't say why it doesn't work for you - I've checked here several times on newly created/deleted accounts, using only the changes detailed above.

Use Terminal, or given the small amount of data inside - create a new account with any name you like, & bring in the few files from deleted.

in Finder - drag the user (Deleted) folder to your Desktop - the pointer should change to a green +, and ask you to authenticate with an admin name/pass when you drop it.

The user (Deleted) folder should now be on your Desktop, with full read/write access to all of the contents. (Again 🙂 works here)

>> Hope this one works.

I hope so too - but you're not deleting anything, so no harm done if not & we'll get there another way.

Presumably, your /Users folder has some access control/flags that mine doesn't, but if it's just an app you need, that's perhaps not worth pursuing.

How to change user account name or home directory name:

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

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-3872