Solved Replicate user info from one user to another

[gallicbear]

Hi there. I have been trying to have a different user name. Have tried several methods, like changing user name in users and changing profilepath in the registry. That resulted in a temp user login. I ended up restoring my files. So I created a user with the name I wanted. The problem is that it doesn't copy everything, like the settings (login background/desktop arrangement). Neither did it copy the Google Drive, and I haven't been able to get access to it or getting it to sync. All that even though I created a third user to copy everything from the original to a new user. Finally, in system/advanced settings/user profile, the CopyTo function is always greyed out, no matter whether I am logged on or not. Is there a good way to handle all that? I've read so many howtos in forums, but they don't mention these pitfalls. Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[RolandJS]

Yes, it can be done, I have done it; however, the process is similar to be reborn by being pulled through a car window rolled down only 4-5 inches. Do you really desire to do this? I was using Windows 7 Professional, I just reNoticed you're using Windows 8 -- that might put a cabash on my idea for your computer.
Disclosure: As far as I can tell -- my "target" [built-in] admin is about 70-75% the same as my "source" [admin-level] Roland account. The fact that I am mirroring the Roland acct on top of the built-in admin acct may have lead to the 75s. Your result may be better or may not be better.
And, I hope you have made full image OS and Data partition backups onto external media before you ventured into this.

 

[gallicbear]

Thanks, RolandJS. I'm actually using Windows 8.1 Pro on this particular machine.

 

[RolandJS]

For this to work, both source and target should be admin-level accounts.
One of several things I did was copy all of the Desktop folders and icons from the source Desktop onto, via explorer.exe, the target Desktop. My stuff sits from left to right, alpha-ordered,. desktop View's auto arrange icons and align icons to grid checked on both desktops.

 

[RolandJS]

"Mirroring" the source and target Tray Notification Area of the Taskbar. You have to know what is in the source's notification area, that will be your road-map for getting the target notification area "mirrored".
Then, you do the easy double-up-area Customize / Control Panel's Notification Icon Area -- I have all interested icons set for show icon and notifications, but, however, that's just my choice. Some programs may be be "dirty-installed" in order to get them into the tray notification area.

 

[RolandJS]

I make heavy use of the Pinned to Taskbar. It took some time, however, my three computers have about 70-80% samo-samo Pinned to Taskbar icons. I think you already know to locate necessary shortcuts via explorer.exe and Pin to Taskbar.

 

[RolandJS]

My three computers, in addition to having the built-in administrator and the built-in Guest accounts active,
now have the same user-created-at-Windows-birth accounts, meaning all three have the same name. I have been able to "copy and paste" some stuff from one computer to another a bit easier because such is going from one "RolyPoly" account to the other "RolyPoly" account. For some of this copy and paste stuff to work, both source and target should be admin-level accounts.

 

[gallicbear]

Thanks, RolandJS. Wasn't able to reply sooner, because I was at work. But I have started working on this project yesterday, and I am about 90% done so far and I should be done within the next hour or so. I do appreciate your ideas and hints. I can see you are a very organized person. And that's what's needed for this to work.