Copy User?

[Bosco]

I started a new job a few weeks ago. I'm working on an imac (snow leopard) that was used by a previous employee. Everything is set up exactly the way it needs to be for me to perform my job. I just need the user name to be changed to my name.

Is there a way to copy a user or create a new user with the same settings as the previous one?

Unfortunately, I don't have a whole lot of time to do this. It's an endless treadmill of design projects around here. I just need a user account with my name that performs exactly like the current user.

Any suggestions..?

[C(-)ris]

Delete the account and tell it to leave the folder in place. Then rename the folder to the name you want to use. Then go back to Accounts and add a new account making sure to use the same folder name as the short name as well as the same password as before. It will prompt you if you want to use that folder, tell it yes and you are done. You can then login and change the password if you want.

[Bixby]

Can't you just change the name in user accounts?

[Bosco]

Bixby- you can not just change the name in user accounts.

C(-)ris- I'm assuming I have to create a new user account first, then delete the account I want to copy using your instructions?

I'm really nervous about deleting the account because I really can't afford to lose any settings / plug-ins / etc.

[C(-)ris]

Bixby wrote:
Can't you just change the name in user accounts?

That only changes the long name. The short name will stay the old user account.

[C(-)ris]

Bosco wrote:
Bixby- you can not just change the name in user accounts.

C(-)ris- I'm assuming I have to create a new user account first, then delete the account I want to copy using your instructions?

I'm really nervous about deleting the account because I really can't afford to lose any settings / plug-ins / etc.

If you don't already have another account on the machine, then yes. You SHOULD have an second administrator account. Everyone should.

[Janit]

Bosco wrote:
Bixby- you can not just change the name in user accounts.

C(-)ris- I'm assuming I have to create a new user account first, then delete the account I want to copy using your instructions?

I'm really nervous about deleting the account because I really can't afford to lose any settings / plug-ins / etc.

No. If you create the new account first, it will already have its own folder. C(-)ris was suggesting a strategy that allows the new account to adopt the old folder.

Makes me wonder if the following might be a less anxiety-producing strategy. Would it be possible to make a copy of the user folder and then rename the copy to the shortname you want to use for the new user. Then create the new account and get it to adopt the newshortname folder.

The benefit here would be the comfort of knowing that the original account remains intact should you need it.

The more technically astute members here might point out any flaws in my proposal and any workarounds for those flaws.

[NewtonMP2100]

......don't cc......bc........

[Bosco]

NewtonMP2100 wrote:
......don't cc......bc........

What does that mean and what does it have to do with the topic?

[silvarios]

Janit wrote:
[quote=Bosco]
Bixby- you can not just change the name in user accounts.

C(-)ris- I'm assuming I have to create a new user account first, then delete the account I want to copy using your instructions?

I'm really nervous about deleting the account because I really can't afford to lose any settings / plug-ins / etc.

No. If you create the new account first, it will already have its own folder. C(-)ris was suggesting a strategy that allows the new account to adopt the old folder.
No. As C(-)ris mentioned, assuming there isn't already a separate admin account configured on this Mac, it will be easier for Bosco to create a new admin account, . Otherwise, you can't delete the only configured account, not easily anyway.