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Vista Registry Tweak - RegisteredOwner

Vista Registry - RegisteredOwner and RegisteredOrganization

When you buy a machine with Vista pre-installed, sometimes OEM's leave their name in your copy of Vista (or XP).  A little research reveals that such names are stored in registry values called: RegisteredOwner and RegisteredOrganization.  Here is a registry hack to edit the value to reflect your organization. 

As a bonus, I have an amusing story featuring Evans Twp and his experience of RegisteredOwner.

To see what I am talking about call for 'winver'.  In Vista, click in the Start Search dialog box, and then type: winver.

Topics for RegisteredOwner

• Instructions for Editing RegisteredOwner
• Key Points for RegisteredOwner
• The Story of Evans Twp and RegisteredOwner

Instructions for Editing RegisteredOwner or RegisteredOrganization

1. Launch Regedit (See more details on starting regedit)
2. Navigate to:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\.  Alternatively, in Regedit, click the Edit menu, Find, and then type: RegisteredOwner in the dialog box.
3. Double click on the REG_SZ called RegisteredOwner.
4. Change the value to a name of your choice.
5. Repeat the above instructions for RegisteredOrganization.
6. Exit Regedit and launch Start Search, type winver in the dialog box.

Key Points for RegisteredOwner

• Is RegisteredOwner a value in HKCU** or HKLM? 
  Answer: HKLM
• Do you have to add a value, or modify an existing setting? 
  Answer: Modify
• Is it a String Value or a DWORD? 
  Answer: String (REG_SZ).
• Do you need to Restart, or merely Logoff / Logon?  
  Answer: neither, just type 'Winver' in Vista's Start Search dialog box.

** HKLM is an abbreviation of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, and HKCU is shorthand for HKEY_CURRENT_USER.  These acronyms are so well known that you can even use them in .reg files, Vista will understand and obey the registry instruction.

The Story of Evans Twp and RegisteredOwner

In my homeland of Wales, Twp (pronounced Tupp) means a stupid person. The IT manager of a company I was working with was called Evans, and in common with many mangers, he was not very IT literate.  Consequently, one of the techies, Dai 'eighteen months', nicknamed this manager: Evans Twp. (Dai lost part of an ear in a Rugby scrum, and as a result, he only had an ear and a half!).

The IT department took on a new lad called Peter.  Practical jokes are often part of the initiation ritual for new workers, and this company was no exception.  Peter's first job was to install five new Vista Machines.  During the scripted set-up he discovered the Organization Menu; he stopped and asked Dai 'eighteen months' what he should enter. Dai said, "Put Evans Twp in the box".

When Peter proudly showed off the new computers he was taken aback when Mr Evans went ballistic and accused Peter of undermining his authority.  What happened was Mr Evans typed Winver in the Start Search menu, and saw that the 'Registered To' was: - Evans Twp. (Meaning: Evans the stupid one!)

I was visiting the company doing other work, when I heard of Peter's distress.  Mr Evans told the poor lad that had to come in at the weekend and reinstall the machines, Mr Evans wanted the company name as the 'Registered Owner'.  I took Peter aside and showed him how to launch Regedit and find RegisteredOwner. We found Evans Twp and changed it to Mr Evans.  Peter was thrilled as it only took a moment to make the registry hack, and Peter went to the rugby match instead of sacrificing his weekend to perform re-installs.

Creating a .Reg File

This page explains how to create, and then edit .reg files for your computer.  As it's easy to import the contents of a .reg file into the registry, do take extra care with procedures.  Example RegisteredOwner  .reg file.

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Windows Vista Registry Tweaks:

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