Remove Username from Windows XP Start Menu
Removing the Username from the Windows XP Start Menu
It's admittedly an unusual customization, but this article details how to remove the username display from the Start menu in Windows XP. This modification can also be used to verify the correct username is being displayed if it's missing.
This procedure is specifically for the standard XP-style Start menu; it doesn't apply to the classic menu style, as that version doesn't include a username display.
Manual Registry Modification
Access the Registry Editor by typing regedit.exe into the Run dialog box (accessed through the Start menu). Navigate to the following registry key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
Within the right-hand pane of this key, a new DWORD value needs to be created. Configure it as follows:
- Name:
NoUserNameInStartMenu - Value:
1
To re-enable the username display, either set the value of NoUserNameInStartMenu to 0 or completely delete the key.
A logoff and subsequent login are required for the changes to take effect and for the Start menu to reflect the modification.
Removing the User Account Picture
In addition to removing the username, the associated user account picture can also be removed. This is achieved by deleting or renaming the following folder:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\User Account Pictures\Default Pictures
Removing this folder will also eliminate the user picture from the login screen, while leaving the blue border at the top of the screen intact.