Switching Personally Owned Computers to a Local Account

Objective

Personally owned or managed computers that utilize a @huskers.unl.edu or @unl.edu account to sign into Windows should switch to a local account to prevent computer access interruptions. This article describes the steps needed to create a local account on your computer that will replace needing to sign into your personally owned computer using your @huskers.unl.edu or @unl.edu account.

Users

NU ITS staff will contact you directly to advise if these instructions should be utilized. Please do not complete these steps unless you are advised to do so.

Before You Begin

  • If you do not sign into your personally owned or managed computer with a @huskers.unl.edu or @unl.edu account, alternate steps may be required. Contact the ITS Help Center using the information at the bottom of this KB article for next steps.
  • This article is only intended for those that sign into a personally owned or managed computer using a @huskers.unl.edu or @unl.edu account. These steps should not be completed if you utilize a university managed device.
  • Administrator access to your personally owned computer is required.
  • The account conversion steps listed below will use the User Profile Wizard R24 Freeware Edition for Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows 7 (aka "Profwiz"). It can be downloaded at no cost from: https://www.forensit.com/Downloads/Profwiz.msi
    • Download and install the "Prowiz" application before completing the steps below.
    • The installation process will place the "Profwiz" application in the same location as the download installation file "Profwiz.msi".
      • You may wish to move the downloaded file to your desktop for convenience purposes before running the installation.

Section 1 - Creating a replacement account for your computer

  1. Log into Windows using your @huskers.unl.edu or @unl.edu account.
  2. Right click start and choose "Computer Management".
  3. Within Computer Management, expand "Local Users and Groups" and select "Users".
  4. Right click "Users" and choose "New User".
  5. Within the "New User" window, enter a desired user name (required), your full name (optional), and a password (required).
    1. The user name specified will be the new user name for your computer and will replace signing into your computer with your @huskers.unl.edu or @unl.edu account.
    2. Uncheck "User must change password at next logon" and click "Create".
    3. Click "Close" when finished.
  6. Select "Groups" and open "Administrators".
  7. Click "Add" and enter the User name created on Step 5.
    1. Click "OK" to save the change on both the "Select Users" and "Administrators Properties" screens.
  8. Once you have created a new user account, proceed to Section 2 to install and run User Profile Wizard R24 Freeware Edition (aka "Profwiz").

Section 2 - Install and run User Profile Wizard R24 Freeware Edition

  1. Run the application named "Profwiz". Click "Yes" if prompted to run the application.
  2. On the "Welcome to User Profile Wizard Freeware Edition" screen, click "Next".
  3. Select your @huskers.unl.edu or @unl.edu account from the list of profiles on your computer and click "Next".
  4. Use the drop down box under "Enter the domain, or select the local computer name" to select your computer's name.
    1. This will typically start with "DESKTOP" if your computer name was not customized.
    2. If you don't know the name of your computer, select the name that is not "University of Nebraska-Lincoln".
  5. Check the "Join Workgroup" box and ensure that "Azure AD" is unchecked.
  6. Enter the User name that was created in Section 1, Step 5 in the "Enter the account name" box.
    1. Click "Next" to start the account conversion process.
  7. Once the account conversion process is complete, click "Next" and then click "Finish". Your computer will restart automatically within 30 to 60 seconds.
  8. Once your computer restarts, select the User name that was created in Section 1, Step 5 and enter the password for this account. This will be the new user account and password for your computer - you will no longer need to enter your @unl.edu to sign into your personally owned computer.
  9. You may see a brief message indicating apps are being updated - once this is complete, you should see your desktop items, documents, and applications as usual.

For Additional Help

If you need additional help, here are some options:

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