Changing a user ID (and preserving desktop settings)
 

Hey guys,

I wanted to change a user ID (aka username) for a particular account.

I modified the /etc/passwd, /etc/shadow, and /etc/group files appropriately. Then I renamed the user's home directory name.

Everything is fine, except for the following problem:
When the user logs in with the new user ID, Gnome (for example) does not seem to recognize the new user ID, and loads the desktop with generic files and folders rather those belonging to the user.

My questions:
1. Does anybody know where Gnome stores the desktop configuration info for a particular account?
2. I was hoping changing a user ID would be a relatively painless process. (It ~really should be~, imo.) But this is just the kind of situation I was hoping to avoid: not knowing about/being able to catch instances in which a user ID is creatively tucked away in a configuration file (for example, if that is what is happening here) only to bite me in the butt later. Are there any other instances, or classes of instances, in which this problem could similarly present itself (in addition to desktop configuration) that I should know about?

For now, I've reverted the user ID back to its original state (and only some information has apparently been lost). But, imo, I ~really should~ be able to change a user ID at any time, with a minimal amount of work/surprises.

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Ben

Maybe this page will be helpful.