Account Name changed to your friend?

Has your,or your student’s Windows Live account name been changed to a friend’s name?  Here’s how it happened.

Even if the students deny this happened,I failed to completely read the instructions too so I guess nobody is immune.  *^_^*

When the student goes to add their first friend,they are prompted to enter their OWN display name.  They mistakenly enter their friend’s name they are looking for,and this becomes their display name.  It’s easy to miss,because even I set my own display name as Candace Thurgood.  (oops)  —not that there’s anything wrong with that….

Here are some screenshots to show how it happens.  Thanks Brenda for involuntarily allowing me to use your account.

(Click on the images to view them full size)

If your email address still shows in the upper right,you have not set your display name.

When you go to add a friend,you are asked to enter YOUR name,this is so your friend knows who YOU are when they get the invite.

If I’m Brenda and I wanted to add Tommy Smith,this is what often happens:

You will now see that friend’s name in the top right.

To change this back to your own,click the dropdown menu next to the name,and then Account

Click Change

Enter your name as you would like it to be displayed

Now that your preferred name is displaying in the top right,continue to add friends.

Thanks.