HELP! Somehow, my 16 year old daughter keeps "bumping" me from administator
user to limited access user and I can't figure out how to regain
administrator access and PREVENT her from bumping me back to limited access.
Can anyone help? (XP Home Edition)

flusteredmom wrote:

> HELP! Somehow, my 16 year old daughter keeps "bumping" me from
> administator user to limited access user and I can't figure out how to
> regain administrator access and PREVENT her from bumping me back to
> limited access. Can anyone help? (XP Home Edition)

First, log into the machine using the normally hidden Administrator
account. In XP Home, boot the computer into Safe Mode. Do this by
repeatedly tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will
get you to the right menu. Navigate using your Up arrow key; the mouse
will not work here. Once in Safe Mode, you will see the normally hidden
Administrator account. The default password is a blank.

In XP Pro, you do not need to go into Safe Mode. At the Welcome Screen,
do Ctrl-Alt-Del twice to get the classic Windows logon box. Type in
"Administrator" and whatever password you assigned when you set up
Windows.

Now change your user account back to Computer Administrator and hers to
Limited.

Any computer running any operating system can be accessed by someone
with 1) time; 2) skill; 3) tools. There are a few things you can do to
make it a bit harder though:

1. Set a password in the BIOS that must be entered before booting the
operating system. Also set the Supervisor password in the BIOS so BIOS
Setup can't be entered without it.

2. From the BIOS, change the boot order to hard drive first.

3. Set strong passwords on all accounts, including the built-in
Administrator account.

4. If you leave your own account logged in, use Windows Key + L to lock
the computer (and/or set the screensaver/power saving) when you step
away and require a password to resume.

5. Make a Limited account for your daughter.

Please understand that these are technical responses to what is
basically not a technical problem; i.e., you have a family problem that
can really only be solved by non-technical means. You are the parent,
she is the child.

If the above steps seem too difficult - and there is no shame in
admitting that - take the machine to a professional computer repair
shop (not your local version of BigStoreUSA) and have them set it up
for you.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Also Malke this will not help much if he does not change the Administrator's
password

Jon
"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> flusteredmom wrote:
>
>> HELP! Somehow, my 16 year old daughter keeps "bumping" me from
>> administator user to limited access user and I can't figure out how to
>> regain administrator access and PREVENT her from bumping me back to
>> limited access. Can anyone help? (XP Home Edition)
>
> First, log into the machine using the normally hidden Administrator
> account. In XP Home, boot the computer into Safe Mode. Do this by
> repeatedly tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will
> get you to the right menu. Navigate using your Up arrow key; the mouse
> will not work here. Once in Safe Mode, you will see the normally hidden
> Administrator account. The default password is a blank.
>
> In XP Pro, you do not need to go into Safe Mode. At the Welcome Screen,
> do Ctrl-Alt-Del twice to get the classic Windows logon box. Type in
> "Administrator" and whatever password you assigned when you set up
> Windows.
>
> Now change your user account back to Computer Administrator and hers to
> Limited.
>
> Any computer running any operating system can be accessed by someone
> with 1) time; 2) skill; 3) tools. There are a few things you can do to
> make it a bit harder though:
>
> 1. Set a password in the BIOS that must be entered before booting the
> operating system. Also set the Supervisor password in the BIOS so BIOS
> Setup can't be entered without it.
>
> 2. From the BIOS, change the boot order to hard drive first.
>
> 3. Set strong passwords on all accounts, including the built-in
> Administrator account.
>
> 4. If you leave your own account logged in, use Windows Key + L to lock
> the computer (and/or set the screensaver/power saving) when you step
> away and require a password to resume.
>
> 5. Make a Limited account for your daughter.
>
> Please understand that these are technical responses to what is
> basically not a technical problem; i.e., you have a family problem that
> can really only be solved by non-technical means. You are the parent,
> she is the child.
>
> If the above steps seem too difficult - and there is no shame in
> admitting that - take the machine to a professional computer repair
> shop (not your local version of BigStoreUSA) and have them set it up
> for you.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Jon Phipps wrote:

> Also Malke this will not help much if he does not change the
> Administrator's password

As I said, Jon.

> 3. Set strong passwords on all accounts, including the built-in
> Administrator account.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

"flusteredmom" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:B27BB28A-B5E9-46DE-BDFC-(E-Mail Removed)...
> HELP! Somehow, my 16 year old daughter keeps "bumping" me from
> administator
> user to limited access user and I can't figure out how to regain
> administrator access and PREVENT her from bumping me back to limited
> access.
> Can anyone help? (XP Home Edition)

In addition to Malke's sound advice -

Set up a straightforward policy for her computer use and discuss it with her
(try not to sound like a stern police officer). Ask her what it is she
needs/wants to use the computer for, and come up with something that works
for you both/the entire family.

If she does not abide by the policy, do not let her use the computer. Take
it away - lock it in another room, whatever you need to do.

What would you do if she kept taking your car without permission? There are
seldom good technological solutions for behavioral problems, and a computer
is not a birthright.

flusteredmom wrote:
> HELP! Somehow, my 16 year old daughter keeps "bumping" me from administator
> user to limited access user and I can't figure out how to regain
> administrator access and PREVENT her from bumping me back to limited access.
> Can anyone help? (XP Home Edition)


1) Reboot into Safe Mode and login using the built-in Administrator account.

2) Set a strong password for the built-in Administrator account. In
other words, use at least 8 characters, and make those characters a
mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special
characters, such as *, $, _, !, @, or #. Do *NOT* use easily guessed
names, dates, etc.

3) Set your daughter's account to a Limited privilege level.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;279783


--

Bruce Chambers

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