How do you access administrator account XPHome Normal Mode?

[Kent]

Hello,


Every time I log off and try to access administrator account
(CTRL-ALT-DEL-DEL) and type administrator (which has no password)
it comes back with this:
"Unable to log you on because of an account restriction"
I always have to reboot into safe mode to get into the administrator
account. I really don't want to have to do this all the time. I
believe there is a registry key that will fix this problem, or does
anyone know how to access administrator from normal mode?

Kent

 

[Jon]

Don't think it's possible in normal mode with XP Home (as far as I know),
although you can achieve exactly the same functionality by setting up an
account with Administrative rights, and logging on using this.

Jon

 

[SlowJet]

Is not the first user account set as admin in HOME?

SJ

 

[Kent]

Is not the first user account set as admin in HOME?

SJ

Yes, it is, but it is password protected, and I am trying to clean up
a bunch of adware, and I need access to this account. Normally I
reboot into safe mode into the administrator account and change the
password ( so no encrypted files are lost) I do this a lot on family
and friends computers. It aggravates me when people drop off machines
to me with a password and do not tell me. Then when I try to call, I
get voice mail most of the time. So I change it. Just would be more
convenient while logged into normal mode instead of having to reboot
into safe mode, then back to normal. (I'm lazy). Of course all of
this is pointless if the admin account is password protected too. I
usually give up and wait for a call back, or in some cases I have
booted up, err... uhh... another OP and used the Offline NT Password
and Registry editor, which works quite well.
You can log in as administrator in PRO version, and I'm pretty sure
I've seen it done in HOME, but can't remember. Anyhow, was just
looking to save a little bit of time.

Kent

 

[Jon]

If I've understood you correctly, you want a passwordless Admin account that
you can log into in normal mode, with the account perhaps hidden from the
rest of your users.

The way you can achieve this is in XP Home is...

Go into safe mode and set up a new account, using your Administrator
account, and call it something like "Admin", with no password and giving it
administrative (not limited) rights.

Then use regedit to navigate to this key (no word wrap)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList

Right-click "UserList" and create a new DWord value, putting its name as
"Admin" (ie the same name as the account you've just created) and setting
its value to 0

Then log in normally. The account won't appear on the Welcome screen, but
you will be able to login by pressing ctrl-alt-delete twice (as long as no
other users are logged on).
You will also be able to clear up any Adware and / or change other user's
passwords using this hidden account in normal mode.


Jon

 

[Kent]

WOW that is exactly what I just did!!
Then I came back here to check out
any responses.

I had thought about doing this in the past,
but never did. I finally did on this machine.
Worked great.

Thanks for responding Jon
Much appreciated.

Kent