i can't get into my administrative account

G

Guest

i have windows xp home edition and i have 2 user accounts on my computer.
somebody changed my account from computer administrator to a limited account,
and i have no clue what the other account name or password is, so i'm stuck
in this limited account. i need to get my administrative privileges back.
does anyone know how i can do that??
 
J

Jason

* blake1234 said:
i have windows xp home edition and i have 2 user accounts on my computer.
somebody changed my account from computer administrator to a limited account,
and i have no clue what the other account name or password is, so i'm stuck
in this limited account. i need to get my administrative privileges back.
does anyone know how i can do that??

No you dont. You shouldnt be running as a local admin to begin with.
Stick with the limited user for day to day and use the admin account for
updates etc.

Jason
 
G

Guest

All XP Home accounts are admins by design. Whoever did this must've
mucked-around in the system properties. You could try starting in Safe Mode
(Tap F8 repeatedly while starting) and see if you can log-on as
Administrator. Then run 'control userpasswords2' and see if you can put
yourself back into the Administrators group.

Otherwise a Repair Install my be the best route.

BTW, mucking-around with advanced user-properties can break XP Home's
networking.
 
B

Bruce Chambers

blake1234 said:
i have windows xp home edition and i have 2 user accounts on my computer.
somebody changed my account from computer administrator to a limited account,
and i have no clue what the other account name or password is, so i'm stuck
in this limited account. i need to get my administrative privileges back.
does anyone know how i can do that??



Simply log in using the built-in Administrator account (which
cannot be deleted) and use Start > Run > "control userpasswords2" to
modify the desired account(s). By design, the only way to log into the
Administrator account of WinXP Home is to reboot into Safe Mode. For
WinXP Pro, pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL twice at the Welcome Screen will
produce the standard login dialog box.


--

Bruce Chambers

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They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Ian said:
All XP Home accounts are admins by design.


That's false. Upon the creation of a new account, one is always asked
for the type (privilege level) of account to make it. Accounts aren't
automatically given administrative privileges; the creator decides.

Whoever did this must've
mucked-around in the system properties. You could try starting in Safe Mode
(Tap F8 repeatedly while starting) and see if you can log-on as
Administrator. Then run 'control userpasswords2' and see if you can put
yourself back into the Administrators group.

Otherwise a Repair Install my be the best route.


Nonsense. Why reinstall when Linux-based password cracking utilities
abound on the Internet, freely available to anyone who can use Google?

BTW, mucking-around with advanced user-properties can break XP Home's
networking.


How?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell
 
L

Larry Samuels

All accounts created during initial setup are given administrator status by
default. That is why it is important to only create one account during
setup, then create the rest of the accounts from within Windows.

--
Larry Samuels Associate Expert
MS-MVP (2001-2005)
Unofficial FAQ for Windows Server 2003 at
http://pelos.us/SERVER.htm
Expert Zone-
 
B

Bruce Chambers

Larry said:
All accounts created during initial setup are given administrator status by
default. That is why it is important to only create one account during
setup, then create the rest of the accounts from within Windows.


During setup, you're correct; I didn't think of that. But who would be
creating additional user accounts at that time?


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrum Russell
 

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