Main User Account Disappeared

[Guest]

I added a separate user account to log into a work VPN from home. I
successfully created the account, but I got a window telling me that I had to
set a user as an Administrator. I set the newly created account as an
administrator. The problem is that my main user account disappeared from the
log on options which was named 'Administrator'. I tried to set it up again,
but I get a message that it already exists. The 'Administrator' account
files are in my documents and settings.

Could someone please tell me how to restore this user account? I tried a
couple of suggestions in Help and Support, but they did not work.

 

[Gordon]

I added a separate user account to log into a work VPN from home. I
successfully created the account, but I got a window telling me that I had
to
set a user as an Administrator. I set the newly created account as an
administrator. The problem is that my main user account disappeared from
the
log on options which was named 'Administrator'. I tried to set it up
again,
but I get a message that it already exists. The 'Administrator' account
files are in my documents and settings.

Could someone please tell me how to restore this user account? I tried a
couple of suggestions in Help and Support, but they did not work.

Home Edition or Pro? In Home edition, boot into Safe mode. In Pro, at the
Welcome screen, press Ctl-Alt-Del twice and the W2K style log-in box will
appear allowing you to log on as Administrator.

BTW, it is NOT good practice to use the built-in Administrator account for
day-to-day use. If that is the ONLY account on the machine, and it goes
belly-up, your only way to recover is by a repair install of XP.

 

[Bert Kinney]

Hi Rick

This would indicate that a user account was never created, and the
normally hidden account named Administrator was being used as a day to
day account. In this case when a new account is created the account
named Administrator is hidden, as it should be, except for in Safe
Mode. What you should do now is create a new Admin account and name it
what you like. Then start the new Admin account and move the data
stored in the hidden account to the newly created account.

You may need to use Safe Mode, log on as Administrator account and
'Take Ownership' of the files.
How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

To boot into Safe Mode, Restart the system, hitting F8 as BIOS info
goes to black to get the Menu and select Save Mode.

How to copy data from one user profile to a new profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151

 

[Guest]

Gordon, Bert,

Thanks for your help. The "CRTL+ALT+DEL" twice got me to the logon I lost.
You saved me a lot of time!

 

[Bert Kinney]

You're welcome Rick.