Problem creating users

[jw]

I created a new system using XP PRO SP3. For some reason, this time
it created a system with a single user name 'Administrator' and the
appropriate folders for it under
'Documents and Settings>Administrator'.

I read somewhere recently that one way to deter intrusions is to
operate under a login that does not have administrator privileges.
So, I tried to create a new user for that purpose - 'Control
Panel>User Accounts' would not let me because it said I did not
already have an administrator account. So I then made two new users -

Duke - with administrator privileges
Roy - without administrator privileges

I expected in the next system start that boot would be stopped at the
Welcome Screen presenting me with logins from which to choose.

Alas, the system boots straight through just as it did before. Oddly,
though, I can log off and then log back on to either 'Administrator',
'Duke' or 'Roy'. If I log on as 'Roy', and go to 'Control Panel>User
Accounts' thinking I could then delete 'Administrator, I cannot
because 'Administrator' does not show as a user.

This all seems odd to me. Can someone please explain how to set
things straight? Or should I just forget the whole idea?

BTW - there is a web page showing how to control user logins in the
regard, but for WindowsNT (Dwords under UserList in the Registry). I
tried playing with that, to no avail. I guess this is one way NT is
different from XP?

Thanks

Duke

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I created a new system using XP PRO SP3. For some reason, this time
it created a system with a single user name 'Administrator' and the
appropriate folders for it under
'Documents and Settings>Administrator'.

I read somewhere recently that one way to deter intrusions is to
operate under a login that does not have administrator privileges.
So, I tried to create a new user for that purpose - 'Control
Panel>User Accounts' would not let me because it said I did not
already have an administrator account. So I then made two new
users -

Duke - with administrator privileges
Roy - without administrator privileges

I expected in the next system start that boot would be stopped at
the Welcome Screen presenting me with logins from which to choose.

Alas, the system boots straight through just as it did before.
Oddly, though, I can log off and then log back on to either
'Administrator', 'Duke' or 'Roy'. If I log on as 'Roy', and go to
'Control Panel>User Accounts' thinking I could then delete
'Administrator, I cannot because 'Administrator' does not show as a
user.

This all seems odd to me. Can someone please explain how to set
things straight? Or should I just forget the whole idea?

BTW - there is a web page showing how to control user logins in the
regard, but for WindowsNT (Dwords under UserList in the Registry).
I tried playing with that, to no avail. I guess this is one way NT
is different from XP?

You cannot delete the built-in adminstrator account.

Use TweakUI to choose which users you can see on the Welcome screen.

Make sure that you do not have automatic logon setup for the administrator
user (TweakUI should show that.)

Start button --> RUN --> type in:
control userpasswords2
--> Click OK.

Under users - what is the status (checked? unchecked) of the box for "Users
must enter a user name and password to use this computer"?