Problems adding user accounts

[lcnlit]

Hi, We are a small non-profit and have a new-to-us used computer that was
donated by a local college. It is running WindowsXPPro/sp2 with Norton
Anti-Virus.

I tried to create two new user accounts. Neither account functions properly,
though. Some of the ways they're malfunctioning: (1) you can't print from
either account, even though a printer is installed and set to Default in the
Admin window (btw, in the Admin account, I turned off Simple File Sharing to
access the printer's Security Properties tab and set these accounts to be
able to print, to no avail); you can "see" the printer in the other accts.,
but it has no "default" check and you get an error if you try to set the
printer as the default, (2) can't read e-mail with Outlook Express in either
account, and no identities (not even Main Identity) appear in the Identities
window, (3) in Internet Explorer, "My Computer" is set at the highest
security level and the level can't be changed (so there are some programs
that won't even run in that window, like Norton AV). Also, IE behaves
strangely, with the page refreshing over and over sometimes.

So I deleted those accounts and all their files and tried again. This time,
it created the two new accounts, but they are still both "crippled". I can
get into the Admin acct. by Ctrl+Alt+Delete at the Welcome screen, but what
is the problem with the other accounts???

I have read about doing a clean boot of Windows, but am reluctant--also,
since the computer was donated, we do not have the Windows CD (but have the
Windows sticker on the CPU), and this computer has no A:/ drive to create
boot disks.

Help!!!!
lcnlit

 

[NewScience]

First, I would delete the accounts (again), disabled Norton Anti-Virus,
recreate the users and login as the new users. Do not re-enabled Norton
until all users have been checked out.

You may have a local GPO (Group Policy in affect which may turn certain
features off). BUt you need to get Norton Anit-Virus out of the picture
prior to anything.

Rule of thumb ... remove all variables when trying to track down problems

Lastly, run msconfig, and click on the Startup tab

These are all the programs started when the system boots and users login.

A better application to use is AutoRuns from www.sysinternals.com. It will
tell you a lot more.

 

[Guest]

I disabled NAV, deleted the accounts, tried to set them up again with the
same result.

It would not surprise me if there is some machine-level security deep in the
bowels of the machine, since this machine was formerly used by a college and
I'm sure they didn't want students creating admin-level accounts.

The question is, how do I get rid of that security??

Thanks.

 

[Malke]

I disabled NAV, deleted the accounts, tried to set them up again with
the same result.

It would not surprise me if there is some machine-level security deep
in the bowels of the machine, since this machine was formerly used by
a college and I'm sure they didn't want students creating admin-level
accounts.

The question is, how do I get rid of that security??

With second-hand computers, it is best practice to clean-install
Windows. I would suggest that you do this with your donated computer
and that will solve the problem of existing Group Policies.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html - Clean Install How-To
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows
- What you will need on-hand

Malke

 

[Guest]

Is it possible to do a clean reinstall from floppies only? As I said above, I
do not have the XP CD because the computer was donated. XP is officially
registered to the user that donated the computer to us, but the sticker on
the CPU is a Windows 2000 sticker, not XP.

 

[Malke]

Is it possible to do a clean reinstall from floppies only? As I said
above, I do not have the XP CD because the computer was donated. XP is
officially registered to the user that donated the computer to us, but
the sticker on the CPU is a Windows 2000 sticker, not XP.

No. You will need to either ask for the operating system from the person
who donated the machine or find someone with a Win2k OEM disk you can
borrow because that is the only license you have. Since the person who
gave you the computer didn't give you the operating system, it wasn't
such a great gift.

Or you could put Linux on it if you want to try a free OS.

Good luck,

Malke