Adding a new user

[Guest]

I added a new user last night and it was unknowingly added as "computer
adminstrator". At the time, both the original adminstrator was still
available as was the new account. However, when we restarted the computer
this morning, only the new profile is available. Is there anything I can do
to restore the old profile back to where they were? System restore does not
work I get an error message. Does anyone have any other ideas?

 

[Malke]

I added a new user last night and it was unknowingly added as
"computer
adminstrator". At the time, both the original adminstrator was still
available as was the new account. However, when we restarted the
computer
this morning, only the new profile is available. Is there anything I
can do
to restore the old profile back to where they were? System restore
does not
work I get an error message. Does anyone have any other ideas?

It is normal for the built-in Administrator account to become hidden
when you add another user account with administrative permissions. If
you want to show it, use MVP Kelly Theriot's tweak:

Enable/Disable Administrator on the Welcome Screen (Line 5)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Malke

 

[Gordon]

I added a new user last night and it was unknowingly added as "computer
adminstrator". At the time, both the original adminstrator was still
available as was the new account. However, when we restarted the computer
this morning, only the new profile is available. Is there anything I can do
to restore the old profile back to where they were? System restore does not
work I get an error message. Does anyone have any other ideas?

As well as what Malke said, be advised that it is not best practice to use
the built-in Administrator account on a daily basis. Create (as you have
done) a user with Admin rights and use that on a daily basis. One of the
reasons for this is, that if your User account gets corrupted, then the ONLY
way into the machine is via the built-in Administrator account. If that is
the only Admin account on the machine and has corrupted, then your only
recourse would be to a repair install of XP.

HTH

 

[sf]

Does anyone have any other ideas?

As well as what Malke said, be advised that it is not best practice to use
the built-in Administrator account on a daily basis. Create (as you have
done) a user with Admin rights and use that on a daily basis. One of the
reasons for this is, that if your User account gets corrupted, then the ONLY
way into the machine is via the built-in Administrator account. If that is
the only Admin account on the machine and has corrupted, then your only
recourse would be to a repair install of XP.

Great advice! We set up this computer with "users" just because there
are so many potential adult and children users... not really knowing
*why* it was a good thing other than the kids would not be able to
accidently do something harmful to it.