Admin accounts

[shadow]

I had two accounts on my computer set up with passwords so that the children
could not access them. For spme reason neither of them accepts my passwords
now so I am locked out of both administrative accounts. This means I can not
make any changes on my computer, including simple things like setting my
virus protection settings.

Any one had the same experience or know how to fix the problem? Thanks!

 

[Leonard Grey]

Regaining access to your Administrator accounts is not the issue. That
can be solved. The /real/ problem - and it's a big one - is how you came
to be locked out of your own password protected accounts. In my opinion,
either your children or somebody else knows your passwords and changed
them, or your computer is infected with malware.

I don't suppose you made a Password Reset Disk:
http://www.petri.co.il/what's_the_password_reset_disk_in_windows_xp.htm

Log in to the built-in Administrator account and reset the passwords to
your Administrator accounts.

[The built-in Administrator account is a system account, not a regular
user account. Do NOT use the built-in Administrator as a regular user
account. It is intended for situations like the one you find yourself in
now.]

 

[JS]

Note: There is a hidden 'Administrator' account (the account name is:
Administrator) in Windows.
The default password for this hidden account is normally blank (none).

For XP Home users:
Boot the computer into Safe Mode
Do this by pressing the F8 key (several times) after the Power On Self Test
is finished, until the Start menu appears.
This will get you to the correct menu window.
Once in Safe Mode, you will see the normally hidden Administrator account
and any other accounts.
(Note: Accounts are displayed alphabetically).
Use the mouse or Up/down arrow keys to highlight the 'Administrator'
account;
Remember as mentioned above: The default password is a blank (no password
required).

Also See: Forgotten your Windows XP Home password
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894902/en-us
and: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/894901/

For XP Pro users:
You do not need to go into Safe Mode.
At the Welcome Screen, do/press the Ctrl-Alt-Del keys twice to display the
Windows logon box.
Type in "Administrator" (without the quotes) and 'if' you assigned a
password when you set up Windows, then enter it.
(Note: by default the password is blank, no password need be entered)

Once your in, then:
Click Start/Run/and type in: Control Userpasswords2 and then press OK
Next click the 'Users' tab (if it's not already selected).
Now click on the user's account name.that you want to change/reset the
password for, and
Click the 'Reset Password' button located at the bottom right.
Enter the new password into the 'New password' box,
Enter the same password again in the 'Confirm new password' box.
Next click the 'OK' button and once again click 'OK'.
Finally restart your PC, and logon using the account name and password you
entered.


Also see: How to log on to Windows XP if you forget your password or if your
password expires
(This Microsoft article applies to both XP Home and Pro)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/321305/en-us

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

Leonard. The function of the Password reset Disk is "To protect user
accounts in the event that the user forgets the password". This wouldn't be
useful if the password has been changed (by kids, possible?) or made
unusable by malware (more possible). The most likely remedy is, as you
suggest, to install, update antispyware / virus software and scan (all
partitions) for threats (preferably in 'Safe' mode). If this is prevented
then the hard disk drive may need to be temporarily installed in another
computer to do scan.

Bill Ridgeway

Regaining access to your Administrator accounts is not the issue. That can
be solved. The /real/ problem - and it's a big one - is how you came to be
locked out of your own password protected accounts. In my opinion, either
your children or somebody else knows your passwords and changed them, or
your computer is infected with malware.

I don't suppose you made a Password Reset Disk:
http://www.petri.co.il/what's_the_password_reset_disk_in_windows_xp.htm

Log in to the built-in Administrator account and reset the passwords to
your Administrator accounts.

[The built-in Administrator account is a system account, not a regular
user account. Do NOT use the built-in Administrator as a regular user
account. It is intended for situations like the one you find yourself in
now.]
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

I had two accounts on my computer set up with passwords so that the
children could not access them. For spme reason neither of them accepts
my passwords now so I am locked out of both administrative accounts.
This means I can not make any changes on my computer, including simple
things like setting my virus protection settings.

Any one had the same experience or know how to fix the problem? Thanks!

 

[Leonard Grey]

The Password Reset Disk doesn't care whether you forgot your password or
the kids changed it.

If a computer is infected with malware it's a completely different
situation.
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

Leonard. The function of the Password reset Disk is "To protect user
accounts in the event that the user forgets the password". This wouldn't be
useful if the password has been changed (by kids, possible?) or made
unusable by malware (more possible). The most likely remedy is, as you
suggest, to install, update antispyware / virus software and scan (all
partitions) for threats (preferably in 'Safe' mode). If this is prevented
then the hard disk drive may need to be temporarily installed in another
computer to do scan.

Bill Ridgeway

Regaining access to your Administrator accounts is not the issue. That can
be solved. The /real/ problem - and it's a big one - is how you came to be
locked out of your own password protected accounts. In my opinion, either
your children or somebody else knows your passwords and changed them, or
your computer is infected with malware.

I don't suppose you made a Password Reset Disk:
http://www.petri.co.il/what's_the_password_reset_disk_in_windows_xp.htm

Log in to the built-in Administrator account and reset the passwords to
your Administrator accounts.

[The built-in Administrator account is a system account, not a regular
user account. Do NOT use the built-in Administrator as a regular user
account. It is intended for situations like the one you find yourself in
now.]
---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

I had two accounts on my computer set up with passwords so that the
children could not access them. For spme reason neither of them accepts
my passwords now so I am locked out of both administrative accounts.
This means I can not make any changes on my computer, including simple
things like setting my virus protection settings.

Any one had the same experience or know how to fix the problem? Thanks!