Administrator account vanished!

[Guest]

Son's mad at me. May have done this:
Suddenly there is only one user acct. that comes up on startup and it is a
"Limited Account" under my name. It should be an "Administrator" account.
Now I can't do any administrator-type things (like load a program to keep him
off the computer completely). I thought there HAD to be an administrator
account, but I can't locate it if there is one hidden somewhere. HELP!

 

[no one]

keep tapping the F8 key on bootup to boot into SAFE MODE

admin is the password I think

 

[no one]

Son's mad at me. May have done this:
Suddenly there is only one user acct. that comes up on startup and it is a
"Limited Account" under my name. It should be an "Administrator" account.
Now I can't do any administrator-type things (like load a program to keep him
off the computer completely). I thought there HAD to be an administrator
account, but I can't locate it if there is one hidden somewhere. HELP!

From kelly's Corner http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm


Administrator Account - Add to the Welcome Screen

Download the INF fix here. To use: Download the xp_admin_enable.inf
file (you may want to right click and use Save Target As). Locate the
file you downloaded and right click on it, then select Install. Or
Download the VBS Fix here. To use: Download the xp_admin_enable.vbs
file and save it to your hard drive (you may want to right click and use
Save Target As). Double-click the xp_admin_enable.vbs file. You will be
prompted when the script is done. INF and VBS files can be viewed in
Notepad.

Administrator Account - Access from Welcome Screen

On Pro Edition, from the Welcome screen, press ctrl-Alt-Delete Twice.
Press Control/Alt/Delete Twice for Pro and Boot into safe mode and login
for Home. On Home, boot to Safe Mode, and logon.

More information and options here:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_wel_screen.htm
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logon.htm

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

If "admin" is the password, someone set it.
There is no default password in Windows XP.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Son's mad at me. May have done this:
Suddenly there is only one user acct. that comes up on startup and it is a
"Limited Account" under my name. It should be an "Administrator" account.
Now I can't do any administrator-type things (like load a program to keep him
off the computer completely). I thought there HAD to be an administrator
account, but I can't locate it if there is one hidden somewhere. HELP!

As you've just learned, once any additional user accounts have been
created, the Administrator account will no longer be displayed on the
Welcome Screen. This is a default security feature. By design, the
only way to log into the Administrator account of WinXP Home is to
reboot into Safe Mode. For WinXP Pro, pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL twice at
the Welcome Screen will produce the standard login dialog box.

The built-in Administrator account really isn't intended to be used
for day-to-day normal use. The standard security practice is to set a
strong password on it and use it only to create another account for
regular use, reserving the Administrator account as a "back door" in
case something corrupts your regular account(s).

A wiser course of action would be to create another user account
for your daily use, as you say you've done, and copy desired the files
and settings from the Administrator account to this newly created user
profile.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

Can you suggest a solution to my problem? Please!

 

[Guest]

Won't let me install the xp_admin_enable.inf !

 

[Guest]

Reboot into "safe mode"...and then what do I do? XP Home.

 

[Jupiter Jones [MVP]]

Once another profile is created, the default Administrator is hidden.
Reboot to Safe Mode.
Then go to User Accounts in the Control Panel
Select your account and choose the option to Change Account Type and set as
Administrator if necessary.
If necessary, you can copy the data from Administrator to another account:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151
After you have created the new profile, log in to it so the folders can be
created otherwise there will be nothing to copy the data to.

Also see:
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/private.htm