Administrator acct. set up.

[Guest]

When I installed my new XP Pro OS I understood that there was an adm. account
created automatically, and a picture appeared in my start window. but nothing
ever appeared on the welcome screen and I never needed to sign in.

I wanted to set this up with a password, so I went to user accounts and
entered a password. when I rebooted the picture and password box were there,
but there was no name. I signed on with no problem, returned to user accts.
and entered "Administrator" for the account name. When I clicked "Change the
name" button I get this message:

An account named administrator already exists, enter a different name.

If I am the administrator why can't I change my name? Where did I go wrong?
apparently I need to make myself an administrator account and a user account.
Any help you can give me will be appreciated.

Linus

 

[Shenan Stanley]

When I installed my new XP Pro OS I understood that there was an adm.
account created automatically, and a picture appeared in my start
window. but nothing ever appeared on the welcome screen and I never
needed to sign in.

I wanted to set this up with a password, so I went to user accounts
and entered a password. when I rebooted the picture and password box
were there, but there was no name. I signed on with no problem,
returned to user accts. and entered "Administrator" for the account
name. When I clicked "Change the name" button I get this message:

An account named administrator already exists, enter a different name.

If I am the administrator why can't I change my name? Where did I go
wrong? apparently I need to make myself an administrator account and
a user account. Any help you can give me will be appreciated.

XP Home?
If so, "Administrator" is a reserved name - as it is the name of the account
that you can only use in Safe mode.

 

[lvee]

The default account that you are referring to is an administrator account,
and should not be used for everyday purposes. It's your "if anything goes
wrong and you can't fix it through your regular accounts, then try using the
default (built-in) admin account." If you don't create another ( user)
account while setting up your system, then the default will be the one you
use to access your system, and as it is already named administrator, even
though it is not showing as such, you cannot change it to what it already is
named.
You can, from that account, setup other users with varying account rights,
Administrator and Limited.
You want the admin. rights, but you don't want to use the built-in admin
account, so set yourself up with a new account, that has admin rights, but
you cannot 'name' it administrator, as the message indicated. If for some
reason, you at any time are permitted to name 2 different users
'administrator', you will find that it can cause problems within your os.
So, it's best to name your account something else, your own name, or
whatever. You can also create a Limited account, then you will see the
Limited account, as well as your account on the Welcome screen when logging
in.

 

[José Gallardo]

As they have told you, "Administrator" name is just what you cannot
change. The best choice it to create a new administrator account (which
cannot use "Administrator" naem but another one).

 

[Guest]

Thank you all, I am very grateful for your quick replys. As I understand, you
are telling me that the original Adm. account that originated when I
installed the OS is presently buried some where for emergency use only, but
the new account I created today on the welcome screen will work if I just
name it something besides "Administrator".

Ok. But the only password I have ever created is the one today, so will that
password also work on the buried or hidden "Administrator" account?

Thanks again for your prompt attention.

 

[José Gallardo]

To create a new Administratror account you must login "Administrator"
account. As you created password, you must type it. Then, go to Start >
Control Panel > User accounts and create a new one. Next time you start
XP "Administrator" will disappear and you "only" have new account
available.
To see "Administrator" account, click Ctrl+Alt+Del twice on welcome
screen and there it is!
Perhaps too many quotes in my explanation?

 

[lvee]

If you created a password for the built-in admin account, yes, that password
will still apply, however, DO NOT FORGET that password. It is not really a
good idea to apply a password to that account, at least I don't think it's a
good idea, some may disagree. If you create a user account for yourself from
the user account in control panel, you can apply a password for that
account, which will prevent others from accessing it. Then, to restrict
other users from that built -in account, when you create their account, give
them 'Limited' rights. That way, they cannot access your built-in admin
account, therefore they cannot make any significant changes to your system.
Once you create your own user account with admin rights, you can still
access the built-in account via safe mode, and I believe with XP Pro, you
can hit Ctrl-Alt-delete twice while you are on the Welcome screen, and that,
too, will bring you to the built-in Admin account.

Click on these links for more detailed info.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ua_c_account_types.mspx

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298252

http://emea.windowsitpro.com/Windows/Article/ArticleID/40721/40721.html

 

[Guest]

--
Linusverl

If you created a password for the built-in admin account, yes, that password
will still apply, however, DO NOT FORGET that password. It is not really a
good idea to apply a password to that account, at least I don't think it's a
good idea, some may disagree. If you create a user account for yourself from
the user account in control panel, you can apply a password for that
account, which will prevent others from accessing it. Then, to restrict
other users from that built -in account, when you create their account, give
them 'Limited' rights. That way, they cannot access your built-in admin
account, therefore they cannot make any significant changes to your system.
Once you create your own user account with admin rights, you can still
access the built-in account via safe mode, and I believe with XP Pro, you
can hit Ctrl-Alt-delete twice while you are on the Welcome screen, and that,
too, will bring you to the built-in Admin account.

Click on these links for more detailed info.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/...xp/all/proddocs/en-us/ua_c_account_types.mspx

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;298252

http://emea.windowsitpro.com/Windows/Article/ArticleID/40721/40721.html

 

[José Gallardo]

Glad you got it worked out

 

[lvee]

Good Job!