Administrator logon & fast user switching problems

[mark]

Hi,

The situation:

XP Professional SP2, workgroup environment, fast user switching is turned on.

I do not want the Administrator account on the Welcome screen. It's an
invitation for abuse. Nor do I want to maintain multiple administrator accounts.
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList\Administrator is 0

When I want to log into Administrator, I hit ctrl+alt+delete and use the classic
logon screen.

The problem:

Let's say a non-administrator is logged in, and they ask me to fix a problem.
And in order to fix the problem, I have to log into Administrator. A very common
situation.

But if I want to do a log off / switch user / ctrl+alt+delete to get the classic
logon screen and log into Administrator - think again! ctrl+alt+delete doesn't
work if someone is already logged in!!!!!!!

It gets worse.

Let's say nobody is logged in. I hit ctrl+alt+del and log into Administrator.
Then I log off / switch user and ask the user to log into their account. But I
forgot to do something and I need to get back into Administrator, which, mind
you, is still logged in.

But because Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList\Administrator is 0, Administrator
WILL NOT APPEAR ON THE WELCOME SCREEN EVEN THOUGH IT IS STILL LOGGED IN!!!!! And
I can't get the classic logon screen with ctrl+alt+del, because, as I mentioned
previously, IT DOESN'T WORK IF SOMEONE IS ALREADY LOGGED IN!!!!

Pardon me for shouting, but isn't this silly?!?!?!!

Does anyone have a solution for:

1) How to get the classic logon screen with ctrl+alt+delete under any
circumstances, and

2) How to get Administrator to appear on the Welcome screen if there is an
active Administrator session, even if
Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList\Administrator is 0?

This issue was previously mentioned here:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr..._admin/msg/2961eb387be38758?dmode=print&hl=en
and never answered.

 

[Steve Hawkins]

I don't know which files you need Administrator privileges for, but a lot of
them give you the opportunity of a 'Run as' dialogue on right click. You
can then log in with Administrator privileges without having to change user.
I haven't had much call for this so don't know how good it is, but it might
be a work around for you in some cases.

Regards,
SteveH

(Incidentally, I had loads of hassle with privileges of a printer till I
discovered that 'simple file sharing' hides all the Security tabs on file
properties sheets...)

 

[mark]

Hi,

Not everything runs correctly with "run as". As the resoure kit says, "Some
applications are started indirectly by Windows XP Professional and therefore
cannot be started by the RunAs program." For some things, especially installs,
you need to be logged into an Administrator account.

In any event, this doesn't address the issues I raised, which sounds like a bug
or oversight in the windows logon process.

ctrl+alt+delete should be consistent and always give you the classic logon
screen whether someone is logged in or not.

And if you are already logged into administrator, then the welcome screen should
have an administrator icon on it even if
Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList\Administrator is 0

Attn: MVP's, how do you go about reporting a bug to Microsoft if you don't have
the $245 for Problem Resolution Services?