administrator query

[Robert J. Lafayette]

windows xp home.

in user accounts when operating normally,
system is set for two users,
one with password protection (owner), that is me, owner and administrator,

and one without, for a guest.

went to safe mode (f-8 at ignition) to do spyware scanning,
as recommended by this newsgroup,

and noticed three users:
administrator,
owner (me) have pasword protection,
and guest.

at safe mode (f8) , i could get into administrator without any password
protection.

is this normal?
can, should i set a password for administrator, as i am owner and user/
administrator.

if yes, how do i do this?

is this of any concern?


thank you in advance,
robert

ps: my system is very clean have five spyware programs and adaware.
thanks to all for the newsgroup info.

 

[Gordon]

windows xp home.

in user accounts when operating normally,
system is set for two users,
one with password protection (owner), that is me, owner and administrator,

and one without, for a guest.

went to safe mode (f-8 at ignition) to do spyware scanning,
as recommended by this newsgroup,

and noticed three users:
administrator,
owner (me) have pasword protection,
and guest.

at safe mode (f8) , i could get into administrator without any password
protection.

is this normal?
can, should i set a password for administrator, as i am owner and user/
administrator.

if yes, how do i do this?

is this of any concern?


thank you in advance,
robert

ps: my system is very clean have five spyware programs and adaware.
thanks to all for the newsgroup info.

The built-in administrator Account is an emergency account used to gain
access to your system when either or all of your day-to-day user accounts go
belly up.
You can password-protect it if you like, but BE WARNED! if you lose or
forget the password it is a complicated business to access your machine
through that account.
the choice is yours!

HTH

 

[Robert J. Lafayette]

thank you,
will take your advice under consideration,
my concern is if i lose, or someone steals,
my computer (an HP pavilion/ notebook) ,
what might be the best way to protect my data,
and in the case of theft,
prevent the notebook from being used by a thief...

robert

 

[HillBillyBuddhist]

| | >
| > windows xp home.

| > can, should i set a password for administrator, as i am owner and user/
| > administrator.
| >
| > if yes, how do i do this?
| >
| > is this of any concern?
| >
| >
| > thank you in advance,
| > robert

|
| The built-in administrator Account is an emergency account used to gain
| access to your system when either or all of your day-to-day user accounts
go
| belly up.
| You can password-protect it if you like, but BE WARNED! if you lose or
| forget the password it is a complicated business to access your machine
| through that account.
| the choice is yours!
|
| HTH

OTOH as you've seen, if you don't password protect it anybody with physical
access to your computer can log in and do as they please. Whether or not
that's a concern only you be able to determine.

To set the password click Start> Run> and enter "control userpasswords2" (no
quotes, space between control and userpasswords2) Highlight Administrator
and click "Reset Password..."

If you're going to do that a good precaution would be to create a password
reset disk to cover your working User account. (if your computer has a
floppy drive) For that, open "User Accounts" in Control Panel, highlight
your User account and click "Prevent a forgotten password" in the Tasks
Pane.

--
D

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details.

Remove shoes to E-mail.

 

[Robert J. Lafayette]

thanks for the assistance.
(what does OTOH mean?)

will probably do as you suggest.
will do a bit more research before i proceed your advice
is very good start.

what good is having all the password file protection
and allowing a potential thief to have access
to the computer??!


cheers
r

 

[Gordon]

thanks for the assistance.
(what does OTOH mean?)

On The Other Hand (I think......)

 

[Robert J. Lafayette]

makes sense to me,

thks.
r

On The Other Hand (I think......)

 

[Robert J. Lafayette]

i made the adjustments, adding passwords,
and it did not hurt one bit.

i feel my computer is a bit safer.

robert