Administrator

[Guest]

I only had one non-password user-"Administrator". While foolinng with
remote, I added my bro w/Admin priv. Then, after several days, I rebooted and
XP Pro came up w/ only my bro's name/admin (No "Administrator") as User. Of
course, if I logged under his name, I wouldn't get my email, so I added my
name as user and built an email account. Still no back emails-only current
ones. A lot of other stuff is not accessible either - what can I do to get
it back (esp my old emails)?

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

I only had one non-password user-"Administrator". While foolinng with
remote, I added my bro w/Admin priv. Then, after several days, I rebooted and
XP Pro came up w/ only my bro's name/admin (No "Administrator") as User. Of
course, if I logged under his name, I wouldn't get my email, so I added my
name as user and built an email account. Still no back emails-only current
ones. A lot of other stuff is not accessible either - what can I do to get
it back (esp my old emails)?

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del twice at the logon screen in order
to specify "Administrator" as a logon account.

 

[Malke]

I only had one non-password user-"Administrator". While foolinng with
remote, I added my bro w/Admin priv. Then, after several days, I rebooted and
XP Pro came up w/ only my bro's name/admin (No "Administrator") as User. Of
course, if I logged under his name, I wouldn't get my email, so I added my
name as user and built an email account. Still no back emails-only current
ones. A lot of other stuff is not accessible either - what can I do to get
it back (esp my old emails)?

You apparently have XP Pro and were using the built-in Administrator for
your regular account (not recommended). It is by design that when a
second user with administrative privileges is created the built-in
Administrator account is hidden. The account still exists although it
would be smarter to copy its data and settings over to your new user
account and leave Administrator for emergencies.

To log into the built-in Administrator account in XP Pro do Ctrl-Alt-Del
at the Welcome Screen. Type in "Administrator" without the quotes and
leave the password blank since you didn't assign one.

To copy the user account, see:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=811151

If you insist on using the built-in Administrator account for your
regular computing, see this link to enable it on the Welcome Screen:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm - Enable/Disable
Administrator on the Welcome Screen (Line 5)


Malke

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I only had one non-password user-"Administrator". While foolinng with
remote, I added my bro w/Admin priv. Then, after several days, I rebooted and
XP Pro came up w/ only my bro's name/admin (No "Administrator") as User. Of
course, if I logged under his name, I wouldn't get my email, so I added my
name as user and built an email account. Still no back emails-only current
ones. A lot of other stuff is not accessible either - what can I do to get
it back (esp my old emails)?

As you've discovered, once any additional administrative user
accounts have been created, the built-in 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 was never intended to be
used for day-to-day normal use. The standard security practice is to
rename the account, 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'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:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all the help! I feel confidemt I can solve my problem
but...................
When this happened, I panicked and copied "My Documents", "History",
"Desktop" from Admin User to new one "Billy". Question is what's the best way
to correct my prob, shall I delete "Billy" (thereby deleting the files I
copied over) and rename Admiistrator Billy. Or leave Billy and logon as that
user (which would leave the copied files-then what happens to any subsequent
changes?).

 

[Malke]

Thanks for all the help! I feel confidemt I can solve my problem
but...................
When this happened, I panicked and copied "My Documents", "History",
"Desktop" from Admin User to new one "Billy". Question is what's the best way
to correct my prob, shall I delete "Billy" (thereby deleting the files I
copied over) and rename Admiistrator Billy. Or leave Billy and logon as that
user (which would leave the copied files-then what happens to any subsequent
changes?).

Use the Billy account for daily work instead of the built-in
Administrator. After you are sure the Billy account has all your data
and is working the way you want, if you don't want duplicate files then
simply log on as Administrator and delete the data files - and only the
data files! - that are in Administrator's My Documents.

There is no need to worry about syncing the two user accounts; this is
not done.


Malke