Admisitrator account

[Ross LaBarbera]

I got some advice from someone on the board last night, followed it, and now
I'm stuck. Hopefully someone can help me get back to where I was...

To fix a different problem that I was having, it was suggested that I create
a new User Account with Administrator privliges. I was operating uder the
"Administrator" account and had everything set up under it. When I created a
new user, I could no longer see the "Administrator" account...only the new
User account that I had created. The problem is that I don't see any of the
vital information that I had set up previously. My emails are gone, IE is
back at default setting, same with Word, etc. It is like I am starting from
scratch on the PC.

How do I get my "Adminsitrator" account back? I can't delete the User
account I created because you can't delete your last account with
Administrator privliges. I tried to do a User Profile Copy To from
Administrator to my new Account (Ross). That appeared to work, but nothing
changed on my computer. I still have no access to any previous information
or files!

I'm running XP SP2. Can anyone help?
Thanks in advance.
Ross

 

[R. McCarty]

Using Windows XP Home ?

First, using the default "Administrator" account is discouraged for day to
day use.

When you create a new user, the new profile is created from a Template.
Any customizations in a pre-existing profile aren't included. Within a
profile
those types of changes & user specific data are stored in the profile as a
Registry hive called "Hkey_Current_User" and equates to a file NtUser.Dat
found in the root of the profile at C:\Documents and Settings\'YourLogin'.
This NtUser.Dat holds information related to XP customizations and all
the specific profile things such as email profiles,etc. This file is what is
loaded
when you see the login box "Loading Your Settings".

Once you create a User profile, the Administrator account becomes hidden.
It's still there, but doesn't appear in the Welcome Screen. To get access to
Administrator, you have to boot Safe Mode and press the Control-Alt-Delete
sequence twice so that Administrator can be used in the Username box.

Perhaps your best solution, is a System Restore back to a point prior to
adding/changing Accounts.

If you recover, consider Imaging your system to protect your personal data
and XP setup. The hardest part of servicing PC's is having to tell users
that
all of their data is irretrievably gone.

 

[Ross LaBarbera]

I am using XP Pro.

I'm not sure what you are suggesting that I do. I searched for this
NTuser.dat file and did not find one on my system...although I don't know
what I would have done with it anyway. I can see the files that I have
previous created on the hard disk, but the profile is all messed up. Isn't
there a way to delete the new user account that I've created which has
Administrator privliges and get back to where I was?

I have heard from everyone that I shouldn't have been using the
Administrator Account for everyday use. My XP Pro came already installed on
my computer, and quite honestly, I didn't even know that I was using this
"Administrator" account as I configured and used my computer over the last 4
weeks. If all I've lost is my email, that wouldn't be fun, but its not the
end of the world. If I can't just delete this new user account I've created
to get back to my "Administrator" account, what will happen if I reinstall
Windows? Will I have access to all my files on the hard disk?

You suggested a system restore prior to when I added the new Account. Is
this something I can do in Windows, or would I have had to done a ghost
image or something earlier...which I haven't done.

I was trying to solve a minor issue, and I'm hoping it hasn't turned into a
catastrophy....

Regards,
Ross

 

[R. McCarty]

No it's not a catastrophe - But things like this can and do turn into the
"Dig Yourself, in Deeper" problem.

A System Restore is a "Backout" type of process. XP creates points
of a capture of the system state and then by date allows you to move
back to a earlier system configuration. It does not monitor or provide
coverage for user's data. System Restore isn't a substitute for Images,
more of a "Wish I hadn't done (Installed, Changed or removed) that".

System Restore is found under Accessories, System Tools.

The reason you couldn't see the NtUser.Dat is likely because the view
settings for Explorer have System and Hidden files enabled.

 

[Guest]

I have to disagree with Mr. McCarty.

Follow the following procedures. PLEASE NOTE that they are long, but
actually quite simple to follow. DO NOT PANIC!

1. From the Welcome screen, press Ctrl-Alt-Del twice. A Windows logon
screen will appear. Log on as the administrator.

2. Once logged in: From the Start Menu go to All Programs/Accessories/System
Tools and choose File & Settings Transfer Wizard.

3. Click Next.

4. In the next box select Old Computer and press Next.

5. The next box will say 'Select a Transfer Method'. Select Other, and in
the box type c:\Old Profile (change C to whatever drive you want). When you
click Next it will ask if you want to create the directory. Click Yes.

6. The next box asks 'What do you want to transfer?' Make sure Bot Files and
Settings is selected and press Next.

At this point it will export your entire user profile. Depending on the
size I have seen it take from 5 to 30 minutes. Be patient!

Once finished, log out, then log in as Ross and do the following:

1. From the Start Menu go to All Programs/Accessories/System Tools and
choose File & Settings Transfer Wizard.

2. Click Next.

3. When asked 'Which Computer Is This', Select New Computer and click Next.

4. After preparing your computer for a minute it will ask you if you have a
Windows XP CD. Select the last option (I don't need a Wzard Dsk. I have
already collected my files and settings from my old computer). Click Next.

5. In the box that asks 'Where are the files?' select Other, and type c:\Old
Profile (as before).

This process takes MUCH longer than the export, but when you are done your
new profile should look exactly like your old one, with all of the fies and
settings and e-mails and such... but without Administrator rights.

Let me know how it works for you!

Mitch

 

[Ross LaBarbera]

As luck would have it, the System Restore function on this computer was
disabled. The OS was preinstalled and apparently setup that way. I checked
my other computers in the house and they all have that feature enabled. I've
never had to use it before so I didn't even know it was there. I assume
there is no way around this now.

What would you suggest next....reinstall Windows?

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

I have to disagree with Mr. McCarty.

Follow the following procedures. PLEASE NOTE that they are long, but
actually quite simple to follow. DO NOT PANIC!

1. From the Welcome screen, press Ctrl-Alt-Del twice. A Windows logon
screen will appear. Log on as the administrator.

If WinXP Home, you might need to be in safe mode to do this...

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I got some advice from someone on the board last night, followed it, and now
I'm stuck. Hopefully someone can help me get back to where I was...

To fix a different problem that I was having, it was suggested that I create
a new User Account with Administrator privliges. I was operating uder the
"Administrator" account and had everything set up under it. When I created a
new user, I could no longer see the "Administrator" account...only the new
User account that I had created. The problem is that I don't see any of the
vital information that I had set up previously. My emails are gone, IE is
back at default setting, same with Word, etc. It is like I am starting from
scratch on the PC.

How do I get my "Adminsitrator" account back? I can't delete the User
account I created because you can't delete your last account with
Administrator privliges. I tried to do a User Profile Copy To from
Administrator to my new Account (Ross). That appeared to work, but nothing
changed on my computer. I still have no access to any previous information
or files!

I'm running XP SP2. Can anyone help?
Thanks in advance.
Ross

As you've 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.

Original Administrator Account Does Not Appear During Friendly Logon Method
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;281992

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

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