Admnistrator, Administrators & Admin rights question?

[Pheasant Plucker®]

Hi there,

Having just installed a new XP Pro install on a notebook I have a question
regarding what used to be called the Administrator account on NT4 etc.

When carrying out a first time install on a virgin machine I am asked to
choose a password.

I choose the password and repeat it - no problems so far.

I then continue and am asked to create a user account.

I am unable to use Administrator so choose Admin as I want to set up the
notebook for restricted access for the user - OK so far.

However when the install is finished and the only user account is Admin I am
never prompted for the password I entered during setup...

Is this normal? have I missed something fundamental?

I am assuming that the first (and in this case) only user is the one to whom
Administrator status is granted?

What has happened to the password I have chosen?

 

[Unk]

Hi there,

Having just installed a new XP Pro install on a notebook I have a question
regarding what used to be called the Administrator account on NT4 etc.

When carrying out a first time install on a virgin machine I am asked to
choose a password.

I choose the password and repeat it - no problems so far.

That was the password for the main Administrator account. You only see this account from the
Safe Mode. It's used mainly to repair damage done by a user account. Make damn sure you
remember that password. Without it, it's virtually a reformat.

I then continue and am asked to create a user account.

I am unable to use Administrator so choose Admin as I want to set up the
notebook for restricted access for the user - OK so far.

Admin is just a name for a user account with administrative privileges, you could have used any
name, even "Pheasant Plucker"

However when the install is finished and the only user account is Admin I am
never prompted for the password I entered during setup...

Is this normal? have I missed something fundamental?

Yes, You need to set a password for your user account "Admin" to be asked for it.
To add a password: Click Start, Settings, Control Panel, User Accounts, click your
account, click "Change my password".

 

[Guest]

Like Linux, If U forget the Admin. Pass. Acct. You are limited in safe mode.
Basically,a re-install will be neccessary. Woz

 

[Guest]

Also for future preference, if you're not comfortable with Admin.
Password,(because you will alway's be a user acct.) Don't enter password on
setup. Unless you know how to use GPO., Snapin's. Woz

 

[Gordon]

Like Linux, If U forget the Admin. Pass. Acct. You are limited in safe
mode. Basically,a re-install will be neccessary. Woz

Wrong. UNLIKE linux, there are applications that will reveal the Admin
password.
Here's just one of the many sites that tells you how to do it:
http://www.petri.co.il/forgot_administrator_password.htm

 

[Rock]

That was the password for the main Administrator account. You only see this account from the
Safe Mode. It's used mainly to repair damage done by a user account. Make damn sure you
remember that password. Without it, it's virtually a reformat.

<snip>

With XP Pro, which is what the OP said, the built in Administrator
account is accessible from the welcome screen. Just press Ctrl-Alt-Del
twice which brings up the classic account name / password box. Type
Administrator as the account name and the password.

For XP Home, the Administrator account only shows up on the welcome
screen in safe mode.

 

[Pheasant Plucker®]

Thanks for the replies guys,

I did not know that was how it worked in XP Pro...

Can I pursue this a little further?

I want to setup this particular system for a user and restrict some of the
things he can/can't do.

If I understand correctly it looks like the built-in Administrator account
can be reached at any time by pressing ctrl-alt-del twice at the normal
login screen and can be accessed by using the password I entered when I
setup XP Pro in the first instance.

This being the case - and assuming I do not want the normal user to have
administrative rights nor belong to the Administrators group I guess I can
either 'downgrade' the initial user account I setup or delete it completely
and create a new one?

Is there a more correct way to achieve this and will either of these
operations have any impact on anything else?

Having the Administrator account 'hidden' from the user at the normal login
prompt is ideal - that way only the normal user account will show up.

Pressing on is there a 'best way' to restrict the users ability to either
install programs (excluding MS & Symantec security updates etc.) and prevent
the system date/time from being altered?

Obviously I have a need for the user to be able to run programs such as
MSOffice and a custom application and also have access to email/internet
etc.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Kind regards,
-=pp=-

 

[Unk]

<snip>

With XP Pro, which is what the OP said, the built in Administrator
account is accessible from the welcome screen. Just press Ctrl-Alt-Del
twice which brings up the classic account name / password box. Type
Administrator as the account name and the password.

For XP Home, the Administrator account only shows up on the welcome
screen in safe mode.

I know that, and you know, that but the OP is new at this and I didn't want to cause more
confusion with "exceptions".

We could also have added that ANY password can be reset if you know how...

 

[Rock]

I know that, and you know, that but the OP is new at this and I didn't want to cause more
confusion with "exceptions".

We could also have added that ANY password can be reset if you know how...

Ok fair enough, though I don't think that bit of info would cause
confusion. He seemed to assimilate it fine as indicated by his later
post.