Am I locked out of Vista?

[John]

I'm an WinXP administrator who has no experience with Vista.

I just got a brand new PC with Vista Business Edition with SP1. The OS is
preinstalled by Lenovo. I went thru the initial setup completion process
where I was asked for a username. I filled it out with "JohnDumAss". I
believe this account is automatically setup to have Administrators
permissions. Am I right?

With WinXP Pro machines, I've always been able to delete the only user
created account (JohnDumAss) and use the default account (Administrator)
instead. Thinking that I can do the same with Vista, I deleted the account
JohnDumAss.

Now I can't get back in. Am I locked out? Any tricks to get back into Vista
using Administrator account? Thanks in advance.

 

[gls858]

I'm an WinXP administrator who has no experience with Vista.

I just got a brand new PC with Vista Business Edition with SP1. The OS is
preinstalled by Lenovo. I went thru the initial setup completion process
where I was asked for a username. I filled it out with "JohnDumAss". I
believe this account is automatically setup to have Administrators
permissions. Am I right?

With WinXP Pro machines, I've always been able to delete the only user
created account (JohnDumAss) and use the default account (Administrator)
instead. Thinking that I can do the same with Vista, I deleted the account
JohnDumAss.

Now I can't get back in. Am I locked out? Any tricks to get back into Vista
using Administrator account? Thanks in advance.

If all else fails do a google for Offline NT Password

gls858

 

[Lord Fauntleroy]

If all else fails do a google for Offline NT Password

gls858

Isn't the Administrator password blank when you set up a new install?

 

[Rick Rogers]

Safe mode. The default administrator account in Vista is not active in
normal mode.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[gls858]

Isn't the Administrator password blank when you set up a new install?

Not real sure I haven't worked with Vista other than my PC at home. I
would think so and it's certainly worth a try for the OP.

gls858

 

[John]

Great. I got in thru safe mode. I enable Administrator account while in safe
mode.
Thanks.

 

[John]

Yes it is blank but it's also disabled by default. I can't use Administrator
to get in. It say something like: "Your account is disabled. Please contact
your Administrator".

A reboot to safe mode got me in without asking for username/password. I
enable Admin account and set a password. It's ok now. Thanks.

 

[Snidley W.]

Boot into the recovery partition - usually via the F10 key after
initial boot. Check your owner's manual for the exact key sequence if
not F10, F11, ctrl-F11 or ctrl. Once in the recovery partition, you will
be given several options - one of which s/b Windows System Restore.
Select it and choose a restore point prior to the deletion of the user
account.

The only lasting item will be the user name you selected. Even if you
change the name itself via the user account screen, the original name
you chose will remain on all folders within the user profile c:\users.

If you can afford the loss of all data currently residing on the c:
drive, I would simply re-install Vista and start over. You can do this
by selecting system recovery when you enter the system recovery
partition. I do not advise deleting the only 1-token admin account on
the system. It will result in a lock-out. Good Luck to you.

Unbelievable!!

The OP simply logged into the Admin account in Safe Mode and took care
of everything.

You need to seriously reconsider your decision to offer help to people
here. You are dangerous.

 

[Gordon]

Great. I got in thru safe mode. I enable Administrator account while in
safe mode.
Thanks.

But you should now create an Admin account for EMERGENCIES and a Standard
User account for day to day use. You should NOT, like you did in XP, use THE
administrator account on a daily basis.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Gordon is correct. There was recently a case posted on this board where the
user doing this had his admin account go south (ntuser.dat corrupt). Since
he had no fallback account, it necessitated a full reinstallation. The
built-in admin account should not be used for daily use under any
circumstances.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Gordon]

<sigh>

Yeah, right. Sure. OK.

Now excuse me while I go put on my tinfoil beanie (can't be too
careful, y'know).

Which is one of the main factors why the Windows environment is awash with
all sorts of viruses, Trojans and malware. because of people like YOU who
run as Administrator on a daily basis....probably with no password either.

 

[Gordon]

Speak for yourself, but not for me. I have so many backups that it
would make your and his heads spin. My most recent backup is usually
not more than 12 hours old.

backups of WHAT? Data? That won't get you into your machine if the account
gets corrupted.....

 

[Tom Lake]

Isn't the Administrator password blank when you set up a new install?

Yes but the Administrator account is disabled by default. In order to enable it,
you have to get into Vista. You can't do that if you deleted the only active
account.

Tom Lake

 

[Gordon]

FULL SYSTEM BACKUPS, Mr. Know-it-all.

then why not SAY SO MORON.

I use Acronis True Image for system and data backups, and in addition
to that I use Casper to maintain a clone of my system disk. The clone
is updated with two mouse clicks and then I go about doing whatever I
want to do on the machine while the cloning - a 15 minute process - is
updated.

And yes, I don't use a password either.

Then you desrve all you get

Play nanny with someone else.

Idiot. Plonk.

 

[John]

But you should now create an Admin account for EMERGENCIES and a Standard
User account for day to day use. You should NOT, like you did in XP, use
THE administrator account on a daily basis.

Thanks Gordon and yes I know that. Like my other WinXP Pro boxes, the new
Vista box will join an Active Directory domain. None of us including myself
has admin permission.

I got too many passwords to remember. I don't want to have another local
user account + password to remember in addition to the built-in
Administrator local account. Btw, yes, the local Administrator account in
Vista is password protected now.

 

[Richie Hardwick]

Yes but the Administrator account is disabled by default. In order to enable it,
you have to get into Vista. You can't do that if you deleted the only active
account.

You seem to have forgotten about Safe Mode.

Richie Hardwick

 

[Tom Lake]

You seem to have forgotten about Safe Mode.

You're right! At my age I'm doing well if I can remember
to take my Ginko Biloba!

Tom Lake

 

[Rick Rogers]

Very few make regular backups, even fewer make full backups.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Rick Rogers]

That's you, unfortunately most do not follow any pattern of regular backup.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Frank]

Just an hour ago I finished updating the clone and as I type this,
True Image is verifying a new backup image.

Both of those are completed at least once a day.

Classic example of an uber geek showing off his toys. Anything else you want
to brag about?