Managning Administrator Account/Password on XP

[dareys]

Greetings,

I have noticed that when I check the users on this Windows XP SP2 machine, I
do not see an Administrator account, but only other accounts with varying
degrees of privileges.

However, when I boot in safe mode, I can see those accounts exist, as well
as an Administrator account.

My questions are as follows:

- How do you log in with the Administrator account during a regular boot?
- What is its default password and how do you change it?

Thank you.

Jean-Pierre
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Malke]

Greetings,

I have noticed that when I check the users on this Windows XP SP2 machine,
I do not see an Administrator account, but only other accounts with
varying degrees of privileges.

However, when I boot in safe mode, I can see those accounts exist, as well
as an Administrator account.

My questions are as follows:

- How do you log in with the Administrator account during a regular boot?
- What is its default password and how do you change it?

1. If you have XP Home, the built-in Administrator account can only be
accessed in Safe Mode. This is by design. The default password is a blank
(null). Log into this account and assign a password if you like.

2. If you have XP Pro, the built-in Administrator account is hidden after
you create another user account with administrative privileges. If you are
using the Welcome Screen, do Ctrl-Alt-Del twice there and the classic logon
box will appear. Type in "Administrator" (without the quotes of course) for
the username and whatever password you assigned when you set up the
computer. Either log into the account and assign a password or log into
another account with administrative privileges and reset the password in
the Local Users and Groups snap-in in Microsoft Management Console (MMC):

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type "mmc" (without the quotation marks), and then click
OK to start MMC.
3. Start the Local Users and Groups snap-in.
4. Under Console Root, expand "Local Users and Groups", and then click
Users.
5. In the right pane, right-click Administrator, and then click Set
Password.
6. Click Proceed in the message box that appears.
7. Type and confirm the new password in the appropriate boxes, and then
click OK.

Malke

 

[Nightowl]

XP Pro
I have my comp set to automatically log me in. However, I am interested
in knowing how to log in to the Admin account should I need it.

Hi Smirnoff

Either of these should work:

[1] Boot normally but hold down Shift as Windows loads. This should
override the automatic login and bring you to the Welcome screen. Press
Ctrl-Alt-Del twice and you should see a login box pop up. Type
Administrator in the username field and its password (if it has one) or
leave blank if it doesn't.

[2] Boot into Safe Mode, again holding down Shift to override the auto
login. On the Welcome screen the Administrator account will be shown as
a choice.

Hope this helps Let us know how it goes.

 

[dareys]

To All:

I appreciate your responses a great deal. I am having limited connectivity
right now so I have printed all your input and will process and implement it
ASAP.

As always, thank you for the prompt responses.

Jean-Pierre

 

[dareys]

Malke,

I tried this, and did not find the functionality under Windows XP Home
Edition. Can you please confirm that the below instructions only apply to
Windows XP Pro?

Thank you.

Jean-Pierre

1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type "mmc" (without the quotation marks), and then click
OK to start MMC.
3. Start the Local Users and Groups snap-in.
4. Under Console Root, expand "Local Users and Groups", and then click
Users.
5. In the right pane, right-click Administrator, and then click Set
Password.
6. Click Proceed in the message box that appears.
7. Type and confirm the new password in the appropriate boxes, and then
click OK.

 

[dareys]

Nightowl,

It looks obvious, from the message, but can you please confirm that the
below only applies to Windows XP Pro.

Thank you.

Jean-Pierre


1] Boot normally but hold down Shift as Windows loads. This should
override the automatic login and bring you to the Welcome screen. Press
Ctrl-Alt-Del twice and you should see a login box pop up. Type
Administrator in the username field and its password (if it has one) or
leave blank if it doesn't.

[2] Boot into Safe Mode, again holding down Shift to override the auto
login. On the Welcome screen the Administrator account will be shown as
a choice.

Hope this helps Let us know how it goes.

XP Pro
I have my comp set to automatically log me in. However, I am interested
in knowing how to log in to the Admin account should I need it.

Hi Smirnoff

Either of these should work:

[1] Boot normally but hold down Shift as Windows loads. This should
override the automatic login and bring you to the Welcome screen. Press
Ctrl-Alt-Del twice and you should see a login box pop up. Type
Administrator in the username field and its password (if it has one) or
leave blank if it doesn't.

[2] Boot into Safe Mode, again holding down Shift to override the auto
login. On the Welcome screen the Administrator account will be shown as
a choice.

Hope this helps Let us know how it goes.

 

[dareys]

Malke and Smirnoff,

I will give TweakUI a go.

Otherwise, I will try option 2 as Malke suggests.

Thank you.

Jean-Pierre