Truth or Fiction Administrator

[Norman]

I have to ask about this.
http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/06/04/windows-xp-sp3-install-woes/

Fact or fiction?
Something I just noticed when logging into account I created for my wife
some time ago seems to lend credence to it. Complaint messages concerning my
video driver and printer popped up. One I think mentioned making sure logged
in as administrator and the other one complained about incomplete install I
think.
I had at that time of installation already created named accounts with me
being the administrator and thus no longer had the administrator login
except in safe mode.

Norman

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I have to ask about this.
http://chris.pirillo.com/2008/06/04/windows-xp-sp3-install-woes/

Fact or fiction?

Something I just noticed when logging into account I created for my
wife some time ago seems to lend credence to it. Complaint messages
concerning my video driver and printer popped up. One I think
mentioned making sure logged in as administrator and the other one
complained about incomplete install I think.

I had at that time of installation already created named accounts
with me being the administrator and thus no longer had the
administrator login except in safe mode.

The first part - about access denied - is 'true' - if not explained clearly
above. There are three given methods to remedy this problem and it is all
laid out here:

Error message when you try to install Windows XP
Service Pack 3: "Access is denied" or “Service Pack
installation did not complete”
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377

I usually recommend just skipping to, "Method 3: Reset the registry and the
file permissions", but only because I have not seen that method fail.
(Doesn't mean it has not - just means *I* haven't seen it fail to remedy the
given issue.) It *is* (and states it) intended for advanced computer users.
If you are not comfortable with advanced workarounds, you might want to ask
someone for help, or you might want to contact Microsoft Customer Support
Services. To contact Microsoft Customer Support Services, visit the
following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/ (Note that you get FREE support
from Microsoft for SP3 related issues.)

When you say, "... and thus no longer had the administrator login except in
safe mode." are we to infer from that you have Windows XP Home Edition?
(All other versions of Windows XP - the subsets of Professional Edition
anyway - can utilize the built-in administrator in "normal" mode.)

Also - I should point out that an administrator is an administrator is an
administrator. The functions are what are limited in Windows XP - requiring
you to be in safe mode in order to access some of those things. However -
as far as I know - you can do everything in the above article in Windows XP
Home or Professional in normal mode.

 

[Norman]

Interlaced.

The first part - about access denied - is 'true' - if not explained
clearly above. There are three given methods to remedy this problem and
it is all laid out here:

Error message when you try to install Windows XP
Service Pack 3: "Access is denied" or "Service Pack
installation did not complete"
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/949377

I usually recommend just skipping to, "Method 3: Reset the registry and
the file permissions", but only because I have not seen that method fail.
(Doesn't mean it has not - just means *I* haven't seen it fail to remedy
the given issue.) It *is* (and states it) intended for advanced computer
users. If you are not comfortable with advanced workarounds, you might
want to ask someone for help, or you might want to contact Microsoft
Customer Support Services. To contact Microsoft Customer Support Services,
visit the following Microsoft Web site:
http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/ (Note that you get FREE support
from Microsoft for SP3 related issues.)

When you say, "... and thus no longer had the administrator login except
in safe mode." are we to infer from that you have Windows XP Home Edition?
(All other versions of Windows XP - the subsets of Professional Edition
anyway - can utilize the built-in administrator in "normal" mode.)

I seem to have seen exactly as seen in the referenced link, at least for
video driver and printer monitor when installed. I infer this from the
message that pops up when I log in as one of the other users. When I log in
as myself, I am supposed to be the administrator. If I start in safe mode I
see two accounts only, myself and administrator. I did notice once that
logging in as myself it said I needed to log in as administrator for doing
something in safe mode.
Running Pro.
Also the SP3 seemed to run OK. I probably need to log in as other user and
run Belarc to see what it shows.

Also - I should point out that an administrator is an administrator is an
administrator. The functions are what are limited in Windows XP -
requiring you to be in safe mode in order to access some of those things.
However - as far as I know - you can do everything in the above article in
Windows XP Home or Professional in normal mode.

I don't remember why I went to safe mode so unsure what functions are
limited.