Windows XPAdministrator Account

[Guest]

Hi there,

I have managed to get myself in a bit of a fix by allowing my administrator
account on windows to lock out. I know the password but as it is locked out
I can't access it through safe mode. My normal admin account (shown on the
login screen) has also been locked out (I know this password too).

The only account I can get into is my general user account which has
extremly limited permissions.

I have only recently purchased this machine and have spent weeks setting it
up and, foolishly, I have not created a recovery disk. Does anyone know how
I can reactivate the admin account without having to reinstall the OS.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Malke]

Hi there,

I have managed to get myself in a bit of a fix by allowing my
administrator
account on windows to lock out. I know the password but as it is
locked out
I can't access it through safe mode. My normal admin account (shown
on the login screen) has also been locked out (I know this password
too).

The only account I can get into is my general user account which has
extremly limited permissions.

I have only recently purchased this machine and have spent weeks
setting it
up and, foolishly, I have not created a recovery disk. Does anyone
know how I can reactivate the admin account without having to
reinstall the OS.

If you have disabled the built-in Administrator account, booting into
Safe Mode will automatically enable it again (temporarily, for that
Safe Mode session).

Boot into Safe Mode (tap F8 repeatedly as the computer is starting). If
no user logon appears in Safe Mode where you can type in the user
account name "Administrator" (or click on it), press Ctrl+Alt+Del
twice.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Thanks Malke,

I have tried logging into the system in Safe Mode but I get the message "The
system could not log you on. Make sure your user name and domain are
correct...."

I am using the user name "administrator" and the machine is not connected to
a domain. I can view the admin account in the usr manager and it shows that
it is "Locked Out" rather than "Disabled".

Any ideas?

Lloyd D

 

[Malke]

Thanks Malke,

I have tried logging into the system in Safe Mode but I get the
message "The
system could not log you on. Make sure your user name and domain are
correct...."

I am using the user name "administrator" and the machine is not
connected to
a domain. I can view the admin account in the usr manager and it
shows that it is "Locked Out" rather than "Disabled".

Any ideas?

Lloyd D

It sounds like you accidentally set this computer to be a member of a
domain instead of a workgroup and you are trying to log into the domain
Administrator account which doesn't exist. At the login screen, do you
have a "More Options" button? If you do, there should be a drop-down
choice of the domain or "this computer". If there is, choose
Administrator on "this computer". Login and go to Control
Panel>System>Computer Name and change from a domain to a workgroup.

Malke

 

[Guest]

Hi there,

I have re-checked the machine and it is set up for workgroups rather than
networking. The logon screen does not offer a "More Options" button as it
would do if I was logging onto a network. It simply asks for the user name
and password.

Any ideas would be gratefully received...

 

[Malke]

Hi there,

I have re-checked the machine and it is set up for workgroups rather
than
networking. The logon screen does not offer a "More Options" button
as it
would do if I was logging onto a network. It simply asks for the user
name and password.

When you say "allowing my administrator account...to lock out" do you
mean you set your password to expire and it expired? If so, try using
NTpasswd to change the built-in Administrator account to a blank. Then
log in and make your corrections.

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

If this isn't the case, then please forgive me for not having a
completely clear idea of what you actually did. Please describe it
better and include what user accounts (and their privileges) are
actually on the system.

Malke