administrator acting a limited user account

  • Thread starter Thread starter partridgetim
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partridgetim

My Windows XP Home Edition won't let me make any changes, even though
I'm the administrator. For example:

a) files created on desktop or on c: are gone after a reboot
b) driver for a new monitor is requested every startup, even though it
is found each time
c) changing msconfig startup options don't stick between boots
d) cannot install software

Any clues?
 
My Windows XP Home Edition won't let me make any changes, even though
I'm the administrator. For example:

a) files created on desktop or on c: are gone after a reboot
b) driver for a new monitor is requested every startup, even though it
is found each time
c) changing msconfig startup options don't stick between boots
d) cannot install software

Any clues?
Click to expand...
You´re realy shure, that your account is an Admin? Or is only your login
Name called Administrator. Check the Usergroups the security options in
our Systemmanagement for your loginname.
How you log in? In Safe-Mode or are you using the modify Welcome-Page
for log in the "Administrator".

This are my firt ideas

#sorry for my bad english#
 
My Windows XP Home Edition won't let me make any changes, even though
I'm the administrator. For example:

a) files created on desktop or on c: are gone after a reboot
b) driver for a new monitor is requested every startup, even though it
is found each time
c) changing msconfig startup options don't stick between boots
d) cannot install software

Any clues?
Click to expand...

The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between the time
things worked and the time they didn't?

The Second Question of Windows Troubleshooting: what is the
malware/virus status of the machine? If you think it is clean, what
programs (and versions) did you use to determine this?

Be sure the computer is clean:
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Also, is this a standalone home machine or part of a business? Does
anyone but you have access to the computer?

Malke
 
The First Question Of Troubleshooting: what changed between the time
things worked and the time they didn't?
Click to expand...

Not my computer, so I was told that the someone read a couple of emails
(through IE i think, not a POP3 client). They were regular text,
emails, no programs or PPT slides or anything special. From trusted
people too...
The Second Question of Windows Troubleshooting: what is the
malware/virus status of the machine? If you think it is clean, what
programs (and versions) did you use to determine this?
Click to expand...

I've done a number of things at this point, and I think the machine is
clean, but malware removal tools never seem to get everything anyways.
Since I cannot install software, I slaved the HD to another one and ran
Spybot Search and Destroy and Ad-aware from the master drive (with
current versions, and current definitions). Both found problems and
"repaired" them, however HD exhibited same behaviour afterwards. A
second scan found nothing. I was not in Safe Mode however.
Be sure the computer is clean:http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware
Click to expand...

I'll follow those instructions carefully before I solicit more help. I
think I've been pointed in the right direction, that's a great link,
thanks. I'll follow up with results for posterity.
Also, is this a standalone home machine or part of a business? Does
anyone but you have access to the computer?
Click to expand...

It's a standalone home PC. A family uses it, so any number of people
could have messed it up.
 
Any clues?You´re realy shure, that your account is an Admin? Or is only your login
Name called Administrator. Check the Usergroups the security options in
our Systemmanagement for your loginname.
How you log in? In Safe-Mode or are you using the modify Welcome-Page
for log in the "Administrator".
Click to expand...

I'm sure I'm the admin. Since it is Windows XP Home edition, there are
no group policies (i.e. Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Computer
Management->System Tools does not have a "Local Users and Groups"
setting where user privileges are shown.

Ways I've determined I'm the admin:
1. Control Panel->User Accounts....user name says "Administrator",
non-admin user names say "Limited user"
2. Booted in Safe Mode and logged in with the "Administrator" account
3. Tried changing the user's privileges and admin was already the
chosen selection.
 
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