Administrator locked me out

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Guest

I had not bothered to add users on my computer because I was the only one
using it, but knowing my daughter would be coming to visit, I decided to set
up a user account for her. It told me that I had to identify a user as an
administrator before adding a limited user, so I also set one up in my own
name as administrator. The problem is.....now the old settings are all
locked away and when I got to Windows Explorer to try to get them back, it
tells me I'm not authorized. All my settings, files, etc. are in there and
I'm ready to scream. Please help me if you know how I can get them back.
 
Hi,

This would indicate that a user account was never created, and the
normally hidden account named Administrator was being used as a day to
day account. In this case when a new account is created the account
named Administrator is hidden, as it should be, except for in Safe Mode.
What you should do now is logon to the newly created Admin account and
move the data stored in the hidden account to the newly created account.

You may need to use Safe Mode, log on as Administrator account and 'Take
Ownership' of the files.
How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

To boot into Safe Mode, Restart the system, hitting F8 as BIOS info goes
to black to get the Menu and select Save Mode.

How to copy data from one user profile to a new profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151
 
Gramma said:
I had not bothered to add users on my computer because I was the only one
using it, but knowing my daughter would be coming to visit, I decided to set
up a user account for her. It told me that I had to identify a user as an
administrator before adding a limited user, so I also set one up in my own
name as administrator. The problem is.....now the old settings are all
locked away and when I got to Windows Explorer to try to get them back, it
tells me I'm not authorized. All my settings, files, etc. are in there and
I'm ready to scream. Please help me if you know how I can get them back.
Click to expand...


As you've discovered, once any additional user accounts have been
created, the Administrator account will no longer be displayed on the
Welcome Screen. This is a default security feature. By design, the
only way to log into the Administrator account of WinXP Home is to
reboot into Safe Mode. For WinXP Pro, pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL twice at
the Welcome Screen will produce the standard login dialog box.

The built-in Administrator account really isn't intended to be
used for day-to-day normal use. The standard security practice is to
rename the account, set a strong password on it, and use it only to
create another account for regular use, reserving the Administrator
account as a "back door" in case something corrupts your regular account(s).

A wiser course of action would be to create another user account
for your room-mate's daily use, and copy desired the files and settings
from the Administrator account to this newly created user profile.


HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151


--

Bruce Chambers

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