Administrator

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I got everything reinstalled onto my computer in early August, and I was able
to log-in under the title "Administrator" so I didn't bother making any sort
of new account, until recently when my sister wanted her own. I restarted the
computer at some point, and Administrator isn't visible anymore. All of my
homework for this term is there, so if anyone could tell me how to access
it...I'd be thankful.
 
Tara said:
I got everything reinstalled onto my computer in early August, and I was
able
to log-in under the title "Administrator" so I didn't bother making any
sort
of new account, until recently when my sister wanted her own. I restarted
the
computer at some point, and Administrator isn't visible anymore. All of my
homework for this term is there, so if anyone could tell me how to access
it...I'd be thankful.
Click to expand...


Presuming XP Home Edition (which you failed to mention....) boot into Safe
Mode, (tap F8 continually when you switch the machine on). the Administrator
account will then be visible.

Please be aware that it is VERY BAD PRACTICE to use the built-in
Administrator account on a day-to-day basis and as your only account on the
computer. If the account gets corrupted, as it may well do, then your ONLY
way into the machine is by doing a repair install of XP. set up a User
account and give that Admin rights for daily use, leaving the built-in
Administrator account for emergency access only.
 
The Administrator account is designed and intended to be an
emergency account for repairing a broken computer, it isn't
intended for day to day use.
When the first user account is created the administrator
account become hidden.

To access the administrator account, cold boot the computer
and press F8 as soon as the computer is turned on and before
Windows begins to load. This will open the boot menu and
you can then select to log on to the administrator account.
Create a new user account for your daily use and then allow
the new account to have access to the data files [your
homework, etc.]

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=308421 How to take
ownership of a file

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315222 safe mode
booting

How to log on to Windows XP if you forget your password or
your ...
Note You cannot log on as usual by using the Administrator
or Computer Administrator account to a Windows XP Home
Edition-based computer or to a Windows XP Professional-based
computer in a workgroup.

support.microsoft.com/kb/321305
Microsoft Windows XP
Because of security implications, Microsoft Windows XP Home
Edition does not ... Describes an issue that occurs on
Windows XP-based computers when a non-administrator user
receives an error message ...

support.microsoft.com/ph/1173/en-us/?sid=73&aid=3
Resolving Application Compatibility Issues with
Compatibility ...
TechNet Home > Products & Technologies > Desktop Operating
Systems > ... Using Compatibility Administrator. Windows XP
contains information regarding common compatibility issues
that ...

www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/winxppro/maintain/compadmn.mspx
Windows XP: Log on as an administrator
Find out how to log on to your Windows XP computer as an
administrator. ... Almost all computers in home environments
will have Fast User Switching enabled.

www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/tips/advanced/adminaccount.mspx
Administrator and User Accounts


|I got everything reinstalled onto my computer in early
August, and I was able
| to log-in under the title "Administrator" so I didn't
bother making any sort
| of new account, until recently when my sister wanted her
own. I restarted the
| computer at some point, and Administrator isn't visible
anymore. All of my
| homework for this term is there, so if anyone could tell
me how to access
| it...I'd be thankful.
 
Tara said:
I got everything reinstalled onto my computer in early August, and I
was able to log-in under the title "Administrator" so I didn't bother
making any sort of new account, until recently when my sister wanted
her own. I restarted the computer at some point, and Administrator
isn't visible anymore. All of my homework for this term is there, so
if anyone could tell me how to access it...I'd be thankful.
Click to expand...

You've already gotten good answers as to how to see the Administrator
account and why not to use it. But since all your stuff is in there,
what do you do? You make a new user account for yourself and copy the
Administrator account to your new one. Here's how:

1. Create your new user account and log into it once.
2. Log into a different user account. Your sister's will do if that
account has administrative privileges. If your sister's is a Limited
account create another computer administrator account for the transfer.
It won't hurt to have an extra account on the system.
3. Follow instructions at the link below to copy the Administrator
account to your new one.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=811151

Malke
 
Tara said:
I got everything reinstalled onto my computer in early August, and I was able
to log-in under the title "Administrator" so I didn't bother making any sort
of new account, until recently when my sister wanted her own. I restarted the
computer at some point, and Administrator isn't visible anymore. All of my
homework for this term is there, so if anyone could tell me how to access
it...I'd be thankful.
Click to expand...



As you've discovered, once any additional administrative user
accounts have been created, the built-in 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 was never 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 daily use (as you've done), 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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