Change Name of "Administrator"

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Guest

First of all, I read through the other posts to see if I could find the
answer to my question. Interesting how many sole users of their PC want to
by-pass their logins all together. I almost jumped at that option, then I
remembered why I don't want to: can't trust my kids to stay off my PC when
I'm not looking :)

So, that said... I've been having lots of fun installing software, moving
files from assorted PCs in the house, setting my configurations, and
generally getting MY computer all setup. But I hate logging in as
"Administrator" can I just change the name of that User?

I actually did create a new user, with administrative rights, but then I
found that I no longer had access to all my files, configurations, Favorites,
etc. So I don't think it was worth the effort considering what I want.

Thanks in advance for any help!
 
I cannot say this strongly enough: You should /never/ use the built-in
Administrator account for day-to-day computing. That account is often
your only lifeline when things go wrong. You are quite literally
'working without a net'.

If you need an account with Administrator permissions, create one from
Control Panel > User Accounts. An account with Administrator permissions
has full access to all user files in every other account.

If you have kids, for heaven's sake don't give them Administrator
permissions. Set them up as Limited Users.

The 'Administrator' account name is reserved to the system and cannot be
changed.
 
=?Utf-8?B?Sy4gR3d5bm4=?= offered these thoughts for the group's
consideration of the matter at hand:
First of all, I read through the other posts to see if I could
find the answer to my question. Interesting how many sole
users of their PC want to by-pass their logins all together. I
almost jumped at that option, then I remembered why I don't
want to: can't trust my kids to stay off my PC when I'm not
looking :)

So, that said... I've been having lots of fun installing
software, moving files from assorted PCs in the house, setting
my configurations, and generally getting MY computer all
setup. But I hate logging in as "Administrator" can I just
change the name of that User?

I actually did create a new user, with administrative rights,
but then I found that I no longer had access to all my files,
configurations, Favorites, etc. So I don't think it was worth
the effort considering what I want.

Thanks in advance for any help!
Click to expand...
It is NOT a good idea to use the real Administrator account for
production usage. Much better to create an account for yourself,
any name you like, PW or not. Just make sure to give yourself full
admin permissions.
 
okay then, properly admonished (BTW, my kids don't have access to my PC;
administrator or otherwise. My point was I'm keeping my login so that they
CAN'T get onto my computer)

Now that I've set up a new user, with all the rights and permissions as an
adminstrator and nicely named something other than Administrator. I've moved
the files that I had under Documents and Setting\Administrator\My Documents,
including Favorites. But when I log on to MS Outlook, its like starting
afresh. And that was a pain in the (*&# to get configured properly. How can I
get back those settings? I can't ever log back in as Administrator! That
login isn't even showing up as an option!
 
problem is still that I can't get to anything other than the document under
Administrator --- I can't get to its settings & configurations in order to
even use the Export/Inport Wizard. The wizard doesn't even recognize
Administrator
 
Alright, here is the real issue now.

I created a new Admistratror, named it something else, but can no longer
access the orginial "Administrator" user. It has disappeared. If I want to
get back to that Adminsistrator and capture all the settings I had
established there and transfer those settings to a newly created user, how
can I do that?
 
Safe Mode

---
Leonard Grey
Errare humanum est

K. Gwynn said:
Alright, here is the real issue now.

I created a new Admistratror, named it something else, but can no longer
access the orginial "Administrator" user. It has disappeared. If I want to
get back to that Adminsistrator and capture all the settings I had
established there and transfer those settings to a newly created user, how
can I do that?
Click to expand...
 
=?Utf-8?B?Sy4gR3d5bm4=?= offered these thoughts for the group's
consideration of the matter at hand:
Alright, here is the real issue now.

I created a new Admistratror, named it something else, but can
no longer access the orginial "Administrator" user. It has
disappeared. If I want to get back to that Adminsistrator and
capture all the settings I had established there and transfer
those settings to a newly created user, how can I do that?
Click to expand...
How can the "real" Administrator account "disappear"? I don't think
it is even possible to delete it. You didn't actually name the new
account "Administrator" did you? If you did, and Windows let you,
its probable you've got some big time trouble. But, if you find it,
one quick and easy way to transfer things over is the File and
Settings Transfer Wizard, but it'd probably be easier to just
Search for and copy over your OE folders and address book and
export your favorites from IE6/7. Probably, you'll have to manually
tweak the default storage locations for some/all of your apps to
point them to your new account locations, e.g., My Documents.
 
The 'Administrator' account name is reserved to the system and cannot be
changed.
Click to expand...

This is not strictly true, but as far as I know there is no available
control that will allow you to change the name of the Administrator ID.

My company sends out its new systems with a run once task that asks you
what you want as a username, and it zaps the Administrator account, so
someone knows how to do it!

What happens next is fun. Your account may be "Steve" (or "Leonard") but
your personal data goes in \Documents and Settings\Administrator.
For this reason, I never take the option to rename Administrator, but
create my own userid, so everything corresponds.
 
To gain access to the System default Admin account once hidden:

On Pro Edition, from the Welcome Screen, press ctrl-Alt-Delete Twice. On
Home, boot to Safe Mode, and logon.

Tip:

TweakUI/Logon/Show Administrator on the Welcome Screen
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp

Or...

Enable/Disable Administrator on Welcome Screen (Line 5)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Note:

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

Added note: If you want to logon to one of the other users, hold down shift
as the system boots up.

Added info: How to Copy or Remove a User Profile
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logon.htm#usercopy

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

SUPERAntiSpyware
http://www.superantispyware.com?rid=3154
 
i agree with all the guys down here (you shoudn't have used the
original Administrator account).
BUT! the built-in administrator account IS renameable.
you just had to go to (Control panel) > (Administrative Tools) >
(Computer Management) and then from the left bar choose:
(Local Users and groups) > (Users) > right click on the
"Administrator" account
& click "Rename" .....

that's it......

If u can't re-log into ur old Administrator account ,Start ur PC in
safe mode and it'll appear again in the users log-on list.

NEO
 
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