How to add another user without losing access to Administrator

  • Thread starter Thread starter bingley
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bingley

I use Windows XP Professional which was pre-installed on my computer. I've
been the only one using my computer so I left the start up identity as
Administrator. However, somebody else will be using the computer in future.
When I try to add a user, it says I have to have one person as an
administrator, so I tried to put myself as administrator under my name and
the other person as limited access. But even when I make myself the
administrator, everything I did beforehand under the name Administrator
disappears. I did a system restore and got it back that way, but how can I
set up the computer for multiple users and still have access to all my
previous data and programs but limited to me?
 
bingley said:
I use Windows XP Professional which was pre-installed on my computer. I've
been the only one using my computer so I left the start up identity as
Administrator. However, somebody else will be using the computer in future.
When I try to add a user, it says I have to have one person as an
administrator, so I tried to put myself as administrator under my name and
the other person as limited access. But even when I make myself the
administrator, everything I did beforehand under the name Administrator
disappears. I did a system restore and got it back that way, but how can I
set up the computer for multiple users and still have access to all my
previous data and programs but limited to me?
Click to expand...

If I understood right from your Post, that you created another Account with
admin previleges and you have been using the Window Built-in Administrator!
The built-in admin account will not be showing when you create another Admin
account on the welcome screen, but if you pressed the ALT+CTRL+DELTE on the
start up you will be getting the option for the built-in admin account with
the rest of other users accounts may be created or when you log in Safe Mode
you will get the default built in administrator account.

You can Open Windows Explorer and expand the Directories tree view under
Docs and settins >> Administrator your old data in this default built in
account
You can copy the data from the admin to Bingley but make sure to assign
passwprd to Bingley for the limited user to not gain access to Bingley
Files/folders.

And aslo you can copy the apps you want the limited account to have access
to it .
Please read this info on how to copy data as it is important to note what
you will copy and what you will leave in the admin folder!
How to Identify a Damaged User Profile and Create a New Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/811151
HTH,
nass
 
bingley said:
I use Windows XP Professional which was pre-installed on my computer. I've
been the only one using my computer so I left the start up identity as
Administrator. However, somebody else will be using the computer in
future. When I try to add a user, it says I have to have one person as an
administrator, so I tried to put myself as administrator under my name and
the other person as limited access. But even when I make myself the
administrator, everything I did beforehand under the name Administrator
disappears. I did a system restore and got it back that way, but how can I
set up the computer for multiple users and still have access to all my
previous data and programs but limited to me?
Click to expand...

Nass has correctly given you the information that when you have only the
built-in Administrator account on the system (the one you've been using),
when you create a second administrative user account the built-in
Administrator will be hidden from the Welcome Screen. This is by design
since the built-in Administrator is normally only used for emergencies. It
is a flaw in XP Pro/MCE that you can have only the built-in Administrator
user account.

However, you don't need to do any copying of data or accounts to continue
easily using the built-in Administrator for your daily work. Just use MVP
Kelly Theriot's tweak at the link below to show the Administrator at the
Welcome Screen from now on.

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

That said, it would be wise to create another administrative user account
that will be there in case your own user account or that of the second
person becomes corrupted. Call it "Tech" or "CompAdmin" or the like. With
luck you'll never need to log into it.

Malke
 
bingley said:
I use Windows XP Professional which was pre-installed on my computer. I've
been the only one using my computer so I left the start up identity as
Administrator. However, somebody else will be using the computer in future.
When I try to add a user, it says I have to have one person as an
administrator, so I tried to put myself as administrator under my name and
the other person as limited access. But even when I make myself the
administrator, everything I did beforehand under the name Administrator
disappears. I did a system restore and got it back that way, but how can I
set up the computer for multiple users and still have access to all my
previous data and programs but limited to me?
Click to expand...



You'd been using the built-in Administrator account for daily use?
This was very unwise. As you've discovered, once any additional 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.

The built-in Administrator account 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).

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.

A wiser course of action would be to create another user account
for your 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

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
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