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cmar

I log on with Administrator and no password. Is there a way to change the
username. I know I can add a password, which I will do when I get a better
name.
I created a different username/password combination but they don't have
any of the settings carefully created for "Administrator."
 
In cmar <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
I log on with Administrator and no password. Is there a way to change
the username. I know I can add a password, which I will do when I get
a better name.
I created a different username/password combination but they don't
have any of the settings carefully created for "Administrator."
Click to expand...

Create another account, set it to run as admin (though I should warn you
that a limited account or power user is better security-wise) and then copy
your old admin profile over to the new one.

How to copy data from a corrupted user profile to a new profile:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=811151

(Note that you're other user isn't really corrupted but the process is much
the same.)

You'll probably want this one too:

How to Take Ownership of a File or Folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

Galen
--

"But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world
without them."

Sherlock Holmes
 
Hi Galen:
Thanks for the very useful reference. It appears that one has to have 3
users to do copy files to a new user profile.
Also, I was unclear what is the relevance of taking ownership of a
folder or file. Why would I want to do this?
Thanks, CMA
 
In cmar <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
Hi Galen:
Thanks for the very useful reference. It appears that one has to
have 3 users to do copy files to a new user profile.
Also, I was unclear what is the relevance of taking ownership of a
folder or file. Why would I want to do this?
Thanks, CMA
Click to expand...

Because when you try to copy the other profile it might tell you that you
don't have permission to do so and so you'll need to take ownership of the
file(s) before you can move them. <g> I just wanted to save you the effort
of asking another question as it was the next logical problem you might
encounter.

Galen
--

"But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world
without them."

Sherlock Holmes
 
This method worked quite well with a few exceptions. And since you know so
much, I will try you with these last few details.

In the new profile (to which I copied), Several icons have disappeared
from Desktop: My Computer; Network Neighborhood; My Documents.
Also, the Start Menu is no longer the Classic Start Menu. Can I get that
back.

Thanks,
CMA
 
In cmar <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
This method worked quite well with a few exceptions. And since you
know so much, I will try you with these last few details.

In the new profile (to which I copied), Several icons have
disappeared from Desktop: My Computer; Network Neighborhood; My Documents.
Also, the Start Menu is no longer the Classic Start Menu. Can I get
that back.
Click to expand...

Sure can. Right click the start button, select properties, and then put a
click in the classic start menu option. Click OK. Then, just to be
different, start > run > type "control desktop" without the quotes > hit
enter > click desktop tab > click Customize Desktop > and play around in
there for a bit if you'd like.

Galen
--

"But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world
without them."

Sherlock Holmes
 
Great work, Galen, everything is perfect. You really know your stuff.

But you said this in a prior post: "I should warn you that a limited account
or power user is better security-wise."
So is there a way to change one of two Administrator accounts to a Power
User Account and use that most of the time, except when some Administrator
task is required?
Or if not, should I create a Power User account and copy the settings of
one of the administrator accounts to it?
Thanks, CMA
 
In cmar <[email protected]> had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:
Great work, Galen, everything is perfect. You really know your stuff.

But you said this in a prior post: "I should warn you that a limited
account or power user is better security-wise."
So is there a way to change one of two Administrator accounts to a
Power User Account and use that most of the time, except when some
Administrator task is required?
Or if not, should I create a Power User account and copy the settings
of one of the administrator accounts to it?
Thanks, CMA
Click to expand...

Assuming that you're not using the actual Administrator account (one with
your name or something like that will be best for this) and I believe that's
what you've done. You've set up the account, copied profiles over, made the
desktop be the same, and have permissions setup for ownership if needed.
Next you'll want to run the "control userpasswords2" command from the start
run box. There you'll see a list of names. Highlight the account you are
Click to expand...
using (I'm not sure if you'll have to log out then log in as admin to do
this but I don't THINK you have to) and click properties. Under group
membership tab, tick the Other, in the drop down menu select power user.
(You can always change it back later if there's something you want to
change.) Note that Power Users Group is only available in XP Pro.

Here's a bit about managing groups in XP Pro:

http://www.mcmcse.com/microsoft/guides/manage_groups.shtml

Here's some additional links as well:

http://www.google.com/search?num=10...ff&q=description+power+users+group+windows+xp

The reason I suggest Power Users is because I feel Limited Users are often
too restricted for the average person's usage of their PC. The Power User
has many of the same rights as the admin while there's some restrictions
about major system-wide changes. It's a whole safety issue, running as an
admin level means that when you do things like open your web browser that
application has the same rights to the OS as you do (or, more accurately,
you have allowed it to have in your settings.)

Galen
--

"But there are always some lunatics about. It would be a dull world
without them."

Sherlock Holmes
 
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