Missing Administrator Level Account

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roger Fink
  • Start date Start date
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Roger Fink

I recently received a used laptop with a fresh install of Windows 2000 Pro,
and no applications. I'm having a problem with it in that there is no
Administrator account set up (I thought this was supposed to happen
automatically during installation of the OS). Since I can only access the
machine with User level privileges, I can't figure out how to create one,
since the option to do this under Users and Passwords is grayed out.

How do I fix this? (I don't see how any fix for this can involve the
internet, since there is no antivirus program or firewall installed on the
machine.)
 
Roger Fink said:
I recently received a used laptop with a fresh install of Windows 2000 Pro,
and no applications. I'm having a problem with it in that there is no
Administrator account set up (I thought this was supposed to happen
automatically during installation of the OS). Since I can only access the
machine with User level privileges, I can't figure out how to create one,
since the option to do this under Users and Passwords is grayed out.

How do I fix this? (I don't see how any fix for this can involve the
internet, since there is no antivirus program or firewall installed on the
machine.)
Click to expand...

Every Windows installation has an Administrator account. It is
not possible to delete it. Do this to find out the name of yours:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type these commands:
net user{Enter)
net user RFink{Enter}
net user ...
Continue until you have examined each account. Make a note
of those that are members of the "Administrators" local group.
 
Pegasus said:
Every Windows installation has an Administrator account. It is
not possible to delete it. Do this to find out the name of yours:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type these commands:
net user{Enter)
net user RFink{Enter}
net user ...
Continue until you have examined each account. Make a note
of those that are members of the "Administrators" local group.
Click to expand...

I ran the command <net user Administrator> and got the following:

-------------------------

User's comment

Country code 000 (System Default)

Account active.........Yes

Account expires.........Never


Password last set.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM

Password expires.........Never

Password changeable.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM

Password required.........Yes

User may change password.........Yes


Workstations allowed.........All

Logon script

User Profile

Home directory

Last logon.........Never


Logon hours allowed.........All


Local Group Memberships.........*Administrators

Global Group Memberships.........*None

The command completed successfully.

----------------------

In the folder tree under Documents and Settings there are only two folders
immediately listed: "All Users" and "user" (add "Default User" to that in
Show Hidden Files and Folders mode).

How do I access Administrator and bring it in to the GUI? Also, since a
password is required, wouldn't this mean that, as things stand now, I could
never get in?
 
Roger Fink said:
I ran the command <net user Administrator> and got the following:

-------------------------

User's comment
Country code 000 (System Default)
Account active.........Yes
Account expires.........Never
Password last set.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM
Password expires.........Never
Password changeable.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM
Password required.........Yes
User may change password.........Yes
Workstations allowed.........All
Logon script
User Profile
Home directory
Last logon.........Never
Logon hours allowed.........All
Local Group Memberships.........*Administrators
Global Group Memberships.........*None
The command completed successfully.

In the folder tree under Documents and Settings there are only two folders
immediately listed: "All Users" and "user" (add "Default User" to that in
Show Hidden Files and Folders mode).

How do I access Administrator and bring it in to the GUI? Also, since a
password is required, wouldn't this mean that, as things stand now, I
could
never get in?
Click to expand...

User accounts are one thing, profile folders another. If no one
has ever logged in as Administrator then there will be no profile
folder. It's as simple as that. You should now plan ahead and
protect yourself against similar mishaps:
1. Rest the administrator's password:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
2. Create a second admin account.
3. Lock the details for both accounts away so that you can
use them when you need them.
 
Pegasus said:
User accounts are one thing, profile folders another. If no one
has ever logged in as Administrator then there will be no profile
folder. It's as simple as that. You should now plan ahead and
protect yourself against similar mishaps:
1. Rest the administrator's password:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
2. Create a second admin account.
3. Lock the details for both accounts away so that you can
use them when you need them.
Click to expand...

OK Pegasus, thanks very much.
 
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