Safe mode-adminstrator

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I set up XP Pro with myself (Tom) as the administrator with 2 limited user
accounts. I boot to the welcome screen where the 3 accounts are shown. I can
enter my password and use my account as the administrator.

However, when I boot in safe mode there are now 2 password protected
accounts. "Tom" which works with my password and "administrator" which
appears locked as it will not take my password.

I set my computer up myself. I have always been the password protected
administrator. No one should have access to my account without my password,
right? Where did this additional "administator" account come from? Without
the password how can I delete it so that I am the sole administrator?
 
Tom said:
I set up XP Pro with myself (Tom) as the administrator with 2 limited
user accounts. I boot to the welcome screen where the 3 accounts are
shown. I can enter my password and use my account as the
administrator.

However, when I boot in safe mode there are now 2 password protected
accounts. "Tom" which works with my password and "administrator" which
appears locked as it will not take my password.

I set my computer up myself. I have always been the password protected
administrator. No one should have access to my account without my
password, right? Where did this additional "administator" account
come from? Without the password how can I delete it so that I am the
sole administrator?
Click to expand...
how can I delete it so that I am the sole administrator?
Click to expand...
You can't.
The admin account you are talking about is part of the operating system and
is their for emergency access to your system.The pass word it is looking for
should have been setup at the time your Pro version was installed.
Have you tried not entering a password? If your system came pre-installed on
your computer the password might be blank.
 
MAP said:
You can't.
The admin account you are talking about is part of the operating system and
is their for emergency access to your system.The pass word it is looking for
should have been setup at the time your Pro version was installed.
Have you tried not entering a password? If your system came pre-installed on
your computer the password might be blank.
Click to expand...
Yes, XP was preloaded on my Dell. When I first started it I went through the
set up and accounts first thing. The password is not blank.

So you are saying that in safe mode there are always 2 accounts?
"Administrator" and myself as another administrator? I've always thought the
only accounts were the ones I created that I see on the welcome screen.

Thanks, Tom
 
In
Tom said:
Yes, XP was preloaded on my Dell. When I first started it I went
through the set up and accounts first thing. The password is not
blank.

So you are saying that in safe mode there are always 2 accounts?
"Administrator" and myself as another administrator? I've always
thought the only accounts were the ones I created that I see on the
welcome screen.

Thanks, Tom
Click to expand...

The Administrator account has always been there. You just don't see it when
you're not in safe mode (although you could change this). You set up the
account when you set up the computer....or someone else did.
 
Lanwench said:
In

The Administrator account has always been there. You just don't see it
when you're not in safe mode (although you could change this). You set
up the account when you set up the computer....or someone else did.
Click to expand...

And just to add to the very good advice you've already gotten - leave
the built-in Administrator account alone. It is a failsafe account. The
default password on a Windows XP Home Edition machine is blank and
that's why it wouldn't take your own password. You can of course change
the Administrator account's password but if you do so, make it
something you will remember.

Don't worry about the Administrator account. It is supposed to be there.
It needs to be there. Don't mess with it. Some day you will be glad it
is there.

Malke
 
And just to add to the very good advice you've already gotten - leave
the built-in Administrator account alone. It is a failsafe account. The
default password on a Windows XP Home Edition machine is blank and
that's why it wouldn't take your own password. You can of course change
the Administrator account's password but if you do so, make it
something you will remember.

Don't worry about the Administrator account. It is supposed to be there.
It needs to be there. Don't mess with it. Some day you will be glad it
is there.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"
Click to expand...

The password is not blank, so I do not have access to this second
adaminstrator account. Other employees use my computer which is why I set up
the limited user accounts, but I do not want to leave my computer open to the
administrator level.

I didn't know about this safe mode adminstrator account until recently,
actually learning about it here on this forum. Lacking the password how do I
regain control of the safe mode adminstrator account?

Thanks, Tom
 
Perhaps another employee has already accessed the default Admin account and
installed their own password, blocking you out of it?
Just a thought.
 
Tom said:
The password is not blank, so I do not have access to this second
adaminstrator account. Other employees use my computer which is why I
set up the limited user accounts, but I do not want to leave my
computer open to the administrator level.

I didn't know about this safe mode adminstrator account until
recently, actually learning about it here on this forum. Lacking the
password how do I regain control of the safe mode adminstrator
account?
Click to expand...
Use NTpasswd and change the Administrator account to a blank.

http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/

Malke
 
In Tom <[email protected]> typed:
The password is not blank, so I do not have access to this second
adaminstrator account. Other employees use my computer which is why I
set up the limited user accounts, but I do not want to leave my
computer open to the administrator level.

I didn't know about this safe mode adminstrator account until
recently, actually learning about it here on this forum. Lacking the
password how do I regain control of the safe mode adminstrator
account?

Thanks, Tom
Click to expand...

If your own account has administrator privileges, you can log in as yourself
and change it. Control panel, computer management, local users &
groups....right-click/reset password. This doesn't work in Home - just Pro.
 
Lanwench said:
If your own account has administrator privileges, you can log in as yourself
and change it. Control panel, computer management, local users &
groups....right-click/reset password. This doesn't work in Home - just Pro.
Click to expand...
Thank you. That was easy and just what I wanted. Tom
 
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