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Where did this folder come from??

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by mazaprin, 2005/04/01.

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  1. 2005/04/01
    mazaprin

    mazaprin Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi, I would appreciate your help to receive an explanation or solution for the strange thing that happened to me:

    I use Windows XP Home with SP2 (everything working fine and up to date). Up until now and since I purchased this laptop 2 years ago there has been only 2 Users: My Wife and I and we are BOTH Administrators of this computer.

    The starnge thing happened when I, for the first time, used F8 to open Windows in SAFE MODE to run an antivirus scan (also for the first time in safe mode) and at the log in screen (where usually there are opnly 2 accounts (my wife and mine) icons (or pictures), I was surprised to see a third icon named "Administrator" which I did not create (maybe windows created it when it was installed at the factory on my laptop and it only appears on Safe Mode and not in the standard Mode).

    I logged in using the "Administrator" icon and ran the antivirus scan (which yielded NO viruses at all). Since then... a folder named "Administrator" has appeared out of nowhere under Documents & Settings, along with my wife's, mine's and all users' folders.

    Before I went into safe mode and logged in into that Administrator Account (or icon), THERE WAS NO ADMINISTRATOR FOLDER shown on Documents & Settings. The "Administrator" Account (or icon) ONLY appears at the log in screen on SAFE MODE. When I boot in STANDARD MODE I only see the two accounts I created for me and my wife (both Administrators accounts) and I don't know WHY this Administrator Account only shows on safe mode and not in the Standard Mode nor WHY I don;t see it on Control Panel under Users' accounts. :confused:

    My question is:
    1.- Where did that "Administrator" folder came from if it was never shown before?
    2.- How can I get rid of that "Administrator" folder on Documents & Settings that I don't need nor use? ... Can I safely delete that folder without any bad consecuences to my System?

    I would appreciate your opinion about this.
     
    mazaprin,
    #1
  2. 2005/04/01
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    What you have described is standard by design and should be left as is. It's just one of those things that you haven't noticed before.
    The Administrator identity has great uses in dire circumstances. I hope you never need it but if you do, you'll be happy that it's there.
     
    surferdude2,
    #2


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  4. 2005/04/01
    mazaprin

    mazaprin Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi surferdude2 for your response. I think that explains it all so I am going to leave that folder alone and not touch it. I also think that this matter has been
    solved and we can close this thread (if the administration allows it, which I don't know)
     
    mazaprin,
    #3
  5. 2005/04/02
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    FYI, and administrator account is created at XP installation. It does not show up in Documents & Settings until the first time logged on as Administrator.

    Also, if logon as adminstrator in normal mode, you will see the default xp desktop and theme. Thus, if want to use admin account in the future, either in safe mode or in normal mode, it's a good idea to logon as admin and make some basic configs to the account, such as desired folder options, desktop settings, tweaks, etc.

    These configs done now will save time if ever have to log on as admin for the purpose of cleaning up or repairing another account, e.g. setting folder options to show all files including hidden & system files.

    example
    Logon as admin and then access Documents & Settings/other_user_accounts/ and delete the Cookies folders and Recent folders as well as /Local Settings/ and delete the Temporary Internet Files & History folders. These folders will get recreated by windows when that user next logs on. You can also delete the entire /Local Settings/Temp folders but should manually create a new one for each user because Windows will not recreate a Temp folder at user's next logon. (good idea because temp dirs can store malware, viruses, etc)
     
    Last edited: 2005/04/02
    TonyT,
    #4
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