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Administrator account disappeared !!! Old Thread Expired

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by justdance, 2006/12/05.

  1. 2006/12/05
    justdance

    justdance Inactive Thread Starter

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    I know this has been posted before but no actual answer was given and the post expired.

    The only way to bring the Administrator account back is this way:

    Reboot the computer

    Press and hold F8 right before the BIOS screen closes

    Select SAFE MODE from the selection list

    Choose any version of Safe Mode besides just command prompt (you may not have this option)

    Select Administrator from the User Screen (surprise it is still there just not normally available for selection)

    Once you have logged on all the way right click on "My Computer" and select Manage

    Choose Local Users and Groups

    Right click on all users that were given administrative rights (not listed as local users) to the computer and delete (otherwise Windows will default to your user created administrator at the logon screen)

    Close everything

    Restart your computer

    Surprise! Administrator is back!:rolleyes:
     
    justdance,
    #1
  2. 2006/12/05
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    Hello justdance,
    welcome to WindowsBBS ... :) ... !

    With no link to the old expired thread it is difficult to make assumptions on the original problem. I believe there are different "administrator" accounts.

    During setup of XP, the user is prompted for an "administrator" password. Most people don't type in a password and move on. When almost finished, a number of users can be named and all are by default given administrator privileges. Any of these can be reduced to limited privileges but at least one must retain administrator privileges.

    This "administrator" is different from a user given administrator privileges. This "administrator" does not show up until the computer has been started in SAFE MODE the first time. If you typed in a password during setup of XP, you better remember it! Only then does the folder "administrator" get added in C:\Documents and Settings\administrator. After that, "administrator" also shows up on the normal Welcome Screen (not sure but I remember it like that).

    My conclusion is that "administrator" has always been there. It does not come back by starting in SAFE MODE, it gets activated the first time the computer is started in SAFE MODE.

    Assuming that a computer has three users, Alpha - admin, Bravo - limit and Charlie - limit; if Alpha too (for one reason or the other) should get limited privileges, XP would complain when the attempt to change is made.

    I also believe that with the computer started in SAFE MODE, logged in as "administrator ", it is possible to go to Control Panel > User Accounts and set the privileges for Alpha back to administrator.

    I tinkered with this over a year ago but this is how I remember it. I may be wrong, though.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #2


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  4. 2006/12/05
    justdance

    justdance Inactive Thread Starter

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    Retort

    Now the issue is usually when a user creates a new user account (i.e. user accounts in Control Panel) and gives the account administrator rights. This causes the administrator account to disappear from the logon screen. It would only be a issue if you don't assign the administrator account a different name during the XP setup (which most prefab computers do not).

    And no you cannot change the administrator rights for the account that replaced your administrator account. Windows will not allow the dot to be moved from administrative to limited. This is even the case if you make multiple administrative accounts in this instance. And the administrator account does not get activated when logging into safe mode, the account is always there just not available in the primary logon screen (the folder for administrator will be there if the account name was not changed during the XP setup).

    However the issue IS how to make the administrator account appear again and is btw why I choose to register because the fix that was listed did not have to do with the question.

    Here is the link btw
    http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=22605

    But hey try it out if you think you are right. Alot of headache came from this and assuming there is only one way to enable accounts.
     
    justdance,
    #3
  5. 2006/12/05
    surferdude2

    surferdude2 Inactive

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    This all reminds me of another aspect of logging on to XP Safe Mode as the Administrator. Many systems are configured to automatically log on as the default user. In those cases, you'll get no Welcome screen and even if you did, it wouldn't have the option of Administrator listed.

    In those cases, it is necessary to first log on to Safe Mode as the system chooses, then use the Start > Log Off > Log Off function to log off and get a standard Welcome Screen. Then press Ctrl+Alt+Del twice and another log-on screen will appear (called a Win2k type). Using it, you type Administrator in the User field and type your password in the password field, or else leave the password field blank if you haven't assigned a password. Only then can you log on as the Administrator on such systems. Mine is that way and it took lots of head scratching to figure this procedure out. I'm not sure I ever saw it listed anywhere. Most directions I found assumed that you'll get a Welcome Screen when logging on to Safe Mode. Not so on all systems, I can assure you.

    HTH
     
    surferdude2,
    #4
  6. 2006/12/05
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    justdance,

    On all installations I have done, I have never seen the "administrator ". Naming the users towards the end of the setup (all with administrator privileges by default) has removed "administrator" (if it was there at all). My first action when setup is complete has been to change the privileges for all users but one to limited.

    I assumed that to be the case. I have never been daft enough to try to remove administrator privileges from all users.

    Okey, I wasn't sure about that and remembered wrong.

    Not on my computer and not on any of the other ones that I installed. How do you change the account name during XP setup? As I remember it, there is no option to change the name from "administrator ". You are only prompted for a password and it can be left "blank ".

    Which administrator account? The system created or the user created?

    I will when I find the time. I use Norton Ghost for backup and can mess up anyway I can think of without worrying.

    Now, I will have a look at that old thread ... ;) ... !

    Christer

    By the way, I am referring to XP Pro. Are you by chance referring to XP Home? Pro and Home differ in many ways!
     
    Christer,
    #5
  7. 2006/12/05
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    That old thread has the scent of XP home. I have only installed it once on a Compaq LapTop using the Compaq CD. I don't remember how it behaved but I'm sure that Compaq is an additional source of confusion.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #6
  8. 2006/12/05
    justdance

    justdance Inactive Thread Starter

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    Response

    I think that is if you are setup using a network rather than a workgroup.
     
    justdance,
    #7
  9. 2006/12/05
    Christer

    Christer Geek Member Staff

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    I don't know what you mean by "that" but no, I have never setup a network.

    I have trouble even getting a router working ... :eek: ... for a friend who has two computers in his home and they are supposed to share the same broadband connection. (They insist on nicking each others IP-address.) The computers are not to be networked.

    Christer
     
    Christer,
    #8

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