Administrator Account Observations

Recent conversation about Administrator accounts led me to researching and playing, in my eternal quest to fix what ain't broke...

I thought there had to be a way to log on as the administrator without being in Safe Mode, but I didn't know how. But, you can use TweakUI to allow you to add it to the Welcome Screen. So, I did this for experimental purposes. This slows down the boot, some, presumably because Windows is preparing two desktops and readying for fast user switching? I logged in as Admin, using the password I used when I installed the OS, and immediately killed Bliss. (Ha ha!) All my software is listed on the start menu and add/remove in the control panel, but none of the icons and shortcuts are present, except for the network connections, recycle bin and the Church accounting program I use. I checked the task manager and found that Norton was working, along with the usual things that should be running in the background, like the printer and M$ services. But there were no indications on the desktop, and no way I found to add them. I could not open a Norton window for modifications, either. Most of my software located on the OS "C" drive could not be accessed from either the Start button or the file tree, and I had to get to the file tree by My Comp because the Windows Explorer path wasn't present. All programs on the second partition functioned normally. I was able to access all of "Johanna's" info under Docs and Settings & Application Data, however,through the tree, and make modifications.

From the Control Panel (which is one place I prefer the "classic" view, not available in the Admin account) I clicked Users and got a message stating that the admin account is not part of the welcome screen unless there are no other users listed except "Guest" or the comp is operating in Safe Mode.

Another thing I noticed was that all the drop down menus for settings were the old gray style, like in the previous editions of Windows. The Luna theme was mostly gone, and many of the options that makes XP so convenient were reverted to "old style ". I checked a few random system settings, and was pleased that they were the same as Johanna's (like auto start unticked, system restore on, M$ firewall off) but balloon tips were back, and so was Messenger (that I edited the registry to delete in the Johanna account) So, I would say settings retention seems largely arbitrary.

I'm not sure how helpful being able to log in as the administrator would be in the case of a recovery or diagnostic mission. True, safe mode is somewhat limited, and logging in as the admin is slightly more functional, but the inability to access software on the OS partition, or delete or modify it, seems to me a potential roadblock for troubleshooting purposes, considering that those may be the very files needed to correct the problem or conflict.

If anyone has some more information, or can correct or clarify my observations, I would be interested in your comments. This admin account shouldn't be as mysterious as it seems, and it should have some practical purpose?

Johanna

 

The Admin account in safe mode is severely limited. Unless one takes the time to install programs individually on the actual admin account, in normal mode, they will not be available during a crisis. It reminds me of Automated System Recovery, which is great IF you take the time to set it up. (People think they have ASR by default, and when they need it, it's not there!)

I think all TweakUI does is open the door on the Welcome screen. I don't think it has influence past that.

I think the Admin account might be useful for data recovery if the Johanna account becomes corrupted, so I am going back in there to see if I can burn cds. Cross your fingers and wish me luck!
Johanna
venturing off into the unknown and unexplored...

 

I can't check from this machine at work (domain so none of the "friendly" logon screen with pretty pictures. But I do have admin as an option on my XP-pro PC at home along with 3 other user accounts (and without TweakUI).

Haven't done much with it though. I need to play around a little and see if it has the same problems yours does. Hopefully not. My normal user account is a member of the administrator group (OK, so I don't do what I recommend ) and I've not needed to use the built-in admin login.

 

Got home well after midnight and just to blasted tired to mess with things. Will try again tonight or tomorrow AM before work.

 

Now I'm really confused. Just logged on with the admin account from my welcome screen of 4 users (IAW the directions given at http://www.windows-help.net/WindowsXP/tune-09.html for doing a reg edit to avoid any use of a tweaking tool). Normal mode rather than safe mode.

Everything appeared normal for a default account since I haven't tweaked the settings. Normal logon. Was able to do whatever in control panel and to get a list of installed apps and run several.

My Administrator account is a member of the administrator group and not a member of any others since XP does permissions based on "most restrictive" so if you put the administrator account into the administrator group and the users group, you'd restrict it to normal user rights.

I then tried running both the admin account and my normal user account and switching back & forth. Worked fine.

Something ain't right with your system. It should not behave the way it is.

 

I have a legitimate licensed Corporate edition of XP Pro. Could that account for the differences, Newt?

And I consider my experiment somewhat successful. I was able to burn cds of data from the admin account. I figure it's another way in, for the next inevitable crash.

Johanna