Cannot access the Administrator's account

I have a laptop running windows XP home. When I try to access the administrator's account, I receive an error message of : "Unable to log on because of an account restriction ". When I navigate to the control panel\Users the administrator isn't listed as a user, but when I run the "control usepasswords2" form the open box the administrator is listed as a user.

I've tried to install a snap-in, but WXPH won't allow to install it.

So I can I log on as the administrator of this laptop? Do I need to change some settings in the registry?

Thank you,

 

Hi, FitzDawg.

I think the only way to log into the Administrator account in Windows XP Home Edition is via Safe Mode.

Have you tried logging into the Administrator account via Safe Mode?

 

.

 

Mailman is correct. The error message "Unable to log on because of an account restriction" will occur if and when you try to log onto the Admin account while XP is running in Normal mode. Hoiwever, installing something in Safe Mode usually doesn't happen too well, you need to be in Normal mode logged onto an account with Administrator rights.

 

Yeeee Hawww! Thanks for your confirmation, markp62.

By the way, in case one is not familiar with the "WXPH" acronym in FitzDawg's post, WXPH means "Windows XP Home ".

(Yes, I had to look it up.)

 

It might be helpful to some users to give instructions as to how they can log into the Administrator account in Safe Mode.

Some users have their system to autologon so they will not see any log on screen when booting to Safe Mode. The method in those cases is to log off (not reboot) and then they will get the log on screen.

Then they must press ctrl+alt+del twice to get the user editable log on screen. Then they should type administrator in the user field and leave the password field blank, unless they know they have set a password. Pressing enter or clicking OK should then log them on into the Administrator account.

 

The Administrator account is by default an optional account for logon in safe mode, in either Home or Pro. If the Welcome Screen logon is in use, the Administrator account will be an option with an icon, displayed along with the user profile, despite using autologon for normal mode. If using the classic logon, despite using autologon for normal mode, the logon window will come up in safe mode, allowing for the Administrator username to be typed in.

 

It doesn't work that way for me Dave. I get no logon screen when booting Safe Mode in XP Home. It goes directly into Windows. I have to resort to the procedure I outlined in order to get a logon screen. Even then it has no Administrator icon, just the owner icon. Then it takes the double ctrl+alt+delete to get the old familiar Win2k logon screen.

I don't think I am alone in that since I have had to instruct others in the procedure when they had this same problem. I think it happen when there is no password set for any accounts.

 

New one on me, Dude. I retract my previous post.

Incidentally, I have 3 XP Pro workstations setup for autologon at work, on a domain, and they all 3 present me with a logon prompt when booting to safe mode.

Now you've got me wondering 'why the difference?'


[SIZE= "0"]I really needed to get a good night's sleep too ......... oh well [/SIZE]

 

Okay, so I can log on as the administrator via safe mode. Can anyone tell me why the administrator's account doesn't show up in the Users window?

 

I know this is one day late.

But I believe you can edit administrator passwords via command prompt.

(If this type of stuff isn't allowed, but it really should be, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO EDIT/DELETE my post)