Computer Hope

Microsoft => Microsoft Windows => Windows XP => Topic started by: captain on January 01, 2008, 05:17:30 PM

Title: lost admin account XP
Post by: captain on January 01, 2008, 05:17:30 PM
Somehow we have evidently managed to delete all administrtor accounts.
All that is left is a guest account with limited access.  How can we restore
or replace an admin account?
Captain
Title: Re: lost admin account XP
Post by: quaxo on January 01, 2008, 08:11:47 PM
Windows XP will not allow all admin accounts to be deleted. If it's the last admin account, it will tell you it can't be deleted.

Read this and see if it doesn't help clear things up:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/tips/advanced/adminaccount.mspx (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/tips/advanced/adminaccount.mspx)
Title: Re: lost admin account XP
Post by: captain on January 02, 2008, 08:39:51 AM
OK, that helps.  We found an admin logon on, but have no idea the name or password. Now what?
Is there a reset or a battery we can remove to reset and start over?
Captain
Title: Re: lost admin account XP
Post by: patio on January 02, 2008, 08:41:13 AM
No there is no battery reset for an Admin password.
How did you manage to forget it ? ?
Whose machine is this ? ?
Title: Re: lost admin account XP
Post by: captain on January 02, 2008, 10:34:59 AM
its ours.  we had a problem with our son being on the computer without permission.
 I don't use that computer as I have laptop.
C
Title: Re: lost admin account XP
Post by: patio on January 02, 2008, 10:42:43 AM
As Quaxo stated the Admin account cannot be removed...
So it wouldn't matter what the boy did on it.
How did you lose the password ?

If it seems we're being overly skeptical here it's just the fact this info can be used maliciously.
Title: Re: lost admin account XP
Post by: quaxo on January 03, 2008, 07:18:16 PM
The default admin account name is 'Administrator'. Unless you changed it (and most people don't) then you now just need to remember your password.

Did you set a password hint? You can check that. (see attachment)

Other than that, there isn't much you can do. A password reset disk must be created from within the account it's meant to reset. The only other way to change passwords is to log on as an Admin and change them. Other than that, the only way to reformat and reinstall Windows, the final suggestion from Microsoft should the other suggestions not help.

That's about all we can do for you.

[file cleanup - saving space - attachment deleted by admin]