Superfluous Administrator

[Computer_Hopeless]

I set up several accounts on a machine running Windows XP Professional recently obtained by my family: 2 limited accounts and 3 administrator account. From what I've gathered, the "Administrator" account (as in the preexisting account named "Administrator") should  become hidden and remain so under normal circumstances after the creation of another account with administrative privileges.

This has not happened, and, to make matters worse, when the computer is turned on, "Administrator" is logged on automatically: no prompt for password or any other comfortable sign of security is shown.

This doesn't make for the most secure of situations. Any help in rectifying said situation would be greatly appreciated.

[Computer_Hopeless]

Bump! I wonder how many people actually look at the second page of posts to offer help? I'm willing to bet that not many people do.

There sure are a lot of queries pertaining to MS Windows. Would it kill the os designers to make something more user-friendly?

[Spoiler]

I am not sure I understand your problem. Is it that the machine logs into the admin account without any user action? Or can you not use the other accounts?

[Aegis]

All right -- one account should remain Administrator.  Decide which account that should be.

Go into the computer under the Admin account you wish to keep.

Please go to Start > Control Panel, and click the User Accounts icon.  If you click the option to Change An Account, you'll get a window headed Pick An Account to Change, and all the accounts should be listed, with their current statuses.  (You'll see whether accounts are Admin, Limited, and whether they require a password.)

Clicking on an account allows you to change its status from Admin to Limited, and to set a password for the account.  Set a password for the Admin account you wish to keep -- something you'll remember, but not easy for someone to guess.

I hope this helps.

[Computer_Hopeless]

That's not so much the problem as that there is an account, pre-installed on the machine, that is named "Administrator," which I can't seem to change the name of, change the status of, or delete. 

The way I understand the workings of this account, it should not show up under normal circumstances on the welcome screen if there is another account with administrative privileges. 

However, not only is "Administrator" visible, but it is also automatically logged in upon startup, bypassing the password assigned to the account and posing a significant security risk.

[Raptor]

Why'd you quote Stalin?

[patio]

What have you been up to since June ? ?

Check Here
And Here

[Computer_Hopeless]

I quote Stalin because the day before I stumbled across that quote, I made the same comment myself.

Since June, I've had no life and have been horrendously busy.

Thanks for those two links, their information should be very helpful. I copied the text from the two sites onto my flash drive, so I'll be able to use it the next time I'm working at that machine.

[patio]

Enjoy the Holidays ! !
Good to see you again.