Administrator User Account

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Kokomojo - 25 May 2008 14:16 GMT

I am using the default Administrator User Acount with Windows XP SP2. I want
to create another Limited account, but this option is dimmed. A message
appears that I have to have at least one Administrator Account. So, even
though the default account is an Administrator account, I create ANOTHER
Administrator Account. Then I am able to create another Limited account.
BUT, when I re-boot, my default Administrator Account no longer appears. I
want to use the default Administrator Account with my Limited Account. Thank
you.

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Mark L. Ferguson - 25 May 2008 14:48 GMT

The default admin will appear on Welcome in Safe Mode (F8 on restart) Boot
to that and delete the other admin, then run this script to show the default
admin on welcome normally.

Doug Knox's Doug's Tweaks and Tips
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_admin_ok.htm

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Mark L. Ferguson
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> I am using the default Administrator User Acount with Windows XP SP2. I
> want
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Thank
> you.

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Bruce Chambers - 25 May 2008 16:13 GMT

> I am using the default Administrator User Acount with Windows XP SP2. I want
> to create another Limited account, but this option is dimmed. A message
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> want to use the default Administrator Account with my Limited Account. Thank
> you.

you've been using the built-in Administrator account for daily use.
This is very unwise. As you've discovered, once any additional user
accounts have been created, the built-in Administrator account will no
longer be displayed on the Welcome Screen. This is a default security
feature.

The built-in Administrator account was never intended to be used
for day-to-day normal use. The standard security practice is to rename
the account, set a strong password on it, and use it only to create
another account for regular use, reserving the Administrator account as
a "back door" in case something corrupts your regular account(s).

By design, the only way to log into the Administrator account of
WinXP Home is to reboot into Safe Mode. For WinXP Pro, pressing
CTRL+ALT+DEL twice at the Welcome Screen will produce the standard login
dialog box.

A wiser course of action would be to create another user account
for your daily use (as you've done), and copy desired the files and
settings from the Administrator account to this newly created user profile.

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;279783

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151

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Bruce Chambers

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