Re: Missing Administrator Level Account


"Roger Fink" <fink@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:eO0QQGWpIHA.3900@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
"Roger Fink" <fink@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uTj12RIpIHA.2636@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I recently received a used laptop with a fresh install of Windows
2000 Pro, and no applications. I'm having a problem with it in that
there is no Administrator account set up (I thought this was
supposed to happen automatically during installation of the OS).
Since I can only access the machine with User level privileges, I
can't figure out how to create one, since the option to do this
under Users and Passwords is grayed out.

How do I fix this? (I don't see how any fix for this can involve the
internet, since there is no antivirus program or firewall installed
on the machine.)


Every Windows installation has an Administrator account. It is
not possible to delete it. Do this to find out the name of yours:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type these commands:
net user{Enter)
net user RFink{Enter}
net user ...
Continue until you have examined each account. Make a note
of those that are members of the "Administrators" local group.

I ran the command <net user Administrator> and got the following:

-------------------------

User's comment
Country code 000 (System Default)
Account active.........Yes
Account expires.........Never
Password last set.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM
Password expires.........Never
Password changeable.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM
Password required.........Yes
User may change password.........Yes
Workstations allowed.........All
Logon script
User Profile
Home directory
Last logon.........Never
Logon hours allowed.........All
Local Group Memberships.........*Administrators
Global Group Memberships.........*None
The command completed successfully.

In the folder tree under Documents and Settings there are only two folders
immediately listed: "All Users" and "user" (add "Default User" to that in
Show Hidden Files and Folders mode).

How do I access Administrator and bring it in to the GUI? Also, since a
password is required, wouldn't this mean that, as things stand now, I
could
never get in?

User accounts are one thing, profile folders another. If no one
has ever logged in as Administrator then there will be no profile
folder. It's as simple as that. You should now plan ahead and
protect yourself against similar mishaps:
1. Rest the administrator's password:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
2. Create a second admin account.
3. Lock the details for both accounts away so that you can
use them when you need them.


.

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