Re: administrator login winxp

From: Bruce Chambers (bchambers_at_nospamcableone.net)
Date: 07/05/04 

Date: Mon, 5 Jul 2004 09:10:07 -0600

Greetings --

"Troy Piggins" <troy@piggo.com> wrote in message
news:bD2Gc.78735$sj4.40278@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> 2 questions about winxp (hopefully the right group - first timer) :

> 1. upon install you provide a password for 'administrator', but how
do
> you login as administrator? if you logoff, you can only login as
users.
> i have set a user that is a member of admin group, but that is not
> what i want.

    The built-in Administrator account really isn't intended to be
used for day-to-day normal use. The standard security practice is to
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).

    As you've learned, once any additional user accounts have been
created, the Administrator account will no longer be displayed on the
Welcome Screen. This is a default security feature. 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.

> 2. i think it is connected with the above, but how do you get access
to
> c:\system volume information\ directory? i have 2 machines with
spyware
> and viruses on them, and infected files are in that directory but i
> can't get in there to clean them.
> thanks in advance.

    The System Volume Information is the hidden, protected operating
system folder in which WinXP's System Restore feature stores
information used to recover from errors. It's really not a good idea
for you, or an antivirus application, to directly access the contents
of that folder, unless you expect to have no future use for the
restore points, in which case it would be simpler just to turn off the
System Restore feature.

    To clear viruses from the "System Volume Information," simply turn
off the System Restore feature (Start > All Programs > Accessories >
System Tools > System Restore, System Restore Settings), reboot, then
re-enable System Restore, and reboot one last time. This will delete
all of your Restore Points, including the corrupted one(s), and allow
you start with a clean slate.

Bruce Chambers 

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