Re: Adminstrator Password Change V2

Alan C. Brown wrote:

I guess that as a member of the Administrators group I have administrative
privileges, which allows me to reset the Administrator password (?)

In Windows XP all user accounts with administrative privileges are equal,
including the built-in Administrator account. All computer administrators
can reset passwords for any other user account.

However, I'm still puzzled as to how (as user "Alan") I have been
automatically assigned to the Administrators Group, which obviously
happened during installation of XP Pro SP1. Would appreciate if you can
throw any light on that.

If you created a separate user account called "Alan" along with the built-in
Administrator account during initial installation, then it was set as
"Computer Administrator" by default. You could have gone into the User
Accounts applet in Control Panel (or Administrative Tools>Computer
Management>Local Users & Groups, etc.) and changed this if you liked.

Note - There are no other Users set up for this laptop, and as User
"Alan", my name is the only one that appears on the Log On screen that
comes up when I click Start> Log Off> Switch User; that is the name
"Administrator" does not appear. How come ?

When a user account with administrative privileges is created in addition to
the built-in Administrator account in XP Pro, the built-in Administrator
account is hidden. This is by design.

I assume that as a member of the Administrators group I should also set up
a user/logon password for User "Alan", otherwise anyone turning on the
laptop will have full administrative privileges (?)

If you are concerned about security, then you should create strong passwords
for all user accounts on the system, including the built-in Administrator
account. However, please be aware that any computer running any operating
system can be accessed by someone with 1) physical access; 2) time; 3)
skill; 4) tools.

I assume "User password" and "Log On password" are the same thing ?

Yes.

Also - How do you remove a password using Win XP Pro (i.e not 3rd party
utilities) ?

Go to the User Accounts applet or to the Local Users & Groups section in
Administrative Tools and change the password to a blank. A blank password
is still a password; it is a null password.

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

Configure Windows to Automatically Login (MVP Ramesh) -
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/Autologon.htm

Windows XP Professional Resource Kit - Understanding Logon and
Authentication - http://tinyurl.com/qf7bj

User Management and Security in Windows XP -
http://www.windowsnetworking.com/articles_tutorials/wxppusrm.html

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Password login Problems
    ... Log in to any account that has Administrator access. ... Then go to User Accounts in Control Panel. ... Windows XP Home: ... If you are using Windows XP Pro and have encrypted data, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: Bypassing XP Password
    ... Log in to any account that has Administrator access. ... Then go to User Accounts in Control Panel. ... Windows XP Home: ... If you are using Windows XP Pro and have encrypted data, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: administrative password
    ... Log in to any account that has Administrator access. ... Then go to User Accounts in Control Panel. ... Windows XP Home: ... If you are using Windows XP Pro and have encrypted data, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: i am thee only computer administrator and i forgot my pass word
    ... Log in to any account that has Administrator access. ... Then go to User Accounts in Control Panel. ... Windows XP Home: ... If you are using Windows XP Pro and have encrypted data, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
  • Re: forgot my administrator password
    ... Log in to any account that has Administrator access. ... Then go to User Accounts in Control Panel. ... Windows XP Home: ... If you are using Windows XP Pro and have encrypted data, ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.security_admin)
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