Administrators

db wrote:
> I notice on analysis of this computer's security that it has more
> than two administrators. There are three, one just called
> Administrator. Since only two of us ever use the computer does
> anyone know who the third might be? How can he be got rid of?

The "administrator" account is likely the built-in administrative level
account.

Is this Windows XP Home Edition, Professional Edition or other?

Here's the thing - you seem to be using administrative user accounts for
daily usage. From a security standpoint - that's just not wise. Anything
that runs as you (web page, malware, spyware, virus, trojan, worm, etc) now
gets to run with full administrative priviledges. It has full run of the
computer if you click on the wrong thing on a web page, open the wrong
document/picture/etc from an email or allow a downloaded file to open that
happens to be infested with something. It is far better to run daily as a
non-administrative user.

I'm not telling you to change your two accounts to regular users - I am
suggesting that you might consider creating two new accounts
(non-administrative level) and copy the files and such you need from the
administrative level accounts and use the non-administrative accounts daily.
Much more secure arrangement.

In the short run - be sure the administrative accounts, all of them, have
strong passwords (8+ characters, etc.) This suggestion is one reason behind
my first query...

If you have Windows XP Home Edition - boot up in Safe Mode, log in as the
user "administrator" (if you have never utilized this user - it likely has
no password set) and set a good password on that account.

If you have Windows XP Professional (or other) - reboot the computer in
Normal mode and at the "Welcome Screen" logon (if you use that) - press
CTRL+ALT+DEL twice. The classic logon prompt should appear. Enter the
username "administrator" there and logon as the administrator (if you have
never utilized this user - it likely has no password set). Set a good
password on that account.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

I tried this and it did not work. I deleted the adm. account accidently and
now i cannot create another profile, i am stuck as a guest acct. help!!

"Nepatsfan" wrote:

> "db" <db.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:5C54CAC1-1821-4F15-A60A-D2F356A98098@microsoft.com...
> > I notice on analysis of this computer's security that it has more than two
> > administrators. There are three, one just called Administrator. Since only
> > two of us ever use the computer does anyone know who the third might be? How
> > can he be got rid of? Regards, DB
>
>
> Every computer running Windows XP has a built-in account named Administrator.
> This account should only be used for emergencies. It's there in case your
> current user accounts become corrupted. You can't delete this account. While you
> can disable it, I would advise against it.
>
> On a computer running XP Home Edition, you need to boot into Safe mode in order
> to logon with the Administrator account. In XP Pro, you can hit Ctrl + Alt +
> Delete twice while the Welcome screen is displayed to bring up the Logon to
> Window dialog. You should now be able to enter Administrator in the User Name
> box. By default, the Administrator account has a blank password unless one was
> setup during the installation of Windows XP.
>
> Good luck
>
> Nepatsfan
>
>
>

As earlier noted, you can't delete the Administrator account, only disable it.
If you have indeed disabled the Administrator account and there isn't another
account on the computer that's a member of the Administrators group, there's no
way I know of to fix this problem short of reinstalling XP.

How about providing a little more in depth explanation beyond "I tried this and
it did not work". You tried what and what happened when you did?

You say you "deleted the adm. account accidently". How did you do that? Try to
be as specific as possible.

Also, what version of Windows XP is installed on your computer?

Nepatsfan

"bluebird" <bluebird.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E4168F0D-5733-475E-97DE-82159C8CA2B6@microsoft.com...
>I tried this and it did not work. I deleted the adm. account accidently and
> now i cannot create another profile, i am stuck as a guest acct. help!!
>
> "Nepatsfan" wrote:
>
>> "db" <db.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:5C54CAC1-1821-4F15-A60A-D2F356A98098@microsoft.com...
>> > I notice on analysis of this computer's security that it has more than two
>> > administrators. There are three, one just called Administrator. Since only
>> > two of us ever use the computer does anyone know who the third might be?
>> > How
>> > can he be got rid of? Regards, DB
>>
>>
>> Every computer running Windows XP has a built-in account named Administrator.
>> This account should only be used for emergencies. It's there in case your
>> current user accounts become corrupted. You can't delete this account. While
>> you
>> can disable it, I would advise against it.
>>
>> On a computer running XP Home Edition, you need to boot into Safe mode in
>> order
>> to logon with the Administrator account. In XP Pro, you can hit Ctrl + Alt +
>> Delete twice while the Welcome screen is displayed to bring up the Logon to
>> Window dialog. You should now be able to enter Administrator in the User Name
>> box. By default, the Administrator account has a blank password unless one
>> was
>> setup during the installation of Windows XP.
>>
>> Good luck
>>
>> Nepatsfan
>>
>>
>>