I just installed an HP scanner(G4010) In doing so I found that my computer now occationally goes to the user sign in screen . I never had to click on an icon before to operate the computer which is the way I set it up origonally .I now see 3 options to click on. 1) is the user name I go by when I installed xp prof. my user name(PAUL) happened to be also be 'administrator'. I decided to switch the 'administrator ' to one of the other 2 options now visible, one being 'visitor' and the other some machine like name that I didnt create either. I set administrator to the later. Funny thing is (and its not funny) when I reboot or go to 'Start' and 'log off' to get to 'switch users', I only see my now 'limited privliges' name(PAUL) that Ive been using which used to also be 'administrator'. I dont see either of the other two icons there anymore ,one of which was the administrator. I think I had named the 'administrator' icon ...."administrator". How can I get back to the administrator privledge when I dont see it as an option?.
a mess with administrator
- Thread starter PaulO
- Start date
TrainTrackHack
VIP Member
Am I being an idiot...or did he just say that only his Limted Account shows up?
Booting up in safe mode should display ALL accounts existing in the machine. Then go to user accounts and fix anything you have to.
Yes Only my limited account shows up now. I think when there wer three choices I reassigned Administrator to one that indicated that it required a password. I left that field black thinking I wouldn't need to enter a password then. Ive tried rebooting no difference. I will try safe mode restart
Even though I only see my "limited user name " in control panel, I have been able to at least get to the name Administrator elsewhere on the computer to be able to switch. the problem is that I never entered a password when I origonally set up administrator to a different user icon. now I cant log on to administrator user because it rejects a non entered password field.
TrainTrackHack
VIP Member
The account protected by this password that appeared itself is the only admin acc on your computer?
When you boot in safe mode, there should be an account named "Administrator" and for what I know it doesn't show up unless you boot up in safe mode. It shouldn't be pw-protected.
When you boot in safe mode, there should be an account named "Administrator" and for what I know it doesn't show up unless you boot up in safe mode. It shouldn't be pw-protected.
I ultimatley reformatted my drive because it was recently installed anyway. I tried doing a xp repair install which didnt work. I even had trouble starting xp prof in safe mode. I did the f8 thing but that only let me choose which drive to boot from. I realize that theres alot of info out there on how to start in safe mode therefore it cant be too easy. I tried using the xp disk to get the safe mode option. anyway thanks for the advices. I just screwed up and had to pay the grim reaper by reformatting.
