User Profiles and Administrator

[Marc]

I installed XP as the administrator (not a user but whatever profile it
automatically generates for you). I then saved all of My Documents,
programs, files, etc. to this profile. I then created a user a/c w/
administrator priveleges. I am no longer able to gain access to the original
"Administrator" profile to which I stored everything on and installed Windows
w/. When I go to windows explorer and documents and settings, I can see teh
Administrator folder but it won't give me access to it. I really need to get
back in the proflie. Any suggestions would be much appreciate.

Thank you.
--
Marc in Pgh

[NotMe]

Did you log in as administrator to edit it's profile?
otherwise...
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308421

--
A Professional Amateur...If anyone knew it all, none of would be here!
"Marc" > wrote in message
...
>I installed XP as the administrator (not a user but whatever profile it
> automatically generates for you). I then saved all of My Documents,
> programs, files, etc. to this profile. I then created a user a/c w/
> administrator priveleges. I am no longer able to gain access to the
> original
> "Administrator" profile to which I stored everything on and installed
> Windows
> w/. When I go to windows explorer and documents and settings, I can see
> teh
> Administrator folder but it won't give me access to it. I really need to
> get
> back in the proflie. Any suggestions would be much appreciate.
>
> Thank you.
> --
> Marc in Pgh

[Rock]

Marc wrote:

> I installed XP as the administrator (not a user but whatever profile it
> automatically generates for you). I then saved all of My Documents,
> programs, files, etc. to this profile. I then created a user a/c w/
> administrator priveleges. I am no longer able to gain access to the original
> "Administrator" profile to which I stored everything on and installed Windows
> w/. When I go to windows explorer and documents and settings, I can see teh
> Administrator folder but it won't give me access to it. I really need to get
> back in the proflie. Any suggestions would be much appreciate.
>
> Thank you.

After creating a second user account with admin privileges the built in
administrator account is hidden from the welcome screen. In XP Pro at
the welcome screen do ctrl-alt-del twice which brings up the login
dialog box. Type administrator for the account and enter the password.
For XP Home you need to boot into safe mode and the Administrator
account appears on the welcome screen.

You should not run as the built in administrator for day to day
operations. That should be left as a fall back account if something
goes wrong with the other account(s).

Copy the settings from the administrator account to the new account you
created that has admin privileges:

How to Copy a User Profile
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/win_xp_logon.htm

HOW TO Create and Configure User Accounts in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=279783


--
Rock
MS MVP Windows - Shell/User

[Bruce Chambers]

Marc wrote:
> I installed XP as the administrator (not a user but whatever profile it
> automatically generates for you). I then saved all of My Documents,
> programs, files, etc. to this profile. I then created a user a/c w/
> administrator priveleges. I am no longer able to gain access to the original
> "Administrator" profile to which I stored everything on and installed Windows
> w/. When I go to windows explorer and documents and settings, I can see teh
> Administrator folder but it won't give me access to it. I really need to get
> back in the proflie. Any suggestions would be much appreciate.
>
> Thank you.


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.

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

A wiser course of action would be to create another user account
for your daily use, as you say you've done, and copy desired the files
and settings from the Administrator account to this newly created user
profile.

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

How to Copy User Data to a New User Profile
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811151


--

Bruce Chambers

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