Account Problem

Hi,

Because of security reason, I have done the following on my standalone
laptop running XP SP2:
1. rename the built-in administrator and disable the account
2. create a backup admin account for admin purpose
3. login using a standard acct for normal duties

Don't know how this can happen that the backup admin account was being set
to "Must change password when next logon" AND "User cannot change password".

Now when I need to perform admin task I logon using this account, it prompt
me to change password and when I give a new one, it states I cannot change
password.

I really have no idea how this 2 settings can be set concurrently. I tried
booting up in Safe mode but result the same.

Can anyone share your ideas how to recover before I have to reformat and
reionstall again.

TIA.

desperate wrote:

Hi,

Because of security reason, I have done the following on my standalone
laptop running XP SP2:
1. rename the built-in administrator and disable the account
2. create a backup admin account for admin purpose
3. login using a standard acct for normal duties

Don't know how this can happen that the backup admin account was being
set to "Must change password when next logon" AND "User cannot change
password".

Now when I need to perform admin task I logon using this account, it
prompt me to change password and when I give a new one, it states I
cannot change password.

I really have no idea how this 2 settings can be set concurrently. I
tried booting up in Safe mode but result the same.

Administrator Account Disabled - fix by Torgeir Bakken

If you have disabled the built-in Administrator account, booting into
Safe Mode will automatically enable it again (temporarily, for that
Safe Mode session).

Boot into Safe Mode (tap F8 repeatedly as the computer is starting). If
no user logon appears in Safe Mode where you can type in the user
account name "Administrator" (or click on it), press Ctrl+Alt+Del
twice.

Disabling the built-in Administrator account was not a good idea. You
should enable it again. Since you must have at least one account on the
system with administrative privileges, disabling the built-in
Administrator account does not give you any security.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"