Windows 2000 Missing Administrator Level Account

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roger Fink
  • Start date Start date
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Roger Fink

I recently received a used laptop with a fresh install of Windows 2000 Pro,
and no applications. I'm having a problem with it in that there is no
Administrator account set up (I thought this was supposed to happen
automatically during installation of the OS). Since I can only access the
machine with User level privileges, I can't figure out how to create one,
since the option to do this under Users and Passwords is grayed out.

How do I fix this? (I don't see how any fix for this can involve the
internet, since there is no antivirus program or firewall installed on the
machine.)
 
"Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
news:uTj12RIpIHA.2636@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I recently received a used laptop with a fresh install of Windows 2000 Pro,
> and no applications. I'm having a problem with it in that there is no
> Administrator account set up (I thought this was supposed to happen
> automatically during installation of the OS). Since I can only access the
> machine with User level privileges, I can't figure out how to create one,
> since the option to do this under Users and Passwords is grayed out.
>
> How do I fix this? (I don't see how any fix for this can involve the
> internet, since there is no antivirus program or firewall installed on the
> machine.)
>

Every Windows installation has an Administrator account. It is
not possible to delete it. Do this to find out the name of yours:
- Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
- Type these commands:
net user{Enter)
net user RFink{Enter}
net user ...
Continue until you have examined each account. Make a note
of those that are members of the "Administrators" local group.
 
Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
> "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
> news:uTj12RIpIHA.2636@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> I recently received a used laptop with a fresh install of Windows
>> 2000 Pro, and no applications. I'm having a problem with it in that
>> there is no Administrator account set up (I thought this was
>> supposed to happen automatically during installation of the OS).
>> Since I can only access the machine with User level privileges, I
>> can't figure out how to create one, since the option to do this
>> under Users and Passwords is grayed out.
>>
>> How do I fix this? (I don't see how any fix for this can involve the
>> internet, since there is no antivirus program or firewall installed
>> on the machine.)
>>
>
> Every Windows installation has an Administrator account. It is
> not possible to delete it. Do this to find out the name of yours:
> - Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
> - Type these commands:
> net user{Enter)
> net user RFink{Enter}
> net user ...
> Continue until you have examined each account. Make a note
> of those that are members of the "Administrators" local group.

I ran the command <net user Administrator> and got the following:

-------------------------

User's comment

Country code 000 (System Default)

Account active.........Yes

Account expires.........Never


Password last set.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM

Password expires.........Never

Password changeable.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM

Password required.........Yes

User may change password.........Yes


Workstations allowed.........All

Logon script

User Profile

Home directory

Last logon.........Never


Logon hours allowed.........All


Local Group Memberships.........*Administrators

Global Group Memberships.........*None

The command completed successfully.

----------------------

In the folder tree under Documents and Settings there are only two folders
immediately listed: "All Users" and "user" (add "Default User" to that in
Show Hidden Files and Folders mode).

How do I access Administrator and bring it in to the GUI? Also, since a
password is required, wouldn't this mean that, as things stand now, I could
never get in?
 
"Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
news:eO0QQGWpIHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
>> "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
>> news:uTj12RIpIHA.2636@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> I recently received a used laptop with a fresh install of Windows
>>> 2000 Pro, and no applications. I'm having a problem with it in that
>>> there is no Administrator account set up (I thought this was
>>> supposed to happen automatically during installation of the OS).
>>> Since I can only access the machine with User level privileges, I
>>> can't figure out how to create one, since the option to do this
>>> under Users and Passwords is grayed out.
>>>
>>> How do I fix this? (I don't see how any fix for this can involve the
>>> internet, since there is no antivirus program or firewall installed
>>> on the machine.)
>>>
>>
>> Every Windows installation has an Administrator account. It is
>> not possible to delete it. Do this to find out the name of yours:
>> - Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
>> - Type these commands:
>> net user{Enter)
>> net user RFink{Enter}
>> net user ...
>> Continue until you have examined each account. Make a note
>> of those that are members of the "Administrators" local group.
>
> I ran the command <net user Administrator> and got the following:
>
> -------------------------
>
> User's comment
> Country code 000 (System Default)
> Account active.........Yes
> Account expires.........Never
> Password last set.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM
> Password expires.........Never
> Password changeable.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM
> Password required.........Yes
> User may change password.........Yes
> Workstations allowed.........All
> Logon script
> User Profile
> Home directory
> Last logon.........Never
> Logon hours allowed.........All
> Local Group Memberships.........*Administrators
> Global Group Memberships.........*None
> The command completed successfully.
>
> In the folder tree under Documents and Settings there are only two folders
> immediately listed: "All Users" and "user" (add "Default User" to that in
> Show Hidden Files and Folders mode).
>
> How do I access Administrator and bring it in to the GUI? Also, since a
> password is required, wouldn't this mean that, as things stand now, I
> could
> never get in?

User accounts are one thing, profile folders another. If no one
has ever logged in as Administrator then there will be no profile
folder. It's as simple as that. You should now plan ahead and
protect yourself against similar mishaps:
1. Rest the administrator's password:
http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
2. Create a second admin account.
3. Lock the details for both accounts away so that you can
use them when you need them.
 
Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
> "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
> news:eO0QQGWpIHA.3900@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Pegasus (MVP) wrote:
>>> "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
>>> news:uTj12RIpIHA.2636@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> I recently received a used laptop with a fresh install of Windows
>>>> 2000 Pro, and no applications. I'm having a problem with it in that
>>>> there is no Administrator account set up (I thought this was
>>>> supposed to happen automatically during installation of the OS).
>>>> Since I can only access the machine with User level privileges, I
>>>> can't figure out how to create one, since the option to do this
>>>> under Users and Passwords is grayed out.
>>>>
>>>> How do I fix this? (I don't see how any fix for this can involve
>>>> the internet, since there is no antivirus program or firewall
>>>> installed
>>>> on the machine.)
>>>>
>>>
>>> Every Windows installation has an Administrator account. It is
>>> not possible to delete it. Do this to find out the name of yours:
>>> - Click Start / Run / cmd{OK}
>>> - Type these commands:
>>> net user{Enter)
>>> net user RFink{Enter}
>>> net user ...
>>> Continue until you have examined each account. Make a note
>>> of those that are members of the "Administrators" local group.
>>
>> I ran the command <net user Administrator> and got the following:
>>
>> -------------------------
>>
>> User's comment
>> Country code 000 (System Default)
>> Account active.........Yes
>> Account expires.........Never
>> Password last set.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM
>> Password expires.........Never
>> Password changeable.........11/29/2006 7:39 AM
>> Password required.........Yes
>> User may change password.........Yes
>> Workstations allowed.........All
>> Logon script
>> User Profile
>> Home directory
>> Last logon.........Never
>> Logon hours allowed.........All
>> Local Group Memberships.........*Administrators
>> Global Group Memberships.........*None
>> The command completed successfully.
>>
>> In the folder tree under Documents and Settings there are only two
>> folders immediately listed: "All Users" and "user" (add "Default
>> User" to that in Show Hidden Files and Folders mode).
>>
>> How do I access Administrator and bring it in to the GUI? Also,
>> since a password is required, wouldn't this mean that, as things
>> stand now, I could
>> never get in?
>
> User accounts are one thing, profile folders another. If no one
> has ever logged in as Administrator then there will be no profile
> folder. It's as simple as that. You should now plan ahead and
> protect yourself against similar mishaps:
> 1. Rest the administrator's password:
> http://home.eunet.no/~pnordahl/ntpasswd/bootdisk.html
> 2. Create a second admin account.
> 3. Lock the details for both accounts away so that you can
> use them when you need them.

OK Pegasus, thanks very much.
 
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