Administrator lock out on WIndows XP
I have an issue with a computer. We where cleaning it off and somehow we removed the administrative abilities. I can no longer get on the computer as it tells me I am locked out and I have no other user accounts to get into.Can someone tell me how to bypass this so I can retreive files I need?Thanks
July 13th, 2010 4:22pm

Enable the built-in Administrator, log into it, fix whatever you did wrong. See the end of this post for how to set up users optimally.1. Boot into Safe Mode. Do this by repeatedly tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to the right menu where you can use your arrow key to select Safe Mode [enter]. The built-in Administrator account is disabled by default in Windows 7. However, if no other administrative accounts exist on the system it may be enabled. If it is, you will see an icon for Administrator on the Welcome Screen in Safe Mode. Log into Administrator.2. If If you don't see the icon for the Administrator account in Safe Mode, then the built-in Administrator account is still disabled and you'll need to do some more work. If you have a Windows 7 installation DVD (not a recovery DVD) you can boot the system with it. Select the default language, then choose "Repair your computer". Then select "Command Prompt". At the command prompt type:net user administrator /active:yes [enter][Note: Do not type the brackets!]If you don't have an installation DVD (only have a recovery disc), the computer mftr. may have given you the Windows 7 System Repair option (not a System Recovery!) on the diagnostic menu. This diagnostic menu is the same one where you can choose Safe Mode. Or you can make a bootable Windows 7 Repair DVD from the file at this link:http://neosmart.net/blog/2009/windows-7-system-repair-discs/Note: All the Neosmart recovery disc downloads are torrent files. There is a good explanation of torrent files at the Neosmart website. You will need a torrent client such asmuTorrent to get the files. The torrent client will download the .iso file with which to create the bootable DVD. If you are creating the bootable DVD in an older operating system, you will need third-party burning software such as Nero, Roxio, or the free ImgBurn to burn the .iso as an image, not as data. Windows 7 can burn .isos natively.Now remove the rescue DVD you made, reboot the system into Windows, and log into the built-in Administrator account you enabled.3. After you fix your errors and create an emergency administrative account as described below, log into it and disable the built-in Administrator again for security purposes.Start Orb>Search box>type: cmdWhen cmd appears in Results above, right-click it and choose "Run as administrator" [OK]. Now you will get the command prompt. At the command prompt type:net user administrator /active:no [enter]Exit the command prompt.General Recommendations For Setting Up Users In Windows 7You absolutely do not want to have only one user account. Like XP, Vista and all other modern operating systems, Windows 7 is a multi-user operating system with built-in system accounts such as Administrator, Default, and Guest. These accounts should be left alone as they are part of the operating system structure.You particularly don't want only one user account with administrative privileges in Windows 7 because the built-in Administrator account (normally only used in emergencies) is disabled by default. If you're running as Administrator for your daily work and that account gets corrupted, things will be Difficult. It isn't impossible to activate the built-in Administrator to rescue things, but it may be more work than you want to do. Better not to put yourself into a bad situation to begin with.The user account that is for your daily work should be a Standard user, with the extra administrative user (call it something like "CompAdmin" or "Tech" or the like) only there for elevation purposes. Running as a Standard user is best practice for security purposes and will help protect your computer from infection. After you create "CompAdmin", log into it and change your regular user account to Standard. Then log back into your regular account.If you want to go directly to the Desktop and skip the Welcome Screen with the icons of user accounts, you can do this:Start Orb>Search box>type: netplwiz [enter]Click on Continue (or supply an administrator's password) when prompted by UACUncheck the option "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer". Select a user account to automatically log on by clicking on the desired account to highlight it and then hit OK. Enter the correct password for that user account (if there is one) when prompted. Leave it blank if there is no password (null).MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
July 13th, 2010 4:42pm

I have an issue with a computer. We where cleaning it off and somehow we removed the administrative abilities. I can no longer get on the computer as it tells me I am locked out and I have no other user accounts to get into.Can someone tell me how to bypass this so I can retreive files I need?Thanks Hello Wonderabout - Welcome to Microsoft Answers Community. AFAIK, restart and hold the F8 button. Select Safe Mode with Networking and you'll see the default standard administratoraccount for Windows XP. The password (can be) blank else, I recommend you enter Safe Mode with Command Prompt and enter the following Commands provided below:net user root /add net localgroup Administrators root /addnet localgroup Users root /deleteThe first command adds a new user called “root”, the second command addsthat user to the Administrators group and the third command removes the user from the Users group which leaves him in the Administrators group. I hope you find this information useful and if you need any further assistance, please feel free to contact me and let me know.I hope this information was helpful…Have a nice day…Best regards,FisnikItknowledge24.com
July 13th, 2010 4:44pm

HI,THank you, I am going to try this. I did the safe mode and it told me I was still locked out. I have a reinstillation CD that came with the computer for the operating system. Am I able to use this?
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
July 13th, 2010 4:46pm

HI,THank you, I am going to try this. I did the safe mode and it told me I was still locked out. I have a reinstillation CD that came with the computer for the operating system. Am I able to use this?Yes, you are able.Itknowledge24.com
July 13th, 2010 4:49pm

Well, I have been corrected by my son. I have Windows XP professional on this computer. I have a reinstilation CD for this. WIll this work? or do I need to download something else?
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
July 13th, 2010 4:51pm

Well, I have been corrected by my son. I have Windows XP professional on this computer. I have a reinstilation CD for this. WIll this work? or do I need to download something else? AFAIK, you can use the CD. But I recommend you try my solution with the Command Prompt commands first before youdo anything else.Itknowledge24.com
July 13th, 2010 4:54pm

THank you, I boot in safe mode with command prompt but it wont let me type anywhere. Now I am really stuck
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
July 13th, 2010 5:06pm

I'm sorry. I do see that you said you had XP in your Subject line. Because you posted in a Windows 7 forum, I wrongly assumed you were running Windows 7. Can you log into the built-in Administrator account? At the Welcome Screen do Ctrl-Alt-Del twice to get the classic logon box. Or your startup may already have been set that way. Type "Administrator" without the quotes for the user account name and leave the password field blank (or if you assigned a password to the built-in Administrator use it). If you were using the built-in Administrator for your daily work and did not have any other administrative user accounts, then you may be able to run the commands ITknowledge24 suggested from the Recovery Console. I don't think this will work but it can't hurt to try.Boot the computer with your XP installation CD and choose R for Repair. This will give you a command prompt (the Recovery Console). If you are denied access because of whatever you did to mess up permissions, then we are at the end of what can be discussed here in the MS forums. You can either take the computer to a reputable professional (not a BigComputerStore/GeekSquad) or back up your data from outside of Windows and do a clean install. You know your own skill level best.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
July 13th, 2010 5:14pm

To the OP: Note the phrase in Malkeleah's reply "what can be discussed here". If you would like to know what cannot be discussed here, send a note to pegasusDOTfnlATgmailDOTcom.
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
July 13th, 2010 5:21pm

This topic is archived. No further replies will be accepted.

Other recent topics Other recent topics