I need to know if a comp- running XP home or pro ver can have more than 1 administrator acc in other words if there are, for ex, 2 users on signin pg can they both be administrator level vs 1 having to be limited
Basically, the computer in question, belongs to my 85 year old mother and she has had a home computer and used it for years-all family members, in fact, had access to it. In 2008 she came into possession of a new/different computer-(which she hadn't even setup yet) given to her by her granddaughter-29 yrs old-who lived w/her before she died in a car crash in 2008. However, shortly before this she, the granddaughter, had moved her boyfriend and kids in, and almost 2 yrs later he's still there, I have had growing concerns about the situation and now the computer is part of it. Shortly after her death he asked if he could set up the new/better computer and mom agreed. We didn't make any real significant changes to start with other than for everyone to have their own signin/user block and I still helped my mother w/ using it as i always had. Awhile back I went to use it one day and found my user acct had been changed to limited and my password removed and then a week ago when I point blank asked him to get it changed back he refused and said there can only be 1 administrator account. I happen to believe that isn't true, though I'm no expert. I just know I used to have a computer w/ XPPro and had separate user accounts/access on it and also had moms set up w/ both of us at administrator level and the computer sure seemed to work fine. My mother, of course, doesn't know much about computers so isn't getting involved. This obviously leaves me very limited in what I can and can't do on the computer and on top of this I recently even discovered it's running w/ no antivirus program on it/. I sure will appreciate any and all answers anyone can give me w/ this problem-I'm on a limited fixed income and simply don't have the money or I'd call a computer repair service etc1 person needs an answerI do too
July 19th, 2010 11:57am

Wow. That's quite a saga. Start by backing up any data you want to save and then do a clean install of Windows because it has been running without any protection. Chances are extremely high that the computer is so infected that only a clean install will be useful. After Windows is installed, you'll need to install drivers for all your hardware, update to the current Service Pack 3 and all subsequent Windows Updates. Install a current version antivirus. I recommend ESET NOD32 (commercial) or Avast Free.http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html -Clean Install How-To http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Reinstalling_Windows -What you will need on-hand To answer your question, there is no limitation on having more than one administrative user account. However, there are no technical solutions to your family issues. You can clean up this computer and set it up correctly but if the boyfriend has access to it you will shortly be back to where you are now.MS-MVP - Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
Free Windows Admin Tool Kit Click here and download it now
July 19th, 2010 3:19pm

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

Other recent topics Other recent topics