WinXP has hidden administrator

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Chris516

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I have a friend who works in church that was given a computer that has a hidden administrator account. If I were there(I am in Maryland, she is in California), I could probably do this myself but, I can only advise her. I know how to modify accounts but, the only thing I can find on adminstrator accounts is, the danger of deleting it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Christopher
 
Without being able to log in as adminstrator and create a new administrator's account and delete the original a clean install of Windows would be the option there. Without the original Windows installation or recovery disks the direction there becomes the obvious need to buy a full install perhaps OEM release for use. The OEM would be one seen at a shopping site and not attached to one specific machine since there are two different types.
 
If they have an XP disc they can do a repair install and during the "installing devices" part, there is a way to change any account and password.

Credit an51r for this little tidbit. And it does work.


Place your Windows XP CD in your cd-rom and start your computer (it's assumed here that your XP CD is bootable – as it should be - and that you have your bios set to boot from CD)

Keep your eye on the screen messages for booting to your cd Typically, it will be “Press any key to boot from cd”

Once you get in, the first screen will indicate that Setup is inspecting your system and loading files.

When you get to the Welcome to Setup screen, press ENTER to Setup Windows now

The Licensing Agreement comes next - Press F8 to accept it.

The next screen is the Setup screen which gives you the option to do a Repair.

It should read something like “If one of the following Windows XP installations is damaged, Setup can try to repair it”

Use the up and down arrow keys to select your XP installation (if you only have one, it should already be selected) and press R to begin the Repair process.

Let the Repair run. Setup will now check your disks and then start copying files which can take several minutes.

Shortly after the Copying Files stage, you will be required to reboot. (this will happen automatically – you will see a progress bar stating “Your computer will reboot in 15 seconds”

During the reboot, do not make the mistake of “pressing any key” to boot from the CD again! Setup will resume automatically with the standard billboard screens and you will notice Installing Windows is highlighted.

Keep your eye on the lower left hand side of the screen and when you see the Installing Devices progress bar, press SHIFT + F10. This is the security hole! A command console will now open up giving you the potential for wide access to your system.
At the prompt, type NUSRMGR.CPL and press Enter. Voila! You have just gained graphical access to your User Accounts in the Control Panel.

Now simply pick the account you need to change and remove or change your password as you prefer. If you want to log on without having to enter your new password, you can type control userpasswords2 at the prompt and choose to log on without being asked for password. After you've made your changes close the windows, exit the command box and continue on with the Repair (have your Product key handy).

Once the Repair is done, you will be able to log on with your new password (or without a password if you chose not to use one or if you chose not to be asked for a password). Your programs and personalized settings should remain intact.
 
Who said XP was even on the system donated there? That could be 2000 or Vista not XP since the version of Windows or OS even hasn't been named yet. Is it Apple?Mac? The term Windows use earlier was a quick reference not knowing if Windows or another OS is the actual one seen there. Without the original OS disk any thought of repair would then be ruled out. A clean install would then be needed for that OS or a newer version.
 
Who said XP was even on the system donated there? That could be 2000 or Vista not XP since the version of Windows or OS even hasn't been named yet. Is it Apple?Mac? The term Windows use earlier was a quick reference not knowing if Windows or another OS is the actual one seen there. Without the original OS disk any thought of repair would then be ruled out. A clean install would then be needed for that OS or a newer version.

I was going by the title of the thread. "WinXP has hidden administrator"
 
The real quesion besides that however is were there any disks included with the system that was donated? Was it a prebuilt system new even or a custom where someone dumped an older case for an upgrade? Without the recovery or full install Windows disk getting a new one to have onhand for a clean install would be the thought there.
 
I have a friend who works in church that was given a computer that has a hidden administrator account. If I were there(I am in Maryland, she is in California), I could probably do this myself but, I can only advise her. I know how to modify accounts but, the only thing I can find on adminstrator accounts is, the danger of deleting it.

Any help would be appreciated.

Christopher


So what exactly are you wanting to do? What makes you think there is a hidden admin account? Can she not login? It may have been on a network joined to a domain with the default admin account either delete, renamed, or password protected.
 
try and just log on as the admin account, try no password first, then geuss some easy passwords. try logging on an account you can log onto then right click my computer then click manage go to the local users and groups, then to users, find the admin account you want to reset, and if you are a admin change it. If not then just find out which account is the admin by right clicking the accounts click properties, then the "Member of" tab then when you find that admin atleast you have their username. You said you got it from a church so try geussing the password, it will probably be something easy like jesus is great or something like that. Churches usually have crappy security. Just try to figure it out first before trying to reformat.
 
if you can log on, right click my computer and select manage. go to local user and groups, then user

you can do whatever you want here. change passwords, delete accounts, etc.
 
Being that the pc was a donation the drive was probably wiped first and then the administrator's account was hidden intentionally either due to habit or intentionally so no one could alter things and make a mess. Without a recovery or install disk given along with it that would supposedly keep it running without someone installing or removing things. The person that originally donated it would be the one to talk with about this.
 
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