Accidentally deleted default admin user in Windows XP -- Fix suggestions? - GoFuckYourself.com

AmeliaG · 02-09-2011, 01:49 PM

I tried to follow this procedure: http://www.ehow.com/how_5078719_bloc...xcept-one.html I have been using my default admin account for ages on this Windows XP machine.

The system prompted me to create a Computer Admin account and then allowed me to set up a limited account.

Now my default admin account has disappeared. It has taken many things I need with it, including my Photoshop actions and access to some software and all of my saved passwords in FireFox and IE.

I have tried a system restore to no avail. Suggestions on how to get my default admin user back would be much appreciated. That user was passworded and the ones currently appearing are not and I don't really even get how, with any security features at all, it would be possible to set up a new admin account and delete the old one, thus disabling password access on a computer.

potter · 02-09-2011, 01:51 PM

Fix == Don't use Windows XP?

How friggin old is that operating system?

AmeliaG · 02-09-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by potter

Fix == Don't use Windows XP?

How friggin old is that operating system?

One more thing it would have been better if I'd known yesterday.

Seriously, I've got stuff set up how I like it on this machine. I'll use other operating systems on newer machines for other projects, but this computer is plenty powerful enough for what it is used for and I usually wouldn't want to spend the time doing an operating system upgrade on an old comp. In this instance, maybe that would have been better or maybe I would have lost the same data doing that.

DateDoc · 02-09-2011, 02:07 PM

I do not think you can delete the default admin acct, it may just be hidden. Trying booting in safe mode and seeing if it there.

Pseudonymous · 02-09-2011, 02:07 PM

I suggest formatting the harddrive, reloading windows 7 or even xp. Retrieving all your old passwords. You should backup all important stuff in the future so formatting isn't an issue. You should format your harddrive once in a while and usually novice users don't do this. Im sure you'll be amazed at how much faster the machine will run afterwards. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise?

Datedoc is correct. You should see all accounts listed in safemode

AmeliaG · 02-09-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DateDoc

I do not think you can delete the default admin acct, it may just be hidden. Trying booting in safe mode and seeing if it there.

Going to find out now . . .

cooldude7 · 02-09-2011, 02:24 PM

at the windows login, hit ctrl + alt + delete

classic login wil pop up, login with

username: administrator
pw: ur password / just hit enter

ur in.

u cant delete administrator so easily.

AmeliaG · 02-09-2011, 02:27 PM

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!

Safemode reboot and deleting newly created accounts worked. Thank you so much everyone! Good to know the control-alt-delete re-login now too.

Phew.

Cherry7 · 02-09-2011, 02:29 PM

Any industry professional would know !

iwantchixx · 02-09-2011, 02:44 PM

For future reference always backup entire contents of Documents and settings/administrator folder, Make sure to turn on "show system files and folders" and "show hidden files and folders" option in the folder properties before copying though. This way you always have a backup of your user directory for when these things happen. All your custom user files, email, browser settings and plugins and bookmarks are all safe.

AmeliaG · 02-09-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwantchixx

For future reference always backup entire contents of Documents and settings/administrator folder, Make sure to turn on "show system files and folders" and "show hidden files and folders" option in the folder properties before copying though. This way you always have a backup of your user directory for when these things happen. All your custom user files, email, browser settings and plugins and bookmarks are all safe.

Good suggestion. I always keep show system and hidden on, but I generally only back up data and less frequently stuff like actions. I have master lists of passwords, but I don't even want to think about how hellish it would have been to be copy/pasting X6923n!pzV kinda text into every site I visit. I plan to never edit the users on this specific computer again. Never really noticed the issue on other comps, but probably those were ones where the admin account wasn't really used for work. And probably those are also ones where it would be good to have exactly the backup you suggest.

DateDoc · 02-09-2011, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmeliaG

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!

Safemode reboot and deleting newly created accounts worked. Thank you so much everyone! Good to know the control-alt-delete re-login now too.

Phew.

See, GFY can be helpful!

AmeliaG · 02-09-2011, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DateDoc

See, GFY can be helpful!

Totally

Vendzilla · 02-09-2011, 03:00 PM

OH THANK GAWD, all that lovely porn has been saved!!!

hallelujah!!!!

brassmonkey · 02-09-2011, 03:10 PM

glad your saved

MasterM · 02-09-2011, 03:13 PM

use windows 7 with classicshell
http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/

works like a charm

TurboAngel · 02-09-2011, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmeliaG

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy!

Safemode reboot and deleting newly created accounts worked. Thank you so much everyone! Good to know the control-alt-delete re-login now too.

Phew.

I know you have to be happy!

AmeliaG · 02-09-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vendzilla

OH THANK GAWD, all that lovely porn has been saved!!!

hallelujah!!!!

Ha, ha, yeah

Actually, I think the lovely smut would have been okay because I am way better about content backups than system ones.

AmeliaG · 02-09-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brassmonkey

glad your saved

Thanks. I am breathing one big sigh of relief.

AmeliaG · 02-09-2011, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboAngel

I know you have to be happy!

So, so, very happy and relieved

Klen · 02-09-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vendzilla

OH THANK GAWD, all that lovely porn has been saved!!!

hallelujah!!!!

02-09-2011, 01:49 PM	#1
AmeliaG Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,533	Accidentally deleted default admin user in Windows XP -- Fix suggestions? I tried to follow this procedure: http://www.ehow.com/how_5078719_bloc...xcept-one.html I have been using my default admin account for ages on this Windows XP machine. The system prompted me to create a Computer Admin account and then allowed me to set up a limited account. Now my default admin account has disappeared. It has taken many things I need with it, including my Photoshop actions and access to some software and all of my saved passwords in FireFox and IE. I have tried a system restore to no avail. Suggestions on how to get my default admin user back would be much appreciated. That user was passworded and the ones currently appearing are not and I don't really even get how, with any security features at all, it would be possible to set up a new admin account and delete the old one, thus disabling password access on a computer. __________________ GFY Hall of Famer AltStar Hall of Famer Blue Blood's SpookyCash.com Babe photography portfolio

02-09-2011, 01:51 PM	#2
potter Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Denver Posts: 6,559	Fix == Don't use Windows XP? How friggin old is that operating system? __________________

02-09-2011, 02:07 PM	#4
DateDoc Outside looking in. Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: To Hell You Ride Posts: 14,243	I do not think you can delete the default admin acct, it may just be hidden. Trying booting in safe mode and seeing if it there. __________________

02-09-2011, 02:07 PM	#5
Pseudonymous Photographer/Owner Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 2,661	I suggest formatting the harddrive, reloading windows 7 or even xp. Retrieving all your old passwords. You should backup all important stuff in the future so formatting isn't an issue. You should format your harddrive once in a while and usually novice users don't do this. Im sure you'll be amazed at how much faster the machine will run afterwards. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise? Datedoc is correct. You should see all accounts listed in safemode __________________ Previous owner of SoloRevenue Previous product manager @ Modelcentro.com/MCProfits.com, IsMyGirl.com, SMRevenue.com Last edited by Pseudonymous; 02-09-2011 at 02:09 PM..

02-09-2011, 02:27 PM	#8
AmeliaG Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 10,533	Yaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy! Safemode reboot and deleting newly created accounts worked. Thank you so much everyone! Good to know the control-alt-delete re-login now too. Phew. __________________ GFY Hall of Famer AltStar Hall of Famer Blue Blood's SpookyCash.com Babe photography portfolio

02-09-2011, 02:24 PM	#7
cooldude7 Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Heaven Posts: 4,306	at the windows login, hit ctrl + alt + delete classic login wil pop up, login with username: administrator pw: ur password / just hit enter ur in. u cant delete administrator so easily.

02-09-2011, 02:29 PM	#9
Cherry7 Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,564	Any industry professional would know ! __________________ My Neighbour Butterfly PORN-The Musical The Long Goodbye Cinema Erotique

02-09-2011, 02:44 PM	#10
iwantchixx Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: The Boonies Posts: 12,860	For future reference always backup entire contents of Documents and settings/administrator folder, Make sure to turn on "show system files and folders" and "show hidden files and folders" option in the folder properties before copying though. This way you always have a backup of your user directory for when these things happen. All your custom user files, email, browser settings and plugins and bookmarks are all safe.

02-09-2011, 03:00 PM	#14
Vendzilla Biker Gnome Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cell#324 Posts: 23,200	OH THANK GAWD, all that lovely porn has been saved!!! hallelujah!!!! __________________ Webair died? Carbon is not the problem, it makes up 0.041% of our atmosphere , 95% of that is from Volcanos and decomposing plants and stuff. So people in the US are responsible for 13% of the carbon in the atmosphere which 95% is not from Humans, like cars and trucks and stuff and they want to spend trillions to fix it while Solar Panel plants are powered by coal plants think about that

02-09-2011, 03:10 PM	#15
brassmonkey Pay It Forward Industry Role: Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Yo Mama House Posts: 77,045	glad your saved __________________ TRUMP 2025 KEKAW!!! - The Laken Riley Act Is Law! DACA ENDED - SUPPORT AZ HCR 2060 52R - email: brassballz-at-techie.com

02-09-2011, 03:13 PM	#16
MasterM Confirmed User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: netherlands Posts: 248	use windows 7 with classicshell http://classicshell.sourceforge.net/ works like a charm