Hi,
I used to use my laptop with Windows XP at work and was on a network there.
I let the job and when trying to erase all associated work stuff somehow I
erased the administrator. I can log on as a guest but cant add or remove
programs or anything. I want to reset the computer to factory default
settings but cant. How can I fix this? Any help appreciated

Original Administrator Account Does Not Appear During Friendly Logon Method
http://support.microsoft.com/default...&Product=winxp

Enable Administrator account on Welcome Screen
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_admin_ok.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User
Microsoft Community Newsgroups
news://msnews.microsoft.com/

---------------------------------------------------------------------------Â*----------------

"salf777" wrote:

| Hi,
| I used to use my laptop with Windows XP at work and was on a network there.
| I let the job and when trying to erase all associated work stuff somehow I
| erased the administrator. I can log on as a guest but cant add or remove
| programs or anything. I want to reset the computer to factory default
| settings but cant. How can I fix this? Any help appreciated

How are you trying to set it to factory default. What is the model of your
machine. How are you trying to reinstall? Do you have the installation disk.
Is the OS on the drive?
Huh. If you were able to delete the administrator then you should be able to
insert the OS CD and have it boot up or select the correct key to have it
install from the drive. Search for the model of your machine and go it's
manufacturer
's web site and follow the instructions about reinstalling the OS.


"salf777" <salf777@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9DED915C-30CC-415E-B11F-D9D9289C1738@microsoft.com...

Hi Thanks for the help but that only gives answers for computers after 2004
with symantec restore, mine was made before that and their answer does not
help any other suggestion? It seems somehow I completely deleted the admin
account

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" wrote:

Hi,
Its a dell inspiron 2650, I am getting rid of the computer and want to set
back to factory defaults and erase all the info on it. I was trying system
restore or anything but it wont let me do anything since I cant log in as
admin it wont even let me remove programs. HELP!

"beb" wrote:

salf777 wrote:

AFAIK you CAN'T delete the built-in administrator account. Boot up in Safe
Mode and log on as "administrator" (without the quote marks).

HTH

--
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

Get out the CD and do a fresh install. That would take care of all but
the most determined data miners.

salf777 wrote:

went to reinstall windows XP pro and it would not let me saying that the
version on my computer was newer than the one Im trying to install and would
not give me any option to install off cd just shut me out.
What Now?

"Bob I" wrote:

Tried this wouldnt let me log in as administrator! I may have forgotten the
password

"Gordon" wrote:

salf777 wrote:
This means that your installed OS is at a higher service pack level
than is the WinXP Pro CD you're using. You'll either need to uninstall
SP2 before attempting the upgrade, or try slipstreaming SP2 into the
upgrade.

For slip-streaming the service pack and subsequent updates to WinXP:

How to integrate software updates into your Windows installation source
files
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;828930

SlipStreaming WinXP
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Again here is the problem, computer will not let me uninstall ANYTHING since
i am not logged on as the admin and can not log on as admin. Thats the real
problem, I cant log on as admin and want to just set the computer back to
where I can just donate it without my info on it. I am fine with formatting
the hard drive and installing xp, restoring the system back to when I first
got it ANYTHING but without being admin it wont let me do anything!

"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

salf777 wrote:
You don't need to be able to log in to format the hard drive. In fact,
you *can't* format the drive while logged in to Windows. This would be
the computer equivalent of sawing off the tree limb you're sitting on,
and WinXP is "too smart" to allow this.

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

To protect your personal information and data from any future users
of average skills, you should, at the very least, format the hard drive.
If you wish to do a more thorough job of protecting your friend's
personal data, WipeDrive
(http://www.whitecanyon.com/wipedrive...hard-drive.php) meets U.S.
DoD standards for securely cleaning surplus unclassified hard drives,
and could be used before formatting and reinstalling the OS and
applications.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

salf777 wrote:


--
Gordon Burgess-Parker
Interim Systems and Management Accounting
www.gbpcomputing.co.uk

Did you boot from the CD?

salf777 wrote: