Well, I made the mistake of creating another user account on my internet computer (windows XP). It has always previously used the default 'administrator' account.

I now discover that 'administrator' only appears when there is no other account present, or in safe mode so i am no longer able to log in and use the account with all my stuff where it should be.

I tried creating an account called 'administrator' - can't do that as the account already exists.

I tried deleting the new account - can't do that.

I tried changing the new account to a user rather than administrator - can't do that.


I can still access the files going through C:\documents and settings , and I guess I can copy these to the new account, but I presume I'll lose all the settings and extra bolt ons such as dropbox.

Suggestions welcome.

(Fortunately I have a spare laptop ready set up for internet access )

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If at first you don't suck seed, try drier grain.

On the subject of XP, why is it that whenever I see the standard wallpaper I think of telitubbies

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If at first you don't suck seed, try drier grain.

Solved it for now. Created a second extra admin account, then copied the contents of 'administrator' to the first new user.

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If at first you don't suck seed, try drier grain.

Could you not do a system restore to an earlier image?

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[color=#000080]ST205 WRC 1994
Hybrid turbo
Apexi AVC-R
Apexi Power FC (Not being used ATM)
Apexi Power commander (Not being used ATM)

Part of the reason for creating another account was freeing up hard drive space taken by system restore

Anyway, up & running again, just under another name now.

_________________
If at first you don't suck seed, try drier grain.

Glad it is sorted

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[color=#000080]ST205 WRC 1994
Hybrid turbo
Apexi AVC-R
Apexi Power FC (Not being used ATM)
Apexi Power commander (Not being used ATM)

Been a while since I used xp but i'm sure administrator is a valid account. It's possible that you need to go into the management console and reset a password or some such

If all else fails fire up regedit. Go into hklm->software>microsoft->windows nt->profiles (or possibly profile list or similar,can't check as iI don't have xp)
There will be a bunch of gobldegook entries in there. Run through them and look at the profilepath eentry. You should see one that points to the new user and one that points to the admin user. Change the new user path to match the old admin account and everything should spring back to how it was if you log out and in again