Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
If you have the password for the administrator account, you can easily elevate any other login account to have administrator privileges.
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The administrator account is still there, it's just hidden, presumably for your protection. But we can still sign in using it, and then grant your other regular, account administrative rights.
But you will need the password for the 'Administrator' account. I'll assume you have that.
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In Windows XP Pro, that Administrator account is not listed on the login screen, unless it's the only account on the machine. You can still log into it, though ... by rebooting into 'Safe Mode'. Press F8 when Windows begins to boot, and you'll be given a list of boot options, one of which is 'Safe Mode'. Select that, and the 'Administrator' account will appear on the login screen.
From here it's easy. Once you've signed in as 'Administrator':
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Right-click on My Computer
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Click on Manage
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Expand Local Users and Groups
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Click on Groups
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Double click on Administrators
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Click on Add
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Enter the account name on this machine that you want to assign administrative privileges to.
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OK your way back out.
Now reboot your machine normally, and the account you selected should now have administrative access.
Article C2373 - June 19, 2005
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
leo... this is not helping me at all... i want an perfect administrator jus like when i install Windows XP Service pack 2... (while installing new OS on my HDD)...plz help men... :(
Posted by: Bolt at November 17, 2011 4:54 AMI have xp professional I moved an restarted my computer an I only have one user. The administrator account is gone. I tried safe mode it just had 'help' there wasnt any admin acc. Just the one user with limited permissions. Then I tried the control alt delete that didn't do anything. But I can't do anything with it because I don't have an account with permissions. Any help will we greatly appreciated.
24-Nov-2011
*Press the "ctr+alt+delete" twice to get into the old login mode.
Posted by: edge at December 19, 2011 9:07 AM*Enter username:administrator and your password.
*That's it.......
not working to get forgotted password of admin account without admin rights......
Posted by: sohil raval at January 10, 2012 7:03 AMNice help on the administrative rights
Posted by: James at April 30, 2012 3:25 AM