Ack! "hidden admin" password-- and I set it!

Oh dear, anybody have an idea on this?

My Dad is 90 and screwing up his computer right and left. So I created a hidden admin account in safemode since he is always using the recovery discs and setting his computer back to 2006 and then going online with no AV or firewall.

Well, now when he encounters an error, he will probably get a message to contact system admin. He won't know what that means, will call me and be all upset. So maybe it's better he use his recovery discs and I just give up trying to keep him safe.

BUT... I looked around and it seems impossible to delete my password (which I do remember) and put it back to nothing. I mean, no password at all. Could I change it to blank and save it? Would that work? He has Windows XP home edition.

Ideas?

 

Hi,
You could try any of these here...

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/passrecovery.htm

as you say that all you want to do is remove/delete the password then I would suggest going with #3 in the list PC Log in Now.

iain.t :major

 

I used the NT offline Password and Registry Editor in a similar situation and it worked just fine. You can leave the password blank before saving, and it sets the account you selected up with no password at all.

Have you considered rearranging the computer so that your father is using a restricted "guest" account, and has no access to any administrative actions, like reinstall or using recovery disks? It may frustrate him at first, but the advantage to you would be that he will not be able to do nearly as much to "break" his computer, and any malware that gets in will be very limited in the amount of damage it can do. Just a thought.

 

Thanks for the replies!

Mimsy, the reason I did the admin (hidden) was because I thought if he had to sign in as a guest he might not like that! But I was underhanded, you know, so my guilt kicked in. However, if he does get an error and doesn' tknow what to do, he will likely call me so that part is good.

BUT to get rid of the password I do have to run one of these programs, eh? I mean I can't just sign in to the hidden admin location with my password and change it to nothing somehow?

Would system restore get rid of it if I go back to before it was in (if I remember)?

Thanks a lot!

You know, after bringing his computer up to snuff several times now, I realize that Windows is NOT a very efficient OS if it requires so many patches and service packs and all that!!! harumph! I guess that is why some folks like Apple and Linux...?

Thank you ;-)

 

Hi,
If you have already tried to remove the password via the usual way i.e..IN SAFE MODE.. Start> Control panal> User accounts>Admin> remove password>Save then exit.
If that is the way you have tried to remove it then you will need to run one of those programs,I doubt very much that a simple restore will resolve this, though a destructive re-install will clear it also.

iain.t :major

 

Wouldn't a destructive reinstall wipe EVERYTHING?

Read this for non-destructive reinstall.
Keeps operators file,folders,programs,photos,etc. intact.

http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=189400897

 

Thanks hrlow2, thought I had typed in "non" , was rushing to finish as I had OH on me case to get ready for the Doc's!!
Thanks for jumping in and keeping the OP right about the reinstall and also the link.

iain.t :major

 

No prob.