Deleted Administrator group Windows XP Pro SP#

Hi Folks, I tried to figure out what I thought was a simple problem and have been getting deeper and deeper into a mess.

I inherited my wife's old laptop. I wanted to do away with the log-in password, since I didn't have it on my old machine and I hate having a multi-step start-up. No lectures on security please. Anyway, I thought I was following some genius advice online when I deleted the administrator group. So I lost simple privileges I took for granted, like connecting the laptop wirelessly to the printer. I also couldn't go back to a restore point without the password.

In trying to figure out the Admin password (not realizing that the issue may be the deletion of the Admin group) I ran Ophcrack from a disc, which revealed that there was no admin password or group (as best as I could tell from the log).

Now, when I fire up the machine, a Thinkpad T61, at the password log-in, I get an error message saying that the security log is full and only an administrator can clear it out. So where I could log on as a user before Ophcrack, now I can't get on at all because I don't have the admin pw.

I am hoping that there is a workaround without having to wipe out and reinstall. I can get to Lenovo rescue and recovery before Windows loads, but I think it will reinstall the original Vista and not the XP that my wife had on there and which I'd like to keep. Anyway, any help is appreciated and Ipromise to answer any questions as best as I can. Thanks!

 

See if an Administrator account is available in Safe Mode. Hit F8 repeatedly during the Lenovo screen to get to safe mode.

If the Administrator account exists and lets you in without a password you might be able to use System Restore to undo the group deletion. Or create a new account with administrative privileges to have it available when needed.

 

I tried safe mode a few times and I couldn't even log in as a user, much less an administrator. I'm not sure why that would be, since I could get in as a user normally. Now even in safe mode, I get the 'security log full' message and still can't get in as admin.

 

From the F8 menu will Last Known Good Configuration let you log in?

 

I didn't try that option until after the security log problem appeared and I still couldn't get in. My guess is that the computer is not considering itself to be in a bad configuration, so it may have tried to log me in to just before I shut down last night. Which is when the security log issue first happened.

 

I'm sorry but I don't have any other suggestions, I'm unfamiliar with group policies. Someone else may have some suggestions.

 

Thanks for the effort GVSTN. I usually try as much as I can before resorting to asking for help. I hate to waste other people's time. It usually works out fine with the amount of info available on the web. In the case, I followed the wrong advice (or did something wrong myself).

 

Greetings, JimboBimbo2...

Now might be the perfect opportunity to try a live Linux distro - not only will a live disk enable you to fully use the machine, but you may also be able to explore the Windows folders and help find a fix for your admin woes...

 

I've thought about switching to linux in the past and I ran Open Office on my last machine. My wife would probably lose it. She's tied to her XP at work all day and using a different OS on our home machine would have her giving me sh*t I'm sure.

I have Lenovo recovery disks and the ThinkVantage recovery available on the machine. Baring getting back into the machine with the current OS, life would probably be easier for me if I reinstalled XP. Then I can decide if I want to go to Linux.

Unless I'm completely misunderstanding and I can browse my Windows stuff (log in as administrator) after downloading a Linux version?

 

Completely understand the reluctance - I'm married also...

I'm suggesting running a live disk - here's my canned mantra:

You should then be able to explore the Windows folders, use thumb drives to salvage data, surf the 'net, etc..

 

Now that I can't even get into that computer, I'd have to burn another iso image on a different machine, which is difficult. The x40 I'm on now can't burn discs.

But before I download a Linux iso file, I'm wondering if I can do something from the Ophcrack iso file that I can run on the t61. It has PCman file manager, which allows me to see files, but I can't figure out whether I can do anything once I'm in there.

And even when I'm in there, I guess I wouldn't know how to enable administrator privileges. Ophcrack couldn't find a pw for the administrator, nor for 2 of the 3 other users, all of whom are disabled. The pw wasn't listed as 'empty' but unknown.

I appreciate the help so far Caliban. I guess even if I get back into the computer (where there aren't any files I need as far as I recall) I wonder how I can enable the administrator account if I can't even find a pw for it and the pw wasn't left blank.

 

That's a toughie. You're right about the Linux - under these circumstances, a live distro probably wouldn't help you any more than the OPH...

Looks like you're stuck with the original Vista/XP dilemma.

 

Thanks Plodr. but I nuked it. I couldn't get past the log in in Safe Mode. Whatever I did screwed things up enough that I couldn't find a password for Admin using Ophcrack and I couldn't log in as a user with the security log full.

Now I just have to rebuild from the beginning. Pain in the ***, but I'm already up and running instead of spending time trying to figure the mess out.

Thanks for the attempts at help everyone!