[TUT] Administrator Access For XP Users

at times there are problems with removing files, or accessing files, due to insufficient privileges, meaning you need to be the Administrator of your computer to do what you're trying to do, even tho your Windows User Account says "Computer Administrator".

You guessed it (probably not) but you're NOT on THE Administrator account required to do what you're trying to do. Yes windows gives you administrator privileges, but they are limited due to the money that goes into computer repair.. this is a tutorial on how to access the Administrator account on your computer so that you have complete control.

1: Click "Start">"Run..." and enter "regedit" << no quotes

2: You need to find and access the UserList so click these drop down menus in this order: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE, SOFTWARE, Microsoft, Windows NT, CurrentVersion, Winlogon, SpecialAccounts, THEN select the folder UserList

3: Right click anywhere beneath the list given in this folder, highlight "New >" click DWORD Value, and name it "Administrator" < no quotes

4: Double click your new DWORD Value and change the Value Data from 0 to 1

5: Your Administrator account is now active, BUT THERE'S THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW AND DO BEFORE YOU ACCESS IT!!


If you are on XP Home edition, you can only access this account through Safe Mode, so this is only useful to force delete files that you dont want on your system, but each computer system is different on how to access safe mode, so im not gonna bother with how to do it, you can simply google it if you really dont know

If you are on XP Professional you have to DISABLE "Fast User Switching" before you're able to access the account.. this is the same for all systems so here's what you do:

1: Go into your Control Panel and open up "User Accounts"

2: Under "Pick a task", click "Change the way users log on or off"

3: Uncheck the box "Use Fast User Switching"

4: log off, and log onto Administrator account

If you wish this to be exclusive to you only and hide this from friends/family then all you need to do is go back into RegEdit, your position at the UserList should be saved, and simply double click the REG_DWORD "Administrator" that you just created and change the value from 1 back to 0.. Home users dont really have to worry about this since its only accessible through safe mode, but you can never be too safe..

If you're on XP Pro and its rare when somebody besides you uses your computer, but u still want to keep this account private just in case, without having to go through RegEdit just to be able to access it, then follow the instructions to turn off Fast User Switching, and just above the checkbox for Fast User Switching there is another checkbox for using the Welcome Screen.. uncheck this.. that will force you to type in the User Name of the account you want to access, then you can just put a password on the Administrator account

IF YOU ARE ON Vista / Windows 7, THIS IS OF NO USE TO YOU AT ALL!!! Sorry.