Member Avatar for taygun

I was trying to avoid having to log on to anything when I start my computer and just go straight to the main screen. By mistake i changed the administrator to a limited account and now I can't change it. I tried to add a new user but it won't let me access anything. How can I change the administrator from limited back to computer administrator.
Thanks
Helen

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Dani AI

Generated

Short expert summary and recovery options that build on , and without repeating their suggestions.

If Safe Mode gives you a usable Administrator account (as others mentioned) use that to restore the original account to Administrators via Control Panel (XP Home) or Computer Management (XP Pro). If Safe Mode does not help — for example the built-in Administrator has a password or no account currently sits in the Administrators group — follow the safe recovery paths below.

  1. Offline password-reset utility (most straightforward for home machines)
  • On another PC, create bootable media from an offline tool such as the Offline NT Password & Registry Editor (or a password-recovery ISO).
  • Boot the affected machine from that media, pick the Windows partition, select the local user account and clear/reset its password, then write changes and reboot.
  • After logging in as the recovered Administrator, restore administrative rights via Control Panel or add your user to Administrators with a command such as net localgroup Administrators YourUserName /add. Use control userpasswords2 or the User Accounts UI to re-enable automatic login if desired.
  1. If the above cannot restore administrative membership
  • Use a Linux live CD/USB to copy important data off the drive first.
  • Perform a Windows XP repair-install if you have the original XP CD and product key (this preserves programs and data more often than a full reinstall). If repair-install is not feasible, back up and do a full reinstall.

Cautions and notes

  • Password-reset tools can damage the registry if interrupted; always back up critical data first.
  • Corporate or managed devices may have additional protections — contact the administrator.
  • If more precise steps are needed (XP Home vs Pro, whether you have the XP CD, or whether the built-in Administrator was renamed), those details change the recommended sequence.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for CimmerianX

There must be another administrator account on the machine that you would need to use. A limited user can not grant himself admin rights.

Usually, the PC must have at least 1 admin account... I don't think windows would let you demote all accounts to limited user, so there must be another account on there...

Member Avatar for Xlphos

Hello,

Try booting into windows in safe mode, there maybe a administrator account; this doesn't usually have a password.

Then you can assign administrative rights back to the your user account.

- Let us know how it goes.

Member Avatar for gerbil

Safe mode. There WILL be an ADMINISTRATOR account there - you cannot delete that one.

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