Administrator/User question Pro 2000

portchieboy

Probably won't be able to explain this one too well.

A friend has a PC bought 3rd hand, originally Networked in a Government dept. Whilst the contents were wiped, the setup was still as an Administrator, and the PC logged on within the user set up as 'Administrator', with no password needed, ie only the one User defined.

Now, a day or 2 ago the whole lot crashed. He could still boot up, but the Desktop visible was very basic, none of his normal icons, and there was a Windows box asking him to Register. Obviously not possible. Trying to help!!!!! I managed to find all his saved files, under something like Desktop/Administrator, and could access them through a search.

So, I managed to drag them out on to the 'new' desktop, fine. Until I rebooted, and lost everything again! Also, same with his Broadband, recovered, but lost on reboot.

Thought, why not set up a new User and get PC to open up there instead od Administrator, or this 'temporary' type facility. So I went through Control Panel, set up a new user and had to password it. Sorted.

No it wasn't. Good idea, opened up the new User but now, it seems all the files were logged under Administrator only, and I canoot get into them for him. All the time now, the system demands an Administrator password.

I think the answer is no, but is there any way at all to reverse this, and access/copy out the files? I think Trev needs to buy an Operating system , and have someone wipe the Hard Drive and start again. However, I would like to be able to get the files back for him first.

Remembering I am not in front of his PC., has anyone got any great ideas please.

Thank you.

MadCowMan

Sounds like a tricky one.


My recovery plan would probably be somethign along the lines of
Botting up with a Linux LiveCd / Windows PE disk

copy saved data off onto Flahs drive / External drive dependingo n the volume of data.

Reinstall

What applications does your friend need ?

If its just Office / Internet , then It may be worth considering using something likeUbuntu Linux - its suprisingly straightforward to install , and comes with most of the applications a basic user needs.

Back to the windows 2k box - is it still joined to a domain ? ( ie at the login screen do they get a 2 or a 3 bar login ? )

it sounds like its trying to create a new profile ( hence the basic desktop )

You could also set the new user up as an admin .

have your friend log in as admin , then right click on "My Computer" and select manage.

expans the local users and groups , then click on groups.

select the Administrators group ,and add the new username to it.

at least that way he'll have the same privilages as the administrator account , albeit with a new profile.

geordie_joe

I am assuming the fies you want to get are in the administrators folder, and when you log on as a user you don't have permission to access these files? Am I right.

If this is the case, visit this site and download Bart PE.

Bart PE comes as a CD image, so you have to burn it onto a CD (using something like Nero or Easy CD) to use it. be sure to read the Getting Started section before you start.

Once you have the Bart PE CD use it to boot up the computer. Then click start and open the A3 file manager. From here you will be able to access any folder on the CD.

Just create a new folder in C: and copy all the file into it. Then you can reboot and logon as a user and have access to the files in the new folder.

portchieboy

Thank you.

Being almost as non techie as you can get, do you think if I act blonde on the CD forum somebody will help?