Can't Log In as Administrator

Question

I bought a used GX-110 at a swap meet. XP Pro was installed, but no CD's were provided. I'm identified as "user". I want to go to Administrator so I can change the drive letter of the CD before adding logical partitions. No luck, so far. I tried setup, but nothing is said about administrator. I tried cntrl-alt-del twice at the welcome screen, and the Windows Task Manager screen appears. I selected the Applications tab, but can't type anything. I tried new task, and the create new task window appears. It doesn't like Administrator as a task. There's also a users tab, with a long user ID there, but keyboard doesn't work again. Otherwise, everything seems to work ok. I can install new programs, etc.

Any suggestions. Assuming I'm unsuccessful, is it ok to have the D drive as the CD ROM and the E drive as a logical drive?
Jim

Denny Denham · Answer

Jim Hill,

I don't know of any way to disable the prompt to log in as Administrator by pressing Ctrl-Alt-Delete twice. Is it possible that the system has Windows XP Home Edition on it. If so, you must boot to Safe Mode to log in as Administrator.

Jim Hill · Answer

The XP screen says XP Professional. I decided to try the Safe mode, but can't log into that mode. Pressing F8 while the Dell logo is visible does nothing. I wasn't able to find any safe mode info in the GX-110 on-line manual. I'm able to log into the setup screen using F2. Can a "user" log into the Safe mode?
Jim

Denny Denham · Answer

Jim Hill, Any user can log in to Safe Mode. Begin tapping the F8 key when the system starts and the start menu should appear.

gryjhnhpe · Answer

Jim Hill wrote: .....Otherwise, everything seems to work ok. I can install new programs, etc.
Any suggestions. Assuming I'm unsuccessful, is it ok to have the D drive as the CD ROM and the E drive as a logical drive?

You can't usually Install new Programs if your account is set as "Limited" , you usually have to have a Computer/Administrator account type.?

What do you get when you try "Control Panel" > "User Accounts" , does it show all accounts or just your account , named user , type "Limited Account".

I assume you meant "Assuming I'm successful" , yes you can have the CD-ROM as D drive & a Logical partition as E drive , if those letters aren't already used.

Jim Hill · Answer

After more experimentation:
The following approach sometimes gets me in the Safe Mode:
When Dell window appears, press F7, F6, F5, F4, F3 in rapid succession

DOS screen appears, saying
Please select the operating system to start.

Microsoft Windows XP Professional (highlighted, and the only choice)

Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice.
Press ENTER to choose

For Troubleshooting and advanced startup options for Windows, press F8

I Pressed F8, bringing up the Windows Advanced Options menu

Windows Advanced Options Menu
Please select an option

Safe Mode
Safe Mode with Networking
Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Enable Boot Logging
Enable VGA mode
Last Known Good Configuration (your most recent settings that worked)
Directory Services Restore Mode (Windows domain controllers only)
Debugging Mode

Start Windows Normally
Reboot
Return to OS Choices Menu

Use the up and down arrow keys to move the highlight to your choice

I also discovered I could go to the drive letter change screen after Windows booted normally by going to Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, Storage, Disk Management. Guess I missed this approach earlier.

Fortunately, Control Panel, User Accounts lists administrator

Thanks, everyone Jim

Windows General

Can't Log In as Administrator

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