Corrupted AdministratorAccount

[NicholasM]

The desktop settings for the Administrator (built in) account have somehow become corrupted...when I boot up I get message to this effect and told a temporary setting will be used - but changes cannot be saved..

Short of resinstalling the system or creating another user account with Administrative privledges...Is there anyway of getting back or creating another desktop settings for the built in Administrator..

Thanks for any help

 

[rawmeat]

What OS are you using? With W2k, and NT4 (perhaps XP), you can use the recovery mode of the repair function to delete the SAM file that holds the account and profile info. Doing so will result in all user accounts being deleted, but you can then log into the administrator account with a blank password and it should recreate the profile from the default profile. The SAM file is in winnt\system32\config.

Hope this helps!

 

[NicholasM]

Thanks for your reply...Hate to sound ignorant but where is the RecoveryMode/Repair function?...On bootup?....can I simply delete the SAM file? Im using Windows2000Server

Many thanks
Nick

 

[rawmeat]

Yes, boot to the w2k Cd and choose repair, then choose recovery console. You will need the password for the administrator account, then you can browse to the SAM file and delete it. Reboot without the CD in and it will create a new administrator profile.