unable to logon as administrator

From: John (jmj_at_johnmjacobs.com)
Date: 12/04/03 

Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2003 17:09:18 -0800

>-----Original Message-----
>Hello,
>
> I started having the strangest problem lately.
>The last couple of programs I installed ( games
actually -
> Medal of Honor Breakthrough and Call of Duty) will not
>even load or attempt to start. Instead I get an error
>message of "Access Denied - Please login with
>administrator privileges and try again".
>
> This is a single user computer and I believe I am the
>computer administrator. However I have also tried to
log
>on as "Administrator" (with the appropriate password)
and
>get another error message that says "Logon Message -
>Unable to log you on because of an account restriction".
>
> I have tried changing administrator passwords
>from the DOS window, using the command
>" net user administrator newpassword". This command
>completes successfully but does not help my problem.
>
> The computer is a 1 year old Dell Dimension 8200, P4
>cpu @ 2.53 MHZ, 1 Gig RAM, 120 GB HD, etc, operating
>system is Windows XP Home edition. It is networked
>(hardwired with cable) with an older Dell XPS B800r
>through a Linksys 4 port wireless router.
>
> The only other problem I have had recently is that the
>last 3 "critical updates" for windows will not install.
>They downloaded to my computer OK, but I get an error
>message that the "..install failed.try again". I have
>tried again with same results. I don't know if this
>problem is related to the game not running problem, but
I
>am getting suspicious.
>
> I have searched the knowledge data base and the Dell
>database and the game makers database but cannot find
any
>help for this problem. I think something in the
>operating system (registry??) may be corrupted. I
hope
>you can help with this problem.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Ralph Knight
>
>r.e.knight@juno.coom
>
>
>.
>Ralph,

I had a similar problem six months ago on a Dell Inspiron
8100 running WinXP Pro. Turned out to be a corrupted
profile. Resolution (with LOTS of paid MS Tech Support)
was to create a new Administrator account, save all
profile-dependent info to the desktop, delete the old
profile and, henceforth, log on as the "new" me. Be
careful: Anything restricted to the "old" (like
encrypted files) will be inaccessible to the "new.

I am a novice, so please take with a grain of salt.

Good luck.

John