Re: Changing the Administrator's password

From: Jerry (clancy_at_eartlink.com)
Date: 10/26/05

  • Next message: Shenan Stanley: "Re: Changing the Administrator's password" 
    Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 17:37:51 -0400

    >Jerry wrote:
    >> I run XP Professional on my computer and I'm the only person who uses
    >> this computer. I have a small hard drive, so XP uses the FAT32 file
    >> system. I can't encrypt files using FAT32 as can be done with the
    >> NTFS file syatem so I don't have any password issues to deal with here
    >> ... I do have a third party program that I use to encrypt files tho.
    >> I've recently changed the Administrator's name to something else.
    >>
    >> That's the background ... now for the question:
    >>
    >> Is it safe for me to change the Administrator's (now named something
    >> else) password? To do this I make my own account part of the
    >> Administrator's Group and then try to change the Administrator's
    >> password from my account. When I do this I get a warning that I may
    >> make changes that are irreparable such as losing passwords, etc.
    >> Is this safe to do? Can I change the Administrator's password on a
    >> regular basis or is this something best left alone once set?
    >>
    >> Thanks for any good advice.
    >
    >First - you having a small drive has no affect on you using NTFS or FAT32.

    The size of the hard drive DOES impact whether you are able to use
    NTFS or if you have to use FAT. 8 Gigabyte hard drives are not able
    to use NTFS (for some reason 8 gigs seems to be the cut-off
    point...larger drives are able to use NTFS) ... we are warned about
    that during XP installation and the system will not allow you to
    convert from FAT to NFS after the OS is installed. I know because I
    tried to.

    I bought a comprehensive manual put out by Microsoft ... hardcover, so
    it set me back a touch ... and the instructions in it apply to people
    who have NTFS...leaves me sort of out in the cold as I'm stuck with
    FAT32. Some of the things in there apply to me, but a lot don't and
    it leaves me in the lurch when I have questions.
     
    >You could also log in as the administrator and change it from inside that
    >account.. No warning message if you do it that way.

    I did log on as the Administrator and changed the password from the
    Contol Panel's User Account section...I kept getting error messages
    even tho the first change I made actually went thru. I kept getting
    error messages afterward because I kept inputting the old password
    thinking that it had not been changed already.

    You gave a lot of information on this post and I thankyou for the time
    and effort you put into it. I really appreciate it Shenan.

    >--
    >Shenan Stanley
    > MS-MVP

  • Next message: Shenan Stanley: "Re: Changing the Administrator's password"

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