hi all,
when I bought my PC winXPpro was pre-installed and I had access with the
Administrators account. Following the recommendations I renamed it and have
since then used it for day to day use of the PC.
Recent publications relating to on-line security led me to change it to a
'Limited User' account. (Obviously I had to set up an 'Administrator' account
first).
So far so good---- except that with the 'Limited User'account I intended to
continue to use everyday, I now I don't have access to the very programs I
need to do just that.
Help needed urgently - please
thank you
Steph wrote:
> when I bought my PC winXPpro was pre-installed and I had access
> with the Administrators account. Following the recommendations I
> renamed it and have since then used it for day to day use of the PC.
The 'recommendations' to rename the built-in 'administrator' account is
called 'security by obscurity' and will only keep out people who have *no
idea* what they are doing when it comes to getting into a system. Not to
mention that renaming it and then continuing to utilize it daily pretty much
eliminates the entire (albeit small) usefulness of such a strategy.
> Recent publications relating to on-line security led me to change
> it to a 'Limited User' account. (Obviously I had to set up an
> 'Administrator' account first).
'Recent'? Since the beginning of the time when systems had users with more
power than others - it has ALWAYS been recommended you run with the least
priviledges possible on an everyday basis - only utilizing the higher
priviledged accounts when you needed to do something specific. This is not
just for the security of the system - but its stability as well. It's
harder to 'accidentally erase a bunch of system necessary files' if you
don't have the power to do so. ;-)
> So far so good---- except that with the 'Limited User'account I
> intended to continue to use everyday, I now I don't have access to
> the very programs I need to do just that.
What do *you* mean by 'don't have access'?
Do you mean to the shortcuts that make it easier to run said applications -
or do you mean to the files/folders that actually comprise the applications
themselves?
> Steph wrote:
> > when I bought my PC winXPpro was pre-installed and I had access
> > with the Administrators account. Following the recommendations I
> > renamed it and have since then used it for day to day use of the PC.
>
> The 'recommendations' to rename the built-in 'administrator' account is
> called 'security by obscurity' and will only keep out people who have *no
> idea* what they are doing when it comes to getting into a system. Not to
> mention that renaming it and then continuing to utilize it daily pretty much
> eliminates the entire (albeit small) usefulness of such a strategy.
> >>Well, thats what the technician in the shop where I bought the PC had done.
I might be naive but I trust the 'professionals' to do the correct thing and
give propper advice.
> > Recent publications relating to on-line security led me to change
> > it to a 'Limited User' account. (Obviously I had to set up an
> > 'Administrator' account first).
>
> 'Recent'? Since the beginning of the time when systems had users with more
> power than others - it has ALWAYS been recommended you run with the least
> priviledges possible on an everyday basis - only utilizing the higher
> priviledged accounts when you needed to do something specific. This is not
> just for the security of the system - but its stability as well. It's
> harder to 'accidentally erase a bunch of system necessary files' if you
> don't have the power to do so. ;-)
>
> > So far so good---- except that with the 'Limited User'account I
> > intended to continue to use everyday, I now I don't have access to
> > the very programs I need to do just that.
>
> What do *you* mean by 'don't have access'?
>
> Do you mean to the shortcuts that make it easier to run said applications -
> or do you mean to the files/folders that actually comprise the applications
> themselves?
>
>>> Microsoft Office just is not there anymore, I can't open any of my files nor get to my e-mail (Outlook), the shortcut to Windows MediaPlayer was invalid and after pointing to its application I got 'access is denied' after clicking it, Firefox, VectorWorks,TurboCash have disappeared completely.
The above pertains to the 'Limited account' only, all is still available in
the 'Administrator' account --
Cheers,Steph
"Steph" <Steph@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:53277BAD-9349-4F86-901A-9ADE2DF63FDC@microsoft.com...
> "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
>
>> Steph wrote:
>> > when I bought my PC winXPpro was pre-installed and I had access
>> > with the Administrators account. Following the recommendations I
>> > renamed it and have since then used it for day to day use of the PC.
>>
>> The 'recommendations' to rename the built-in 'administrator' account is
>> called 'security by obscurity' and will only keep out people who have *no
>> idea* what they are doing when it comes to getting into a system. Not to
>> mention that renaming it and then continuing to utilize it daily pretty
>> much
>> eliminates the entire (albeit small) usefulness of such a strategy.
>
>> >>Well, thats what the technician in the shop where I bought the PC had
>> >>done.
> I might be naive but I trust the 'professionals' to do the correct thing
> and
> give propper advice.
>
>> > Recent publications relating to on-line security led me to change
>> > it to a 'Limited User' account. (Obviously I had to set up an
>> > 'Administrator' account first).
>>
>> 'Recent'? Since the beginning of the time when systems had users with
>> more
>> power than others - it has ALWAYS been recommended you run with the least
>> priviledges possible on an everyday basis - only utilizing the higher
>> priviledged accounts when you needed to do something specific. This is
>> not
>> just for the security of the system - but its stability as well. It's
>> harder to 'accidentally erase a bunch of system necessary files' if you
>> don't have the power to do so. ;-)
>>
>> > So far so good---- except that with the 'Limited User'account I
>> > intended to continue to use everyday, I now I don't have access to
>> > the very programs I need to do just that.
>>
>> What do *you* mean by 'don't have access'?
>>
>> Do you mean to the shortcuts that make it easier to run said
>> applications -
>> or do you mean to the files/folders that actually comprise the
>> applications
>> themselves?
>>
>>>> Microsoft Office just is not there anymore, I can't open any of my
>>>> files nor get to my e-mail (Outlook), the shortcut to Windows
>>>> MediaPlayer was invalid and after pointing to its application I got
>>>> 'access is denied' after clicking it, Firefox, VectorWorks,TurboCash
>>>> have disappeared completely.
> The above pertains to the 'Limited account' only, all is still available
> in
> the 'Administrator' account --
> Cheers,Steph
>
>> Shenan Stanley
>> MS-MVP
>> --
>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>>
>>
>>
Somebody changed the permissions on you. Someone also changed some
shortcuts so that they only appear in the Administrator account.
Thus you are in for some extensive repair.
You need to examine the permissions on the programs to make certain that the
Limited account has the required permissions.
You need to examine all shortcuts because someone changed the paths to the
files.
You need to run all of the programs to make certain that all of the required
files can be accessed by the limited account.
In short, it does seem that someone discovered that you had left a gaping
hole in the security of your computer by continuing to use the Administrator
account. And this person
proceeded to create many problems for you.
>
> "Steph" <Steph@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:53277BAD-9349-4F86-901A-9ADE2DF63FDC@microsoft.com...
> > "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
> >
> >> Steph wrote:
> >> > when I bought my PC winXPpro was pre-installed and I had access
> >> > with the Administrators account. Following the recommendations I
> >> > renamed it and have since then used it for day to day use of the PC.
> >>
> >> The 'recommendations' to rename the built-in 'administrator' account is
> >> called 'security by obscurity' and will only keep out people who have *no
> >> idea* what they are doing when it comes to getting into a system. Not to
> >> mention that renaming it and then continuing to utilize it daily pretty
> >> much
> >> eliminates the entire (albeit small) usefulness of such a strategy.
> >
> >> >>Well, thats what the technician in the shop where I bought the PC had
> >> >>done.
> > I might be naive but I trust the 'professionals' to do the correct thing
> > and
> > give propper advice.
> >
> >> > Recent publications relating to on-line security led me to change
> >> > it to a 'Limited User' account. (Obviously I had to set up an
> >> > 'Administrator' account first).
> >>
> >> 'Recent'? Since the beginning of the time when systems had users with
> >> more
> >> power than others - it has ALWAYS been recommended you run with the least
> >> priviledges possible on an everyday basis - only utilizing the higher
> >> priviledged accounts when you needed to do something specific. This is
> >> not
> >> just for the security of the system - but its stability as well. It's
> >> harder to 'accidentally erase a bunch of system necessary files' if you
> >> don't have the power to do so. ;-)
> >>
> >> > So far so good---- except that with the 'Limited User'account I
> >> > intended to continue to use everyday, I now I don't have access to
> >> > the very programs I need to do just that.
> >>
> >> What do *you* mean by 'don't have access'?
> >>
> >> Do you mean to the shortcuts that make it easier to run said
> >> applications -
> >> or do you mean to the files/folders that actually comprise the
> >> applications
> >> themselves?
> >>
> >>>> Microsoft Office just is not there anymore, I can't open any of my
> >>>> files nor get to my e-mail (Outlook), the shortcut to Windows
> >>>> MediaPlayer was invalid and after pointing to its application I got
> >>>> 'access is denied' after clicking it, Firefox, VectorWorks,TurboCash
> >>>> have disappeared completely.
> > The above pertains to the 'Limited account' only, all is still available
> > in
> > the 'Administrator' account --
> > Cheers,Steph
> >
> >> Shenan Stanley
> >> MS-MVP
> >> --
> >> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> >> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
> >>
> >>
> >>
> Somebody changed the permissions on you. Someone also changed some
> shortcuts so that they only appear in the Administrator account.
>
> Thus you are in for some extensive repair.
>
> You need to examine the permissions on the programs to make certain that the
> Limited account has the required permissions.
> You need to examine all shortcuts because someone changed the paths to the
> files.
> You need to run all of the programs to make certain that all of the required
> files can be accessed by the limited account.
>
> In short, it does seem that someone discovered that you had left a gaping
> hole in the security of your computer by continuing to use the Administrator
> account. And this person
> proceeded to create many problems for you.
>
> There is nothing here that cannot be fixed.
>
> Jim
>
>
> Thanks Jim,
fat load of help that is , though :-))
is there by any chance an app to scan the computer and bring all the
permissions , policies and whatnot back to their virgin state automatically?
so that one can start afresh, so to speak?
>
>
> "Jim" wrote:
>
> >
> > "Steph" <Steph@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:53277BAD-9349-4F86-901A-9ADE2DF63FDC@microsoft.com...
> > > "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
> > >
> > >> Steph wrote:
> > >> > when I bought my PC winXPpro was pre-installed and I had access
> > >> > with the Administrators account. Following the recommendations I
> > >> > renamed it and have since then used it for day to day use of the PC.
> > >>
> > >> The 'recommendations' to rename the built-in 'administrator' account is
> > >> called 'security by obscurity' and will only keep out people who have *no
> > >> idea* what they are doing when it comes to getting into a system. Not to
> > >> mention that renaming it and then continuing to utilize it daily pretty
> > >> much
> > >> eliminates the entire (albeit small) usefulness of such a strategy.
> > >
> > >> >>Well, thats what the technician in the shop where I bought the PC had
> > >> >>done.
> > > I might be naive but I trust the 'professionals' to do the correct thing
> > > and
> > > give propper advice.
> > >
> > >> > Recent publications relating to on-line security led me to change
> > >> > it to a 'Limited User' account. (Obviously I had to set up an
> > >> > 'Administrator' account first).
> > >>
> > >> 'Recent'? Since the beginning of the time when systems had users with
> > >> more
> > >> power than others - it has ALWAYS been recommended you run with the least
> > >> priviledges possible on an everyday basis - only utilizing the higher
> > >> priviledged accounts when you needed to do something specific. This is
> > >> not
> > >> just for the security of the system - but its stability as well. It's
> > >> harder to 'accidentally erase a bunch of system necessary files' if you
> > >> don't have the power to do so. ;-)
> > >>
> > >> > So far so good---- except that with the 'Limited User'account I
> > >> > intended to continue to use everyday, I now I don't have access to
> > >> > the very programs I need to do just that.
> > >>
> > >> What do *you* mean by 'don't have access'?
> > >>
> > >> Do you mean to the shortcuts that make it easier to run said
> > >> applications -
> > >> or do you mean to the files/folders that actually comprise the
> > >> applications
> > >> themselves?
> > >>
> > >>>> Microsoft Office just is not there anymore, I can't open any of my
> > >>>> files nor get to my e-mail (Outlook), the shortcut to Windows
> > >>>> MediaPlayer was invalid and after pointing to its application I got
> > >>>> 'access is denied' after clicking it, Firefox, VectorWorks,TurboCash
> > >>>> have disappeared completely.
> > > The above pertains to the 'Limited account' only, all is still available
> > > in
> > > the 'Administrator' account --
> > > Cheers,Steph
> > >
> > >> Shenan Stanley
> > >> MS-MVP
> > >> --
> > >> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> > >> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > Somebody changed the permissions on you. Someone also changed some
> > shortcuts so that they only appear in the Administrator account.
> >
> > Thus you are in for some extensive repair.
> >
> > You need to examine the permissions on the programs to make certain that the
> > Limited account has the required permissions.
> > You need to examine all shortcuts because someone changed the paths to the
> > files.
> > You need to run all of the programs to make certain that all of the required
> > files can be accessed by the limited account.
> >
> > In short, it does seem that someone discovered that you had left a gaping
> > hole in the security of your computer by continuing to use the Administrator
> > account. And this person
> > proceeded to create many problems for you.
> >
> > There is nothing here that cannot be fixed.
> >
> > Jim
> >
> >
> > Thanks Jim,
> fat load of help that is , though :-))
> is there by any chance an app to scan the computer and bring all the
> permissions , policies and whatnot back to their virgin state automatically?
> so that one can start afresh, so to speak?
Hi Steph.
Basically what looks to have happened here is "not" that someone has gotten
into your system and changed your settings. What looks to have happened is
that when you changed the "built in administrator" to a user account its
permissions got ******* up. What is probably the best thing to do is log
onto your current admin account, put the original admin account back to an
admin. And Create a New Limited Account and copy your files into that
Profile.
Redeeming this situation might be difficult, I'd suggets creating a new user
and starting from there.
When I setup a computer I create a user OTHER than Adminstrator, and
initially make that user a member of the Adminstrators group. This makes it
easier to do the setup than if the user is limited. (In which case you are
forever logging-on, logging-off..) Once everything's working then (if
required) I pull that user out of the Admins group.
I would never user the actual Administrator account for anything other than
emergency repair.
user setup 
Linear Mode
