Tip 65: Where is Administrator in XP?

On Windows XP Professional computers, when they are a member of a workgroup, you have the option of using the new, "friendly logon" interface as opposed to the classic Windows logon interface.

After you have added a second user that also has administrative privileges, the built-in Administrator account does no longer appear during the friendly logon sequence.

Here’s a little trick that will allow you to logon with the built-in Administrator account:

  • Press the CTRL+ALT+DELETE key combination twice during the friendly logon interface and you will be presented with the conventional Windows 2000 logon interface.
Now you can enter any existing UserID, including the built-in Administrator to logon with.