[RESOLVED] Hidden Admin account

[foxy]

I was using the Elevated Comm Prompt, of which I have the shortcut on my desktop.
So in the Admin Comm Prompt: the same, can't be found

Users: I'm Prize-02.
Built-in Admin is Hidden Admin.
2nd Test User is just that, made after Win told me the 1st one couldn't be loaded. Tells me the same for this one. I'm not sure what I would use it for anyway.

I would never redo this machine unless something catastrophic happened to it, provided the Gateway was 100% capable of taking over for a few weeks. Inability to install 2 optional programs isn't catastrophic.

[foxy]

Are you retired?

[jdc2000]

No wonder the command did not work. It looks like you changed the name of the hidden Administrator account. It should be named Administrator.

[foxy]

I didn't change it, that was the name I gave it. I didn't know.

Fixed it, rebooted, Admin acct still black, useless except CTL+ALT+DEL.

Just leave it, it's OK. Computing is a no-win situation. By the time you get your machine tweaked exactly the way you want it, it either dies, gets screwed up by bugs or updates, or they force you to use a new OS. Both these machines are 10-years old...

Thanks for your patience.:-)

[SpywareDr]

Computing is a no-win situation. By the time you get your machine tweaked exactly the way you want it, it either dies, gets screwed up by bugs or updates, or they force you to use a new OS.

It's more of an endless game of cat and mouse. If you can figure out a way to stop the hackers, malware creators, Et al., our computing lives would be so much easier.

[foxy]

The hackers are only half of it. The other half is getting the machine to run properly.

Other computer, set up recently, no time to acquire bugs:
same problem: Admin account black desktop
Can't install Macrium Reflect on either account. I "don't have enough permission to set up the shortcut in the Start Menu." Yes, I rt-clicked Run as Admin.

Installed Easeus instead.

[SpywareDr]

Is there a hardware problem somewhere? Software will never run perfectly on imperfect hardware.

[foxy]

I have no idea, nothing in Device Manager, and even refurb computers aren't in my budget. But I use the Hidden Admin so seldom that I'm not pursuing this any more. Ditto .msi programs. I'm just ticked off in general because for anyone except pro techies, computing is a Sisyphean pastime.

[jdc2000]

I'm just ticked off in general because for anyone except pro techies, computing is a Sisyphean pastime.

Even for us, it is the same.

It is issues like this that explains the need for regular boot drive image backups.

[SpywareDr]

Yep, I agree jdc

Most everything man I own requires some kind of maintenance. Also seems the more I use it, the more maintenance it requires. Heck, even me.

[foxy]

HP--This has been going on almost since the received the computer 2 years ago.

Gateway--I just set it up a few weeks ago and the Admin was blank from the start. I just made my first image.

[SpywareDr]

When you purchase a new product and it does not work correctly, you are due a refund or replacement.

[foxy]

Both of these machines are 10-years-old, and I'm not the original owner, which is why I'm willing to let non-essential problems pass, as long as they perform what I need.

[SpywareDr]

Omg, you've been fighting with this for 10 years? Once again, software cannot fix imperfect and/or incompatible hardware. If you don't have a good solid hardware foundation, it's just going to keep trying to fall down.

Start with, or take it back down to, bare bones out on a table. Nothing but:

motherboard (on a non-conductive surface),
CPU (w/heatsink),
RAM,
PSU,
video,
keyboard and mouse.

-- BTW, all of this hardware needs to be proven, (good reputation), and known-good, (working, no defects) hardware. Not something picked up on eBay for $1.99, shipping included.

Now see if it will boot into the BIOS. If not, try different PSU and/or RAM. Once you do get into the BIOS, reset the BIOS to factory default.

Next try running an Operating System (*nix) from a bootable USB flash drive. Exercise it some (web) and then leave it running overnight. If it's still where you left it the night before, excellent.

Power down, hook up your drive with Windows on it and try the same, (exercise it, web, games, whatever), and leave it running overnight. If it's fine the next morning, you're getting close.

Power down and carefully reassemble everything back inside the case. As you continue beyond the above bare minimum though, only add one or two pieces of hardware at a time and then test to make sure what was added isn't causing problems. Add another piece or two, test, ... you get the idea ...

Note: Windows 10 is not (yet?) a reliable Operating System.

[foxy]

No, not 10 years. See my post #26. It was refurbed by a guy who knows as much as you, and raffled off in the monthly raffle of my computer club, in perfect working condition. But I have it over 2 years now.

The Gateway was owned by a customer, originally a Vista that I wiped and installed Win7 in. It's possible there's a hardware problem, but it's not that important. It does what I need to do. I'm still working to supplement my Social Security and I have other priorities in my life. You guys see only one aspect of me

If this problem were easily doable, fine. But I'm not disassembling them. And I'm never moving to Win 10, so stop holding your breath.

Thanks to you both for your time.