Tell me more ×
Super User is a question and answer site for computer enthusiasts and power users. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 2 down vote favorite

I've just installed a windows 7 professional x64 [on my netbook], and started a program installer as a normal user (edit: whose account type is admin), that should have been started as administrator.

Thus windows gave me the choice to run this application as Administrator or as a normal user, and prompted for the admin password.

Now I do not recall setting any Administrator password during installation.

  • Does the Administrator user have a password? How can I find out that password?
  • Do I need to reset its password? How?
  • When was this user created? Why did I haven't noticed?
  • Does the Administrator user[1] impose a security risk if I am unaware of its existence?

+1

  • Does it have anything to do with me not formatting a previous 7 installation?[2] The setup told me it will be renamed to "windows.old" and that I cannot start it any more.

[1]: of a default installation naively executed by me "next-next-finish" style

[2]: I didn't want to format the drive as setup suggested that the manufacturer may have copied files to it that are important. It sounded reasonable but I couldn't check during installation so I skipped formatting.

share|improve this question
1  
Does it work if you enter your user (whose account is type admin) password as the admin password? It might be asking not for the password of the "administrator" account, but the password of the account which is trying to execute the program, which also must be an administrator account. – Darth Android May 28 '12 at 8:05
It's a "Run as" dialog. While it's asking for the password for "Administrator", I can change the username, too. It works if I run as with my original "admin-type" user. On the other hand, the password for "Administrator" and how such user even exists is still an unknown area this way. – naxa May 29 '12 at 10:50

1 Answer

up vote 2 down vote accepted

Your windows 7 default administrator account is set to disabled by default and doesn't have a password unless your computer was set up by a system admin(i.e a work laptop), if it asks for an admin account your account should be set as an admin privileged account.

Check from windows user accounts control pannel, if it is just put your user name and password into the password prompt box on the installer.

share|improve this answer
Does "doesn't have a password" means that if I enable the account (and don't set a password), anyone could get full control of my system? Perhaps remotely? – naxa May 29 '12 at 10:52
1  
No, to log into Windows Remotely - No-1 Would have to have Remote Access Enabled No-2 You can only access Remotly with a user that has a password. – Ryan Jeremiah Freeman Jun 29 '12 at 13:24
Thanks! Good to know, a decent default policy. – naxa Jun 29 '12 at 14:41

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.