Everyone, thanks for the help. I will see if Office Depot can help remove the Admin -- since I don't have a Win 10 disc.
SoFine409, nice cat. I used to have one like it.
Try3 -- that info is exactly what I needed. If I need more help, I will make a separate post. Thanks again, Linda
Linda,
If popping down to Office depot is convenient for you then fine. Do be careful to give them precise instructions so they do not go off and reinstall Windows or anything drastic like that.
- Tell them that you want them to create two local password-protected Admin accounts. And tell them that if they enable the "Built-in Admin account" for the job then they are to disable it when they have finished.
- Give them a piece of paper with your chosen account names & passwords on [and make a second copy for yourself]. The names are not significant, Admin1 & Admin2 could be fine. Make sure the passwords use no characters that can be misread like 1l 0O
- You can change the passwords yourself later on if you are worried about store staff knowing them.
While you are there, buy a USB stick of at least 8GB so you can consider making an installation USB yourself later on. It is a very useful repair tool as a well as an installation tool.
How urgent is this?
Are you used to following step-by-step procedures accurately?
Do you have a USB stick of at least 8GB to use? [All its existing contents will be erased]
I've just been playing around with how to make an installation USB without needing any admin permission [I'm still testing it].
Denis
Me again. Bob says we ordered the computer online - so taking it back to the store is out.
Try3, if I buy a "Recovery, Repair & Re-install disc compatible with MS Win 10 32/64 bit" will that work?
About "Recovery, Repair & Re-install disc compatible with MS Win 10 32/64 bit" - That's not a proper name so I don't know what's on it. If it's an online description then by all means post the link so I can have a look to figure out what it is.
If you want to get an 8GB USB and do it all yourself then you can.
I appreciate that the simplest solution is to borrow or buy an installation disk [USB].
You might even consider taking it to any local computer technician and ask them to create the Admin accounts. I don't know how much they'll charge though.
Denis
Here is the link from Walmart.
Windows 10 Home 32/64 Bit Install, Repair, Recover & Restore DVD - Walmart.com - Walmart.com
If I need to buy the whole Win 10 disc I can. I just don't know if I need it or part of it.
We have several USB 'thingys'. (Dang I feel so dumb, sorry).
I assume your computer has a DVD drive. [I only mention that because mine don't]
The diagrams shown on that product page confirm that it can be used for the current job.
I think this will be your simplest & cheapest option.
We can check your USB thing-a-me-jigs afterwards if you like.
The Walmart thing does not mention what Windows 10 Version it is but that does not affect the particular job you are about to do.
- I will probably nag you later on about making a USB yourself to cover any future needs.
- The current Version is 21H1 and a new one is expected within a month or so.
- Once you have made your own installation USB you will think it's a breeze to do it but I appreciate that resolving the current problem is a higher priority.
Denis
Thanks Denis. We've ordered the Walmart restore/repair disk and will get it in a couple of days. Take a break and I will get back with you in a few.
Understood.
I'll post a couple of checks for you to do first so you don't get any surprises when you use it -
1 Check whether your Windows is 32 or 64 bit [I can explain how to check this if you don't know].
2 Tell me if you have ever booted your computer from a DVD/USB or if you do not know how to set it up to be able to [or you can just wait for the DVD and just try it then post back if necessary].
I've been playing with the Walmart diagrams so I can show you in a post what will happen and what you need to choose at each step.
Denis
1. It's a 64 bit
2. Never.
Understood.
Computers are normally set to boot from their internal hard drive.
It is possible to set them up so that they boot automatically from a DVD / USB if one happens to be connected.
- I don't know how yours is set up. There'd be nothing wrong with just waiting for the DVD to arrive, putting it in and booting to find out what happens.
- If yours was set up the right way in the first place then all well & good.
- If not then some "Bios" settings may need to be changed to make it boot from a DVD/USB.
The keys you will need to tap during bootup to do this vary between brands; I do not know what brand or model yours is.
- The two keys you need to know about are the "Bios key" and the "Boot options menu key".
- Look in your computer manual to see if it tells you which keys to use.
- If the info is not there then look in your computer maker's support website and/or their user forum [assuming they have one - most do]. The necessary info will definitely be there.
- When you find the info it might well be in a procedure already written out for your specific computer model that explains everything about booting from a DVD/USB. If so save that article [possibly by "printing to PDF"] and post its internet address here so I can also read it and guide you through it.
Every "Bios" and every "Boot options menu" has a way of letting you leave it without changing anything [so you can boot into Windows normally].
So, once you find out what the keys are, there's nothing wrong with trying them just to have a look. But don't change anything.
- All "Bioses" and "Boot options menus" differ so I cannot say in advance exactly what you will see.
- If you have a smartphone or a digital camera, you could take photos of the "Bios" opening screen and the "Boot options menu" so any comments I make can have fewer ifs, buts & maybes in them.
Denis
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