Setup During Install Creating the Administrator Name and Password

RickR · 12 Mar 2011

I just purchased a new HP laptop that has Windows 7 Home Premium install setup on the hard drive. I started and completed the installation. But I don't remember during the install asking me for an Administrator Name & Password. After the installation was completed I did the Recovery Disks, but have not yet rebooted the laptop. When is the Admin Name and Password created? I remember seeing a Rick-PC during the install, but I don't remember it asking for me to input a password. Am I fretting prematurely, or do I need to reboot, or can I use the Recovery Disks to start over?

I've been using an old PC with Windows XP. And I checked out 3 books on Windows 7 at the Library. But I couldn't find the answer to the question.

Your advice is appreciated

Rick

Orbital Shark · 12 Mar 2011

Hi, welcome to the forums :)

The Administrator account is created by default and is hidden by default with no password required. You can check the status of your own account in Control Panel > User Accounts and Family Safety to see if yours has been assigned a password, but it wouldn't have unless you input it yourself.

The admin account has 100% rights to do/run anything on a machine without prompting for permission to change/move/delete/install.

You can even enable/disable the built in Administrator account

Built-in Administrator Account - Enable or Disable

Hope this answers your question :)

OS

theog · 12 Mar 2011

Do you remember seeing those two screens in Steps 11 & 12 in this tutorial:
Clean Install Windows 7

gregrocker · 12 Mar 2011

I believe you are talking about the setup phase for a factory preinstalled Win7.

It should have asked you for your name, or it will remain Owner which is the normal factory preinstalled default.

This is an Administrative-level account which means it will recognize User Account Controls, whereas enabling the Hidden Administrator will disable UAC which is not recommended except for the most experienced Users (you know who you are

).

Look under Control Panel>User Accounts to see what accounts exist. You can change the Account Name there.

You can also change the Computer name at Computer>Properties.

Here are tips for cleaning up factory bloatware with an eye to best performance.