I am new to computers. I don't know much at all. But I am the administrator
of my shared computer. It seems as though I have been restricted in what I
can access on my screen. I have messed with every setting and have messed up
my comp. Tonight I believe I have discovered the prob. I learned that root
authority overides every thing. I often come accross a encrypted page and can
only read the word root. How can I get rid of being restricted on my own
computer by others who use it. Is there a way to get rid of root. I DO NOT
really know what it is, but would sure like to be in control of my comp again.
thanks

"Root" is the lowest level directory on a drive, and it contains all other
directories. In Windows, root is represented by a \ (backslash). For
example, " C:\ " is the root directory of your C drive. What exactly are
you restricted from viewing? If you have profiles set up for other users,
they have the option of making their files private through encryption.

harry wrote:

> I am new to computers. I don't know much at all. But I am the
> administrator of my shared computer. It seems as though I have been
> restricted in what I can access on my screen. I have messed with every
> setting and have messed up my comp. Tonight I believe I have
> discovered the prob. I learned that root authority overides every
> thing. I often come accross a encrypted page and can only read the
> word root. How can I get rid of being restricted on my own computer by
> others who use it. Is there a way to get rid of root. I DO NOT really
> know what it is, but would sure like to be in control of my comp
> again. thanks

"Root" is the Unix/Linux term that means God on the system, equivalent
to Windows' Administrator. It really isn't possible to tell exactly
what has happened to your computer from the information you've
provided. It sounds very much to me as though your computer has been
compromised, however. You would normally never see anything referring
to a Root account on a Windows machine.

Since you say you are new to computers, my best advice is for you to
take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local
version of BigStoreUSA) and have them take a look at it.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

is there a way for me to look at what root settings are on my computer. how
do i look at what root is on my comp. Again I am new at this, thanks Bob

"Bob Bosco" wrote:

> "Root" is the lowest level directory on a drive, and it contains all other
> directories. In Windows, root is represented by a \ (backslash). For
> example, " C:\ " is the root directory of your C drive. What exactly are
> you restricted from viewing? If you have profiles set up for other users,
> they have the option of making their files private through encryption.

harry wrote:

> is there a way for me to look at what root settings are on my
> computer. how do i look at what root is on my comp. Again I am new at
> this, thanks Bob
>
> "Bob Bosco" wrote:
>
>> "Root" is the lowest level directory on a drive, and it contains all
>> other
>> directories. In Windows, root is represented by a \ (backslash).
>> For
>> example, " C:\ " is the root directory of your C drive. What
>> exactly are
>> you restricted from viewing? If you have profiles set up for other
>> users, they have the option of making their files private through
>> encryption.

There is no user called "root" on a Windows system. If you find one,
then either someone with physical access to the computer is playing a
joke on you or your system has been compromised. There is
Administrator. To log into the Administrator account:

In XP Home, boot the computer into Safe Mode. Do this by repeatedly
tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to
the right menu. Navigate using your Up arrow key; the mouse will not
work here. Once in Safe Mode, you will see the normally hidden
Administrator account. The default password is a blank.

In XP Pro, you do not need to go into Safe Mode. At the Welcome Screen,
do Ctrl-Alt-Del twice to get the classic Windows logon box. Type in
"Administrator" and whatever password you assigned when you set up
Windows.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Bob, thanks for getting back. I tried to hit F8 when the comp started up. I
am not even sure what to look for. I bought this computer and someone else
set it up. I have minimal computer skills and do not know the lingo. But I do
know that when she set it up, I have since not been in control. Does it help
if I tell you that after two months I realized that I was not the
administrator on my comp. After saying something to her and her denying this,
all of the sudden I was able to change who was the admin. Before, I could
not. I don't know if this makes sense, but it seemed like these changes were
made by her on another computer?? Tonight I right clicked on something on my
credit card account, and then hit properties. I said something was modified
or created on 12/1/05. I clicked the nexted thin, not sure what, and a
verisighn certificate something appeared. Something regarding remote access
transfer stuff. I have no idea except that I did not access this paticular
account on 12/1/05. On this credit card account, that I accessed tonight, it
would not even give me access to changing my password??? I don' want access
to her stuff, but I want to know what access there is to my stuff. Again, I
am now the admin. As far as root goes, I was also just wondering if there is
a way to view root settings. I control the passwords to even get on the
computer now. I think there is an overiding remote access though. Bob, this
may not make sense, but only because I am new to this and she is a master at
it. She claims she doesn't even know what root is. Let me know what you
think, and maybe I can give you clearer details.
thank you.
Harry

"Malke" wrote:

> harry wrote:
>
> > is there a way for me to look at what root settings are on my
> > computer. how do i look at what root is on my comp. Again I am new at
> > this, thanks Bob
> >
> > "Bob Bosco" wrote:
> >
> >> "Root" is the lowest level directory on a drive, and it contains all
> >> other
> >> directories. In Windows, root is represented by a \ (backslash).
> >> For
> >> example, " C:\ " is the root directory of your C drive. What
> >> exactly are
> >> you restricted from viewing? If you have profiles set up for other
> >> users, they have the option of making their files private through
> >> encryption.
>
> There is no user called "root" on a Windows system. If you find one,
> then either someone with physical access to the computer is playing a
> joke on you or your system has been compromised. There is
> Administrator. To log into the Administrator account:
>
> In XP Home, boot the computer into Safe Mode. Do this by repeatedly
> tapping the F8 key as the computer is starting up. This will get you to
> the right menu. Navigate using your Up arrow key; the mouse will not
> work here. Once in Safe Mode, you will see the normally hidden
> Administrator account. The default password is a blank.
>
> In XP Pro, you do not need to go into Safe Mode. At the Welcome Screen,
> do Ctrl-Alt-Del twice to get the classic Windows logon box. Type in
> "Administrator" and whatever password you assigned when you set up
> Windows.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User
>

harry wrote:

> Bob, thanks for getting back. I tried to hit F8 when the comp started
> up. I am not even sure what to look for. I bought this computer and
> someone else set it up. I have minimal computer skills and do not know
> the lingo. But I do know that when she set it up, I have since not
> been in control. Does it help if I tell you that after two months I
> realized that I was not the administrator on my comp. After saying
> something to her and her denying this, all of the sudden I was able to
> change who was the admin. Before, I could not. I don't know if this
> makes sense, but it seemed like these changes were made by her on
> another computer?? Tonight I right clicked on something on my credit
> card account, and then hit properties. I said something was modified
> or created on 12/1/05. I clicked the nexted thin, not sure what, and a
> verisighn certificate something appeared. Something regarding remote
> access transfer stuff. I have no idea except that I did not access
> this paticular account on 12/1/05. On this credit card account, that I
> accessed tonight, it
> would not even give me access to changing my password??? I don' want
> access to her stuff, but I want to know what access there is to my
> stuff. Again, I am now the admin. As far as root goes, I was also just
> wondering if there is a way to view root settings. I control the
> passwords to even get on the computer now. I think there is an
> overiding remote access though. Bob, this may not make sense, but only
> because I am new to this and she is a master at it. She claims she
> doesn't even know what root is. Let me know what you think, and maybe
> I can give you clearer details. thank you.

There is no point in continuing this thread. I'm not saying this to hurt
your feelings, but you don't have enough technical skill to do anything
about the situation. There is no shame in admitting this; we all have
our areas of expertise.

Take the machine to a professional computer repair shop and have them
format the drive and clean-install Windows for you. After you get the
computer back, take some lessons in using the computer - the
professional shop you use(d) may have this service. Change your
passwords to email and any online sites. If you don't know how, have
the professionals at the shop or whoever is teaching you show you.

Then do not let whoever "she" is near you or the computer again.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User