Windows XP Home Edition

[Blueshadow54]

I recently purchased a used computer locally from a private party. It seemed to work fine. Once I got it home, however, I discovered that when I tried to install the drivers for my wireless adapter, the InstallShield Wizard would come up and extract the files from the CD and then go away and nothing would happen. When I went to the Windows update site, it would not down load the activeX control to check my computer for needed updates. It did the same thing. It would show that it downloaded the file and then nothing would happen. I talked to a local computer shop and they said they have had a lot of trouble with "broken" Windows Installers lately. So I went to the Microsoft site and downloaded the updated Windows Installer (as they suggested) and this did not change anything. I am set up as a "computer administrator" on this computer. On further investigation, I discovered that it is treating me as a "limited" user. I can not install files and I cannot access the settings to set up automatic updates and other"administrator only" functions. It tells me that I must be logged on as an administrator to change these settings. Has anyone else run into this? Any ideas on how to fix this? I was going to reinstall Windows but discovered (of course) that the recovery disc was not included with this unit.

[catgate]

If I were in your position I would go back to the "local private party" and ask for the administrator password.

Once you have that you shoud be able to either continue to use it or change it.

[Dencandy]

... also the original XP/Vista installation disk.