User Rights limited

[tosim]

XP Pro on 1 comp, XP Home on other. On the Pro comp, I started getting pop-up that my user rights were limited and could not install, on some of the programs(legal), I was trying to instal. Well. I wound up formatting, reinstalling, and have no more problem. However, now, all of a sudden, am getting same pop-up on the Home comp. Be advised that I am the Administrator, owner, and only, user of these computers. Could not find anything definitive at MS Support info. Would appreciate any advice. Thank you.

[pam123]

Back up a minute.
Sounds like you and WGA are having an argument ( Not necessarily anything you've done. ).
We need dates and updates.

[tosim]

WinXP Home, SP2, Legal! Thanks for reply.

[pam123]

What do you see when you go into User Accounts in the Control Panel ?

[tosim]

Icon with my name as administrator; other icon is Guest account, turned off.

[pam123]

Go into your admin account and create another admin account.
Check that the new one has full privileges and then delete the old one.

Meanwhile what going on with updates at your place and have you scanned for malware. ?

[tosim]

Will make another Admin account. Updates are right up to date, as of time this happened. On that computer cannot scan for virus(as I suspect is problem), because just prior to what's happened, in order to install a new, different anti-virus app, I uninstalled the one I had. As you are aware-I cannot install new all due to "not enough user rights". Am going to try to run one of those on-line virus scanners. Thanks again for the assist.

[Brothersoft]

Maybe the drive that you want to install is not permitted to write, because the file permission settings is not correct? I will confirm later...

[tosim]

Have made new Admin account,and tried(could not), to run on-line av scan. Will wait a bit yet, but will very likely have to format C and reinstall. Not too big a problem, as only have the OS on that drive. Still, looking at many houirs.

[2hot]

Seems to me you've been harassed by a malware somewhere between the installation of the AVs. I'd suggest you follow your instincts and redo the entire OS installation. But take the following precautions to prevent a repeat.

1: After the format (if you must), make sure you have minimum of two partitions on the HDD. The second should be your Data drive. Its good to give the OS some privacy, that way you don't loose files when things like this happen

2: After the OS installation. Create an Admin Account. I'm somewhat surprised you didn't, because by default XP will prompt for its creation during the OS installation. (When its asks for users ... type in something, your logon name ... you know)

3: Get a solid firewall software ... XP comes with a weak firewall. I use Comodo (its a killer). You may opt for something else. Just find what works for you

4: Get an antivirus software installed immediately (I use AVG ... there are other good ones too), Get the most recent update

5: Go back and secure the new Admin Account. Make your files private, add password to the account.

6: Logon to the MAIN ADMINISTRATOR ACCOUNT (ctrl+alt+del ... twice), add a password to that account too.

7: Run your system for a week and tell us how its behaving ... everything should be fine