Xp - Policy Manager - Access Denied

[bt]

Hello,
Our payroll clerks are updating to the XP operating system. Their new PC is set up to power down after 15 minutes of inactivity. We also see that a box is checked that requires them to key their network password each time they restart after powering down. (hypernate)

Under the display properties / screen saver tab / enery saving settings box, we found where to change the time to NEVER shut down, and another tab to uncheck for requiring a password when powering back up from hypernate (if that is correct term for XP)

After making the changes we get the error,
POWER POLICY MANAGER UNABLE TO SET ACTIVE POLICY, ACCESS IS DENIED.

I don't know anything about XP. (and apparently our PC techs are learning too as they can't get this fixed for 3 days now.) Is there a place we can go in and makes these changes? turn something on or off? Is Policy Manager a MS program?

THANKS Very MUCH!!!

[Paul Komski]

There are a few firms that have developed software called "Policy Manager" - but your reference is to "Power Policy Manager" in XP - and this exists on Win2K as well.

There are a few Google results "Power Policy Manager" XP (http://www.google.com/search?q=%22POWER+POLICY+MANAG) that might give you an idea of this.

One of them HERE (http://www.tek-tips.com/gviewthread.cfm/lev2/67/lev3/70/pid/61) mentioned both BIOS settings and a Win2K tip: "...Another way to do this from in windows is to go to the control panel, hold shift and right click on power management, then click on Run as. This will let you change the settings with either a local administrator account or a domain account that has administrator rights..."

Don't know if any of this is helpful coz I'm a bit out-of-my-depth with XP - hardly ever having even seen it in operation; but something to keep you going until a guru appears!! :)

[sea69]

your admin needs to run: gpedit.msc (http://xptools.tripod.com/gpedit.html) from a command prompt, and set policies.

;)

[Sylvander]

Hello bt

Let me contribute the little I know of "Remote Administration".

When this is enabled, an individual has a password which gives access to the Administrators "Policy" settings.
These Policies determine which users can do what on any PC they happen to be logged into. It limits their freedom of action so that there are things they are allowed to do and other things they are prevented from doing.
To be allowed to make the changes you mentioned the person designated as the administrator [who knows the administrators password] should change the policies to allow this or disable "Remote Administration" and make all things do-able.

To find out about this, go to the Windows help files and look for "Administration, Remote" & "Allow others to Manage your files...etc"

It seems to be enabled by going to
"Control Panel>Passwords", and if you have a networked system there should be a "Remote Administration" tab with a tick-box beside "Enable Remote Administration of this Server".
I'm sure if you try to untick this it will ask for the administrators password, so you must find out who, if anyone, knows it!
If no-one knows it then you are in trouble! You'll need an expert to get you out of that trouble.

[sea69]

I did not see where they were attempting "Remote Administration"??

They are having problems moving up from win9x obviously and are working right in front of said machines- I do not think they are attempting a remote assistance.

and I did state that this needed to be run by admin.


;)

[Paul Komski]

I have just realised that neither of my previous links worked - and the reason is that when using the http button and pasting the link into it the tail of both urls got cut off - it just did it again, but I was watching this time! I haven't noticed this happen before - but maybe it has since I don't regularly go back and check out the links.

The first one should have been HERE (http://www.google.com/search?q=%22POWER%2BPOLICY%2BMANAGer%22+XP&sourceid=opera&num=0&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8) and the second one should have been HERE (http://www.tek-tips.com/gviewthread.cfm/lev2/67/lev3/70/pid/616/qid/283521/auid/11445). :mad: But they are both probably redundant now. LOL

BTW Sea's gpedit.msc also runs in Win2K. But even running it hasn't let me find the right entry to edit. It probably doesn't matter anyway since the problem would seem to be related to being logged on as Administrator. BTW is the problem on a standalone/networked desktop/laptop?

P.S. Darnit Sea how come you're 1 min ahead of me. :D

he he he ... and now I'm behind you ... and ahead of you, which (being a time-traveller) I predict you will point out in your next post - Time Zone Wise!! :D

[sea69]

hehe- Paul, I don't know how I edited this before you posted??

you posted a full minute after, and I was still able to edit without it saying :"edited by"

and actually Paul- you are ahead of ME- by about (6) HOURS!!!

(time zones)

lol



;)

:p

[ErnieK]

bt
I do not know if this will help or not but you have nothing to loose by trying it.

I have attached a "tif" file HOPEFULLY giving instruction on how to access the original administrator account. Hopefully this will give access for what you need to do. If not, it might hopefully point those in the know in the correct direction :confused:

Attachment to big. File 70.1KB and zipped up it is 69.9KB. Will type instructions and come back later:eek:

[ErnieK]

Grr!!!!:confused:

[ErnieK]

Back again. Below are the insrtuctions I tried to attach hope they are helpful


Missing Administrator Account

Once you have created regular user accounts, the default Administrator account vanishes from the Welcome screen, which you see when the computer starts up. Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete twice at the Welcome screen to retrieve the standard logon dialog . You can log on as Administator from here.

To switch among accounts, just click the Log Off Button on the Start menu. You will then see the Log Off Windows dialog box. Click the Switch User button, and you will be taken to the Welcome screen where you can select and log on to other accounts.