Why am I not the administrator of my computer?

[c-side]

I don't actually remember what I was asked when I set it up apart from name and password.  I don't even recall being asked about level of access.

I have come to 8.1 direct from XP and until now I've never had to sign in to any of my computers - I am the sole user.  Is there any way I can get rid of the need to do it on this one?

[smudwhisk]

It will probably have defaulted to administrator access if your account was the first to be created on the PC.

Apparently you can remove the password but Microsoft don't recommend it - see http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/disable-remove-password#.  It doesn't say where to do this but I suspect its in the same place you checked the level of access on the account.  In the case of Win7, it would be in the User Accounts section of Control Panel but I don't have a Win8.1 PC to look at.

To be honest, you are better off having a password because, should the worst happen and the PC gets stolen, it will make it a little more difficult for someone to make use of it, although to be honest there are ways of circumventing this anyway.  Whether this will just allow you to start the PC so it goes straight to the desktop, as would happen with WinXP, I don't know, its possible you could still get a login screen and have to click a button, all it may remove is the need to enter the password.

[downside]

You can login to Windows 8.1 without a password:-

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows-8/disable-remove-password

[c-side]

Thanks to you both.

Christine