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BackupAssist Backup Software > Knowledge Base > WindowsXPAuthentication

User Authentication on Windows XP

Introduction

BackupAssist requires a valid user account to perform the backup process.

The way the backups work is very similar to somone physically logging into the server (with a username and password), and starting the backup manually.

The advantage with BackupAssist is that the process is automatic. However, this means that BackupAssist requires a valid username and password to login.

Problems with Windows XP

If the Windows XP machine is participating in a Domain (you have a Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 machine as a domain controller), then you should use a domain username and password.

However, if the machine is on a peer-to-peer network (ie. you have no Domain Controller) then you should use a local username and password.

On versions of Windows prior to XP, this is generally no issue, because you create user accounts during the Windows setup process.

However, when Windows XP is setup, by default there is an Administrator account created with no password. (Actually, it is not possible to log into this account until a password is set.)

Windows XP Setup will allow you can create additional users that have Administrator privileges, and with passwords set. This is Microsoft's attempt to make things easier for home users.

This is no good for BackupAssist, and to guarantee that it works properly you will need to do one of the following:

Option 1 - Set the Administrator Password

Run the program called "lusrmgr.msc" (from the Start menu, choose Run, and type in lusrmgr.msc) - this will start the Local Users and Groups manager.

If you are running XP home and receive an error trying to run "lusrmgr.msc" try "control userpasswords2" in its place.

Then go to the Users tab (on the left), and click it. A list of users appears on the right. Then right-click on the Administrator user, and select "Set Password...". You will receive a warning message, and you should select Proceed. Then choose a password, and record it.

Now in BackupAssist, when setting up your backup user, you should use the following details:

User: Administrator Password: whatever you set it to Domain: leave this blank

Option 2 - Create a Backup user

Run the program called "lusrmgr.msc" (from the Start menu, choose Run, and type in lusrmgr.msc) - this will start the Local Users and Groups manager.

If you are running XP home and receive an error trying to run "lusrmgr.msc" try "control userpasswords2" in its place.

Then go to the Users tab (on the left), and click it. A list of users appears on the right. Then right-click in a blank area below the list of users, and select "New User..."

Now type in a username and password for this user, (eg. a username of backupassist would be distinctive), and uncheck the "User must change password at next logon" checkbox, and check the "Password never expires" checkbox.

Click Create to create the account, and Close to close the window.

Now locate your new user in the right hand pane, then right click on it and select "Properties".

Go to the Member Of tab, and click Add. In the textbox, type in "Administrators", and click OK. This adds this user to the Administrators group.

Now in BackupAssist, when setting up your backup user, you should use the following details:

User: the user you just created Password: whatever you set the password to Domain: leave this blank

Now BackupAssist will use your new user.

Page last modified on December 07, 2005, at 07:13 PM