Administrator account mysteriously lost

I set up a new machine for a friend who is not at all technical. So as simply as possible for her: crucially, I didn't use any password during setup. Then ran Classic Shell to bypass hideous Metro interface. Installed various programs. All working okay.
But on trying to use photo apps already on the machine, was startled to get message that I had to stop being an Administrator and open a User account! I did that. But then could not get back into an Administrator account! All my installed programs and settings and files are now lost to my low-tech friend - who is getting on an international flight with the computer in 30 hours time!
Also I cannot even reinstall the op system as it came installed, without disks (an HP Compaq CQ45-805TU)
I have done a quick check here on tutorials and others' troubles, but find nothing very close.
All my attempts end at a demand for an Administrator password. And I need a fast solution because of that flight, or she may never speak to me again!

You don't have to be a restricted user to use modern apps. The condition is you can't be a built-in Administrator.

Unfortunately, your problem description is useless for troubleshooting, so I have more questions than answers...

1. Have you set up your friend's PC for use with the built-in account named Administrator? If so, you must have another administrative account with which you logged on the first time.
2. Is the "User" account restricted or is this an administrator account?
3. Have you created a recovery CD or USB-flash?
4. What exactly do you mean by "could not get back into an Administrator account"? What prevents you specifically?
5. Post the results of the net user command.

Vadikan: thank you for prompt reply. Your questions answered as best as I can, sorry my original description was useless for you:

Q."You don't have to be a restricted user to use modern apps. The condition is you can't be a built-in Administrator."

A. Right, as noted after boot now, when I try to be an administrator again, I just get the password page, and cannot get past it, as I declined setting a password originally.

"Unfortunately, your problem description is useless for troubleshooting, so I have more questions than answers...

1. Have you set up your friend's PC for use with the built-in account named Administrator? If so, you must have another administrative account with which you logged on the first time.

Yes I did set it up, in the initial set up. But no second account.

Q. Is the "User" account restricted or is this an administrator account?

1. A. The User account that I created now says User and just Guest, I have not proceeded further.
2. Q. Have you created a recovery CD or USB-flash?
3. A. Alas, I did not.
4. Q. What exactly do you mean by "could not get back into an Administrator account"? What prevents you specifically?

A. Request for password, which as noted I did not set up originally, and everything worked okay without one then (yesterday).
5. Q. Post the results of the net user command.

A. Don't know where this is, and help system does not find it.

To recap, on rebooting now I just get the User account screen, in which I have not proceeded further, because all my installed programs and personal files are in the Administrator account that I can no longer access without a password.

Thanks for your answers, although they haven't cleared the picture much.

Yes I did set it up, in the initial set up. But no second account.

Click to expand...

That's impossible. You can't use the built-in Administrator account out of the box, because it's disabled. Unless you used the answer file, you must have another account you created during installation. You either sign in with Microsoft account, or use the option on that screen to sign in without one, with a local account. Neither one allows you to use Administrator.

The User account that I created now says User and just Guest, I have not proceeded further.

Click to expand...

I was asking whether this is a restricted or administrative account, and this is not the answer. This info is revealed at Control Panel - User accounts - Manage another account

1. Q. What exactly do you mean by "could not get back into an Administrator account"? What prevents you specifically?

A. Request for password, which as noted I did not set up originally, and everything worked okay without one then (yesterday).

Click to expand...

I don't see a reason why would a user account suddenly become password protected without your knowledge. Have you tried to sign in with the blank password?

5. Q. Post the results of the net user command.


A. Don't know where this is, and help system does not find it.

Click to expand...

Well, the word 'command' implies you have to open the command prompt (cmd.exe) and type it in there...

Anyway, if
a) your account is truly password protected and you don't know the password
b) this account is not a Microsoft account
c) you don't have other administrative accounts
d) you neither have the recovery medium nor the installation DVD

Your only option is to reset the password with 3rd party tools. Good luck!

Vadikan: thank you for your further response. I have made no progress, so the owner had to fly away, taking her previous machine, and is now 10,000 km away. I will pursue that forlorn 3rd party purchase solution in a while.