This security setting determines whether the local Administrator account is enabled or disabled. Notes If you try to reenable the Administrator account after it has been disabled, and if the current Administrator password does not meet the password requirements, you cannot reenable the account. In this case, an alternative member of the Administrators group must reset the password on the Administrator account. For information about how to reset a password, see To reset a password. Disabling the Administrator account can become a maintenance issue under certain circumstances. Under Safe Mode boot, the disabled Administrator account will only be enabled if the machine is non-domain joined and there are no other local active administrator accounts. If the computer is domain joined the disabled administrator will not be enabled. Default: Disabled. Countermeasure: Configure the Accounts: Administrator account status setting to Disabled so that the built-in Administrator account is no longer usable in a normal system startup. Potential Impact: Maintenance issues can arise under certain circumstances if you disable the Administrator account. For example, if the secure channel between a member computer and the domain controller fails in a domain environment for any reason and there is no other local Administrator account, you must restart in safe mode to fix the problem that broke the secure channel. If the current Administrator password does not meet the password requirements, you will not be able to re-enable the Administrator account after it is disabled. If this situation occurs, another member of the Administrators group must set the password on the Administrator account with the Local Users and Groups tool. Fix: (1) GPO: Computer ConfigurationWindows SettingsSecurity SettingsLocal PoliciesSecurity OptionsAccounts: Administrator account status (2) REG: ### (3) WMI: ###

[enabled/disabled]

(1) GPO: Computer Configuration\Windows Settings\Security Settings\Local Policies\Security Options\Accounts: Administrator account status (2) REG: ### (3) WMI: ###