Anyone any explanation as to why the Admininstrator account does not show up in the user account list - even in safe mode? It is there because if you try and create it, the system tells you that the account name already exists. Are we supposed to be able to get to it and use it?

In certain setups, it is designed to work that way...

Thanks Ray - a kind friend has explained that the account in Vista is hidden and there is a real rigmarole to get access to it. B loody Microsoft - what on earth did they do that for?? (No - don't answer = rhetorical question)

circumvention: Add new user and give it Admin Authority. Assign a good password
and log into the accout to complete the profile creation.

Then you can switch users or use Run As ... <newid>

Hi Jobeard! I tried that but the system was so screwed up that the only available option was the add/remove password.
Too late now as I have reinstalled the OS on the machine and all is well.
I realised afterwards that lots of things were not working including the sound.
Thanks for your help, tho!