The computer I'm using now is running 2000, I did what you said...and got right in without a login or administrator. Now, as to the automatic....I don't know.
I don't know any way of changing it without starting over.
So9
The person has to assign Administrator privleges to their user account.
If her computer was or is still part of a Domain, she will need to have a local or domain admin add her to the local administator list.
Otherwise, you are going to have to call the beeber hotline for some stuning.
Start by logging in as administrator. If the machine doesn't ask for a login when you boot, go to the start menu and click on logoff.
If the administrator password isn't blank, you're screwed.
There are hacks available to bypass password security. Some FReepers have said there is a lite version of Linux available that has a password override program. There are probably other ways around it, but you must login as administrator.
I have found that if you log in as Administrator and turn on the Automatic Updates, that the system will update no matter who is logged on.
So you only have to log in as Administrator once.