Admin can not Administrate! Vista Security Discuss Admin can not Administrate! in the Windows Vista forums; Unable to do Anything The Admin account is no longer an Administrator While setting up a computer for a lab, I have become completely unable to change anything requiring an ...

[thecandide]

Unable to do Anything
The Admin account is no longer an Administrator

While setting up a computer for a lab, I have become completely unable to change anything requiring an administrator password. I loaded the computer on a domain called "students" and I am logged on using the local account I created when I first went through the setup process, named "Admin". The account I am using is listed a debugger user, and there are no other local accounts.

I am unable to change anything with the windows security logo next to it. When I type in the local account and password it gives me "The requested operation requires elevation" error. My network administrator receives the same message.

Device Manager:
"You do not have sufficient privileges to uninstall devices or change device properties or device drivers. Please contact your site administrator, or log out and log in again as administrator and try again."

Since it no longer recognizes the only local account I have as an administrator account there is no way for me to install or change anything.... Please help me regain the ability to change settings in the control panel.

[felix8406]

Knowing which version of Vista you are running would help. Also, I see you posted this issue at MS TechNet. If you are running Business or Ultimate versions, try enabling the "administrator" account; Right-click Computer > Select Manage > Local Users and Groups > Users > Administrator > Untick "Account is disabled"

If running Home Premium: Start > All Programs > Accessories > Right-click 'Command Prompt" > Select "Run as administrator" > Type: Net User Administrator /activate:yes. Now log off and log on as the administrator.

Note that if you are trying to install a program, you can right click it and select "run as administrator".

let us know whether this helped or not.

[thecandide]

That application/utility requires an administrative level account to access. JRGil at the CNet.com forums suggested booting in safe mode, but all of the password prompts for the control panels and administrative functions remain.

I'm not trying to install anything in particular, but not being able to access any functions that requrire an administrator account makes this computer almost useless.

Edit: Business Edition

[felix8406]

Sorry I cannot help you; there's seen to be many users with the same problem though. Perhaps someone here can suggest a way to fix it. The only thing that I can suggest would be a repair install; assuming you have the Vista DVD.

[crabby]

Basically, there are many ways to fix this problem if you have administrator privileges

There is a hidden Administrator account which you WOULD be able to activate IF you had privileges, but as you don't you have few options other than reinstallation.

Once you have reinstalled and regained privileges I would suggest switching the Administrator account on as shown here: http://www.computerperformance.co.uk...r_activate.htm

crabby

[felix8406]

I agree, the only solution might be reinstalling Vista...as an upgrade to maintain all files and programs. Since the PC is running the Business version, the administrator account can be activated through 'Computer Management', without the need to use the Command Prompt. But there might not be a need if the account can be run with elevated privilige once the installation is completed.

Note that an upgrade can take a while, as opposed to a clean installation.

[Snuffy]

Originally Posted by felix8406

Knowing which version of Vista you are running would help. Also, I see you posted this issue at MS TechNet. If you are running Business or Ultimate versions, try enabling the "administrator" account; Right-click Computer > Select Manage > Local Users and Groups > Users > Administrator > Untick "Account is disabled"

If running Home Premium: Start > All Programs > Accessories > Right-click 'Command Prompt" > Select "Run as administrator" > Type: Net User Administrator /activate:yes. Now log off and log on as the administrator.

Note that if you are trying to install a program, you can right click it and select "run as administrator".

let us know whether this helped or not.

Basically what I see is if the post by Felix does not work. then you might try
start --> cmd (right click-run as admin) SFC /scannow to correct any corrupt/missing files. then shutdown - restart and try Felix post again.
If you can not run "cmd" as "admin" then you have a corruption somewhere.

let us know whether this helped or not.

[felix8406]

It's not going to work because the account has limited access and cannot be elevated or run the command prompt as administrator, not even on safe mode. One thing that might work would be to run system restore by booting from the DVD, it's worth a try.