Change user to administrator

maverickpo

New Member
I just setup my new computer. There is only 1 account, which was setup originally as administrator. It was changed to user and now I would like to change it back to administrator. How do I do this? FYI...when I click on add or remove user accounts, it asks for an administrator password, since I'm no longer an administrator, the password space is blocked.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

Only the administrator can give admin rights. I have no idea if this would work, but you could open the cmd prompt as administrator and enter

net user administrator /active:yes

This may make the administrator account show up. Your mileage may vary...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD AM2 6000+
    Motherboard
    Nvidia M2N-E SLI
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 7600GT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WD
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Three fans
    Keyboard
    Dell Quietkey
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 MBPS
I just setup my new computer. There is only 1 account, which was setup originally as administrator. It was changed to user and now I would like to change it back to administrator. How do I do this? FYI...when I click on add or remove user accounts, it asks for an administrator password, since I'm no longer an administrator, the password space is blocked.

If the password space is blocked, can you enter the password? Do you have the password? If you don't lemur's suggestion won't work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio Z46GDU
    CPU
    [email protected] w/6MB L2 cache 1066MHz FSB
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    9300M GS 256MB + Intel Integrated 4500MHD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.1" WXGA True Colour Tough
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    320GB SATA 7200RPM
    Internet Speed
    1MB/s
If the password space is blocked, can you enter the password? Do you have the password? If you don't lemur's suggestion won't work.

Okay Frost, ruin my great idea! LOL. I've seen people lock themselves out of their servers by removing admin rights to administrator. Not pretty (although there's always a workaround).
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD AM2 6000+
    Motherboard
    Nvidia M2N-E SLI
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 7600GT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WD
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Three fans
    Keyboard
    Dell Quietkey
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 MBPS
If the password space is blocked, can you enter the password? Do you have the password? If you don't lemur's suggestion won't work.

Okay Frost, ruin my great idea! LOL. I've seen people lock themselves out of their servers by removing admin rights to administrator. Not pretty (although there's always a workaround).

True. If this was Ubuntu it would be easier using the live cd as root and the terminal, but with Vista its a different approach.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio Z46GDU
    CPU
    [email protected] w/6MB L2 cache 1066MHz FSB
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    9300M GS 256MB + Intel Integrated 4500MHD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.1" WXGA True Colour Tough
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    320GB SATA 7200RPM
    Internet Speed
    1MB/s
Okay Frost, ruin my great idea! LOL. I've seen people lock themselves out of their servers by removing admin rights to administrator. Not pretty (although there's always a workaround).

True. If this was Ubuntu it would be easier using the live cd as root and the terminal, but with Vista its a different approach.

Hey, I have my Ubuntu workstation on my desk. I hate running sudo sh, and much preferred going superuser. I had Gentoo, but it broke too often. Not good for an OS. Ubuntu is very stable.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD AM2 6000+
    Motherboard
    Nvidia M2N-E SLI
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 7600GT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WD
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Three fans
    Keyboard
    Dell Quietkey
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 MBPS
I'm using Fedora. Excellent OS in gnome on an old first-generation (i.e. slow) vista laptop.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Sony Vaio Z46GDU
    CPU
    [email protected] w/6MB L2 cache 1066MHz FSB
    Memory
    6GB DDR3 1066MHz SDRAM
    Graphics Card(s)
    9300M GS 256MB + Intel Integrated 4500MHD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    13.1" WXGA True Colour Tough
    Screen Resolution
    1600x900
    Hard Drives
    320GB SATA 7200RPM
    Internet Speed
    1MB/s
net user administrator /active:yes ....already tried this, but it prompts me to enter an administrator password, which the password field is blocked, as there is only one account that was changed from administrator to user.
 

My Computer

How did you change admin to user?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD AM2 6000+
    Motherboard
    Nvidia M2N-E SLI
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 7600GT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WD
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Three fans
    Keyboard
    Dell Quietkey
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 MBPS
I got it figured out....

Restarted computer in Safe Mode by pressing F8 continuously before Windows kicked in. It gives the options of pressing F12 or F2, but not F8. I just had to trust that F8 would bring up the safe mode menu.

Once the menu came up, I selected safe mode and pressed enter. Once the computer restarted, it gave me the option to sign into my account or administrator account. I clicked administrator, logged into the Control Panel via the Start menu, added a password to the administrator account, than changed the account type from User to Administrator on my account, restarted the computer (automatically restarted in full mode) and now I'm the administrator again.
 

My Computer

Whew. Glad you got it going! (the option of F2 was probably for bios setting)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom
    CPU
    AMD AM2 6000+
    Motherboard
    Nvidia M2N-E SLI
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 7600GT
    Screen Resolution
    1280x1024
    Hard Drives
    WD
    Case
    Cooler Master
    Cooling
    Three fans
    Keyboard
    Dell Quietkey
    Mouse
    Dell Optical
    Internet Speed
    10 MBPS
Glad you have it figured out. Thats one of the problems with running admin all the time
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inspiron E 1405
    CPU
    [email protected]
    Memory
    4 gigs
    Graphics Card(s)
    integrated intel 945
    Sound Card
    integrated
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    300 gig internal
    Internet Speed
    10 down 1.5 up
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