All User Accounts set to 'Standard'

(Vista 32 bit Business Edition)

Vista appears to have changed all my user accounts to 'Standard'
I have three user accounts on my computer. My main account and my work account are (or should be) set as 'Administrator'.

My CAD program on the work account has stopped working properly. I discovered that this is because it is unable to write files to C:\program files, which it needs to do. I checked the account settings and discovered that the work account is set as a 'Standard' account.

I logged off, logged onto my main account and went to the User Accounts page via Control Panel. The first thing I noticed was that my main account is also set to 'Standard'. I clicked on the link for the main User Accounts page.

On the main accounts overview page all 3 accounts are listed with their pictures; the main account & work account are labelled as 'Administrator'; the other account is labelled as 'Standard'

but...

If I click on each one in turn, the radio button for each of them is set to 'Standard'.
I can select 'Administrator' using the radio button, but the 'apply' button is greyed out, so it can't be changed. I presume that this is because my main account is also set to Standard, and so I do not have administrator privilages anywhere on the computer! What's going on???

This is the last thing I need since I have a CAD project with a deadline at the end of this month!

Welcome,

I think that the most important thing, at this juncture, is to try to solve the problem. After we determine the solution we can guess about the cause. This is what you should try:

Did you make any changes just before the problem; new software, disable UAC, try some fancy customization, etc? If so restore the computer to the original state

Run a full and updated antivirus scan

Download and run a full and updated malwarebytes scan

If the above two are negative. Use the built in administrator to make a new Administrator account
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/67567-administrator-account.html
If you cannot, try to enable the new Administrator in safe mode.
With this super administrator set up a new adminstrator account.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11470-windows-easy-transfer-transfer-computers.html
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...14-2A73-4245-A63B-8E780D0430CB&displaylang=en
Works equally as well with Vista

Dont jump ahead, follow each step in order. If you solve the problem with the last step, the problem may return, unless we are sure, for example, that there is no virus.

The officially suggested method to tranfer to a new account is explained in this thread
http://www.sevenforums.com/performa...er-account-similar-existing-user-account.html
I would be cautious in its use, since we do not know what caused the initial problem and it may be best to start fresh. Even if you choose the Easy Transfer method, test, by use, and be sure that no corrupt setting were transferred that could cause problems, before relying on this new account.

I have UAC turned off with the notification message disabled but the icon in the system tray still active.
I'll try the other suggestions, in order, when I get home (I'm at work atm).

Thanks Richard

Jay,
Unless things have gone horribly wrong and you do not have a virus or malware, I am confident that the super, hidden administator will work.