Unable to demote Administrator account

Sentinel88 · 21 Feb 2012

I am trying to convert to using a limited user account. I want to do this as it is a safer practice than what I am doing at the moment. Currently I am using the default Admin account when I purchased the computer from new. This account has all my files, images and music files. I have created an Admin account and then tried to 'demote' my default admin account which contains all my files to a limited user privileges. However the default Admin account does not show 'Change Account Type'. Is this because W7 believes I have not created an Admin account and will not let me demote the user privileges. How can I create a limited user account and have access to all my files I created in the default Admin account?

logicearth · 21 Feb 2012

You need an active Administrator account, if you only have one active account turning it into a standard user would be BAD. You need at least one active Administrator account. Otherwise you'll be locked out of do any administrative tasks.

User Account - Create

M1GU31 · 21 Feb 2012

Like logicearth said you need one administrative account. If you don't want to use the account then make a second account with limited privileges and use that one instead with the main admin account

bru · 21 Feb 2012

If I read the post correct it sounds like he has created another admin account. Now he wants the original admin account with all it's included files, etc. to become a limited user account. I would like to do something similar.

Following M1GU31's suggestion I would have a new limited user account but to access files and programs I'd have to go back to the admin account, which sort of defeats the purpose in my mind. Or am I completely wrong?

Sentinel88 · 22 Feb 2012

Thanks bru, you understand my issue. I want a use limited user account for safe practice but I want to access all the files I created on my default Admin account. Does anyone know how I do this? I followed the tutorial on the windows web site but even after I have created a new ADMIN account I cannot demote the default Admin account I created to a standard user.

UsernameIssues · 22 Feb 2012

I cannot test this right now - but something like this might work:

Temporarily elevate the limited user account to admin
Copy (or move) the files of interest into folders owned by the limited user
Demote the limited user

DavidE · 22 Feb 2012

I tested this today in W7-32 Bit, and i had no problem demoting my Admin account to a Standard/Limited account.
Before demoting I did create a new Admin account.
Everything works as expected for me.

Can you demote the new Admin account you created to a Standard account?

Just to be sure, when you say "default Admin account", you are not referring to the Windows Super Admin account named "Administrator".

I created an Acronis Backup Image before I started making changes...

bbearren · 22 Feb 2012

The Windows Administrator account is inactive by default, and best left that way.

You have been using an account in the Administrators Group since you bought the PC, and it has all your files and settings. You want to convert this account to a Standard User account.

You have created another Admin account.

You say that you cannot "demote" your original account.

If I have all this correct so far, my first question is, what account are you logged onto when you try to "demote" your original account to a Standard User?

In order to change the privilege level of an account, you must be logged on to an account in the Administrators Group, but not the account you are trying to change.

My second question is, have you logged onto the newly created Admin account and tried to change the original Admin account to a Standart User?

bbearren · 23 Feb 2012

There is only one named Administrator account. The account named Administrator is the default Windows Administrator account. In Windows 7, this account is inactive by default. Windows 7 will not allow renaming this account; you can't shorten the name to Admin.

One can create an account that is a member of the Administrators Group named Admin, but it is not the default Windows Administrator account.

When one purchases a desktop or laptop with Windows 7 installed, when it is first being setup the OOBE asks for a user name, etc. The account being setup during the OOBE is a member of the Administrators Group.

If one later wishes to run routinely as a Standard User (advisable), but without losing all the Windows settings and personal files, etc. that were being created during the OOBE and after, the easiest way to do this is to create another user account in the Administrators Group. (I always name mine Admin).

After creating the "Admin" account, create a password for this new account. Remember this password and/or write it down. Next, logoff and logon using the "Admin" account. Go to Start > Control Panel > User Accounts. It will open in the "Admin" account. Select "Mangage another account", and then select your original account that you wish to change to a Standard User. Select the radio button beside "Standard User", and OK your way back out.

Logoff, then logon to your old account, and it will now be a Standard User account. In the future, when using this account you will undoubtedly encounter UAC. You can enter the password for the "Admin" account, and that will satisfy UAC nicely.

DavidE · 23 Feb 2012

Previously I always demoted another account, but to clarify:

When I tested this, i demoted an Administrator account to a Standard account while logged in to the account I was demoting.

It worked without any problems.