No Admin Privileges as Admin

So: I've had a recurring issue with Windows 7 that has only come to the forefront once again due to a need to upgrade Flash and finding I cannot delete a core file or do a fresh install of flash because it cannot write over said file. So. Let's get to business with the heart of the problem.

I'm on a custom built Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit OS machine. My primary account as admin privileges when the user data is brought up on mmc. I have attempted to run the installation as well as delete the offending file (Windows/SysWOW64/Macromed/Flash/NPSWF32.dll) on both the default administrator account and on my primary account. In both occasions, it has stated that I do not have administrator privileges and need to login to the administrator account.

Obviously, being done from the administrator account, this doesn't make the tiniest bit of sense. Nor does the fact that flash is working on Chrome, but not on Firefox. But let's not get into that for now.

So: computer gurus who know more than I: how do I solve this issue of not having administrator privileges on the administrator account? I'm not sure if I included all the information you might need, and I'm happy to provide more. Just ask away.

Edit:

I believe it's relevant to mention that I use PCTools antivirus protection, though I disabled IntelliGuard and the Computer Immunization while attempting this. No apparent effect on the administrator privileges though. Also, no viruses found in a complete system scan.

arkhi said:

Try uninstalling flash first using THIS uninstaller (from Uninstall Flash Player | Windows).

If that doesn't work still, try deleting the offending file by doing the following, in order, on an administrative command prompt

Code:

  
takeown "<drive>:/Windows/SysWOW64/Macromed/Flash/NPSWF32.dll" /f %1 /r /d y

Code:

 
 
icacls "<drive>:/Windows/SysWOW64/Macromed/Flash/NPSWF32.dll" /grant administrators:F /t

Code:

del /p /f "<drive>:/Windows/SysWOW64/Macromed/Flash/NPSWF32.dll"

Just receiving invalid argument/option for the first line of that. Mind you, that's with the slashes fixed in the right direction: not sure what might also be off.

Edit: Also, attempted using the uninstaller from their page, to no luck.

asura,
Welcome to SevenForums.

Now let's try to delete files following another approach.

Make a System Repair Disc.
Boot from the System Repair Disc.
Go to a command prompt and delete the files.

________________________________________
________________________________________
DISC - CREATE A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC
START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc button
________________________________________
________________________________________

________________________________________
COMMAND PROMPT - GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC
1) Insert System Repair Disc into optical reader.
2) Shutdown your computer.
3) Boot up your computer from the System Repair Disc
If your computer doesn’t boot from the optical drive, then
Immediately after pushing your Power ON button, start tapping the F2 key to get to the BIOS to change the boot order.OR
Immediately after pushing your Power ON button, start tapping the F12 key and choose CD/DVD to change the boot order only for this time.
4) Wait while a mini-version of Windows is loaded and finally the System Recovery Options dialog appears.
5) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog |
Select a keyboard input method |
NEXT button
6) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog
will search your system for installed versions of Windows.
7) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog |
select the Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows radio button |
NEXT button
8) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS |
Choose a recovery tool |
9) Click on command prompt from the list shown

Run any desired commands and type EXIT when finished.
Remove the System Repair Disc.
Shutdown your computer.
Power on your computer.
________________________________________

karlsnooks said:

asura,
Welcome to SevenForums.

Now let's try to delete files following another approach.

Make a System Repair Disc.
Boot from the System Repair Disc.
Go to a command prompt and delete the files.

________________________________________
________________________________________
DISC - CREATE A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC
START | type System Repair | Enter key | Create Disc button
________________________________________
________________________________________

________________________________________
COMMAND PROMPT - GO TO A COMMAND PROMPT USING A SYSTEM REPAIR DISC
1) Insert System Repair Disc into optical reader.
2) Shutdown your computer.
3) Boot up your computer from the System Repair Disc
If your computer doesn’t boot from the optical drive, then
Immediately after pushing your Power ON button, start tapping the F2 key to get to the BIOS to change the boot order.OR
Immediately after pushing your Power ON button, start tapping the F12 key and choose CD/DVD to change the boot order only for this time.
4) Wait while a mini-version of Windows is loaded and finally the System Recovery Options dialog appears.
5) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog |
Select a keyboard input method |
NEXT button
6) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog
will search your system for installed versions of Windows.
7) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS dialog |
select the Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows radio button |
NEXT button
8) SYSTEM RECOVERY OPTIONS |
Choose a recovery tool |
9) Click on command prompt from the list shown

Run any desired commands and type EXIT when finished.
Remove the System Repair Disc.
Shutdown your computer.
Power on your computer.
________________________________________

Hrm. Unfortunately, I lack a CD Writer, so I don't think I'll be able to carry out this potential solution easily enough. Anything else?

Possibly someone will chime in with the site that has the system repair disc in iso format, otherwise, go to a friend and ask him to make one for you.

Just remember his/her system must be a 64bit system because the 32 and 64 bit System Repair Discs are different and only usable on a corresponding system.

arkhi said:

Press F8 repeatedly (or was it F2?) either way try the two and you should see an option to "Repair your computer". This should be basically the same as using a repair disc.

When you use that approach then you are caught trying to fix yourself with yourself and Win 7 complains.

When you boot from a System Repair Disc, then a mini-Win 7 (actually a variant of a Win7 PE) is installed on a ram disk. Consequently, you are not running from the hard drive or from your Windows 7. This enables you to perform many operations which are otherwise not possible.

I recommend making one and trying it out.
When you choose "command prompt" from the menu that is shown by the System Repair Disc, then you will see that the command prompt is X:>

X is the letter assigned to the ram disk.