Windows 7: User is both an Administrator, and not an Administrator. Cannot change

CrazyMLC · 21 Feb 2012

An account on my Windows 7 installation cannot have its type changed from an administrator to a user account.

I tried to change it using the cmd and I'm getting these messages:

>net localgroup administrators AccountName /del

System error 1377 has occurred.

The specified account name is not a member of the group.

>net localgroup administrators AccountName /add

System error 1378 has occurred.

The specified account name is already a member of the group.

I recently used a livecd to change this account to an administrator since I had forgotten my password to another account, and now I need to change it back.

What should I do?

rraod · 21 Feb 2012

If you login to an administrator account, you can try this.

Right click on Computer and select Manage. The Computer management console will open up. In this console on the left side select "Local Users and Groups". On the right side of this applet double click on "Users", Select the particular user you wish to change and right click on it and select "properties". Go to the "Member of" tab and you will see the different groups alloted to this user.

Now you can add, delete these groups to suit your requirement.

For changing the password for a user, right click on the username and select "Set Password".

CrazyMLC · 21 Feb 2012

Thanks for the suggestion, I gave it a try.
I get the same errors as when I try to use cmd commands, both adding and deleting.

Thanks for the other tips, but the fact remains that I need to change the account back to a user.

Duzzy · 21 Feb 2012

Can you use the same live cd to reverse the process you did?

airconlin · 02 Dec 2012

To prevend my kid from using Live CD to boot system and change password in the registry file, I set passwords for all my home PCs' BIOS, and set only hard disk bootable in all PCs.
If this is not enough, please share your experience.

By the way, Microsoft is really suck!

Sir George · 02 Dec 2012

Quote: Originally Posted by airconlin

To prevend my kid from using Live CD to boot system and change password in the registry file, I set passwords for all my home PCs' BIOS, and set only hard disk bootable in all PCs.
If this is not enough, please share your experience.

By the way, Microsoft is really suck!

Password protecting the BIOS may be enough, if you remember to shutdown the system after using it. However, depending on the knowledge of the people who have access to the system it can be erased without much effort.

FYI, it really isn't a good idea to flame MS in a support forum.

Jochem · 13 Aug 2013

I'm in EXACTLY the same situation.. including promoting a user to the admin group using an offline tool / bootcd.

Did you even manage to solve this?

(note: all this is entirely unrelated to bios passwords, ofcourse)

Duzzy · 23 Aug 2013

Quote: Originally Posted by Jochem

I'm in EXACTLY the same situation.. including promoting a user to the admin group using an offline tool / bootcd.

Did you even manage to solve this?

(note: all this is entirely unrelated to bios passwords, ofcourse)

Considering the OP's last activity was Feb 2012 I don't think you'll get a response. I suggest starting a new thread if it is still a problem.