I keep bumping into issues that require Administrator access (accessing some directories, installing software, some internet access, etc.). I went to users, and have ONE account there, my account. and next to the account name on the icon it says "Administrator". So if I am the administrator, why all the hoops? I am the only one on this computer, ever, so can I set it up so I have all the permissions I need?
You can change that setting ( I did not) It is for your protection. In the event that you are thinking about a bad day at work or a bad day with your significant other, the warning is there to remind you that you should think about what you are doing.
Type UAC in search to adjust settings.
Last edited by richc46; 22 Dec 2009 at 18:12.
To clarify your account is a Protected Administrator - in practice it runs as a standard account and UAC pop's up when you need admin privileges - make sure you are expecting the prompt and check the file path in details. A standard account needs to enter a password unless group policy settings have been modified. The other account is hidden and has no restrictions. You can delete system files and break windows. UAC can help prevent malware but its not perfect and needs to be used in conjunction with other layers of defense. Don't disable it. If you have 7 Professional or higher type secpol.msc into the start menu and in user accounts, double click the administrator account and from there you can enable or disable it.
I don't have a problem if it prompts me. But it doesn't. This problem came up two times yesterday:
1. I tried to put in an authorization code for some software I installed from a disk. It would not take it. I called tech support, and they had me right click and "run as administrator" and it worked. But Windows didn't provide any information at all. The software thought it had succeeded, but it failed to capture the auth code until I ran as admin.
2. I tried to install a batch script that writes to a registry key. Again, it did not to that. No notice, just failed, with no error.
In Windows 7 as well as Vista we need Run as administrator for what ever admin tasks you perfrom in the OS. In the first senario when you click on setup by default it would launch as administrator. After that when you open the program it won't launch as administrator unless we right click and run as administrator (or) Right click on the icon go to Compatibility Tab there check on Run the program as administrator so it will open everytime as administrator.
In the second senario Writing values to registry needs admin right becuase registry is sensitive area so you have to right click and run as administrator. It for our security
For more information on UAC http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User_Account_Control
Hope that helps
What about with command prompt? Tried to register file associations for DeBugger and got "operation requires administrative privileges"
Thanks
You can save yourself some time and annoyance by setting the command prompt to ALWAYS run as administrator.
Right click/properties/shortcut/advanced
ONLY if you know what you are doing, then the best time to do this is when you first install. Otherwise you have to set up a new Desktop and copy your files over to your new Adminstrator account:
open an elevated command prompt and type: net user administrator /active:yes
Now log off and log back into Adminstrator.
Go to User Accounts, Manage Another Account, Delete your Named User Account. If you have files, put them on the Desktop for redistribution.
You are now the one and only Adminstrator, never bothered again by any prompts or second guessing.
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