How to Change to Administrator from Standard User?

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  1. Posts : 122
    Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium
       #1

    How to Change to Administrator from Standard User?


    I'm at a loss as to becoming the Administrator of my own machine. I guess I'm now a "a standard user" even though I built the machine and am the only user of it. I guess I never realized or knew how to make myself the admin for the machine. Now I cannot "own" files to make changes because I'm not the admin. Help please! How can I become the adminstrator?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,830
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32-Bit & Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
       #2

    Hi mendopaul

    Try this .

    Click on type CMD in search programs and files right click on CMD under Programs (1) choose Run as administrator click yes on the UAC window

    Command prompt should open to this path C:\Windows\System32>_

    Inside command prompt type in

    Code:
    net localgroup administrators {youraccountname} /add 
       Note

    {youraccountname} is your account name without the brackets
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 122
    Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Many thanks Vista King. I did as you suggested and I got system error 1376 which Microsoft recognizes and has posted the following workaround: "When you set up local groups, avoid using the same name for the local group name and the domain name." In my computer under users my name is shown as a "standard user" but the advice from MS always refers to "local group" or "local groups". Is a User the same as a "group" or local group? I'm puzzled now as to how to proceed. The answer I got from the command prompt string was "group does not exist". or at first "no group with that name".
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 6,830
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32-Bit & Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
       #4

    Type in the words as is localgroup administrators youruseraccount /add

    What that will do is add your user account to the Administrators group .
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 122
    Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I did exactly that. I typed those words exactly as you advised and got error 1376 saying that they know the problem exists and don't know why it happens but there is a workaround which I quoted before. I'll keep trying your method.
    I realize now what's happening is that the program is saying that the local group does not exist. Did you get a chance to look at error 1376? That's what I'm referring to and has got me buffaloed.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 6,830
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32-Bit & Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
       #6

    The Administrators group has to exist . When you go to control panel User Account and you see your name does it say Standard underneath ?

    Question : Are you trying this on the account you are on right now ? If you are we will need to do this on another account .

    Lets try this

    Enable Built-in Administrator Account

    Click on type CMD right click on CMD underneath Programs (1) choose Run as Administrator . Click on the Yes button inside UAC window . Inside command prompt window type in

    Code:
    net user administrator /active:yes
    Close the command prompt log off and log in with the user account " Administrator " no password

    Once you're logged in under that account type in the command

    Code:
    net localgroup administrators {youraccountname} /add
    Once you're able to add the user account to the Administrators group close the window log off from Administrator and log back in under your account .

    Then Click on type CMD right click on CMD underneath Programs (1) choose Run as Administrator . Click on the Yes button inside UAC window . Inside command prompt window type in

       Note
    This will disable the built-in Administrator user account


    Code:
    net user administrator /active:no
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 122
    Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Yes it does
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6,830
    Windows 7 Ultimate 32-Bit & Windows 7 Ultimate 64-Bit
       #8

    Try the steps I added above
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 17,545
    Windows 10 Pro x64 EN-GB
       #9

    When Windows is installed the initial user account, the one you must create to finalize installation, is always an administrative account. There's no exceptions. Hence if you have installed Windows and only created the one account you are using, it is an administrator account. Check the Control Panel > User Accounts and you should see the label Administrator under your name.

    Could it be possible you are mixing the normal administrative user account and the built-in administrator account which is something totally different. Even an administrator sometimes needs more rights, Windows telling the user has not rights to do a task. In this case you need to run the task elevated, using built-in administrator rights.

    Built-in Administrator Account - Enable or Disable
    Elevated Program Shortcut without UAC Prompt - Create

    Kari
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 122
    Windows 7 64 bit Home Premium
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Kari, My account that I've always used shows me as a standard user and when I try and change that the control button is greyed out and makes the change impossible. I cannot find an administrator for my machine. Right now I'm trying to run the commands that Vista King has suggested which I will do and report back. But I cannot find an admin account from what I can tell.
      My Computer


 
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