How to deal with System 5 Error?

[MalcolmW]

I have unsuccessfully followed option two at the url: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/507-built-administrator-account-enable-disable.html
and executing the command: net user administrator /active:yes returns system error 5. Please see the screen shot attached.

The other options I have tried are also unsuccessful.

I would be glad of any guidance as to how I can deal with this error.

Malcolm Walker

 

[Lemur]

Try running at an elevated command prompt.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/783-elevated-command-prompt.html

 

[MalcolmW]

Try running at an elevated command prompt.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/783-elevated-command-prompt.html

Thank you for your response.

The screen shot with my OP is of an elevated command prompt. To the best of my knowledge opening a non elevated command prompt will return: C:\Users\[name] as the prompt.

Whereas opening an elevated command prompt will return:
C:\Windows\system32 as the prompt. This is as shown in my screen shot.

So I can confirm that the system 5 error occurs from an elevated command prompt. I would be glad of any guidance as to how I can deal with this error.

Malcolm Walker

 

[Darician]

Well, let's take a look at this Microsoft KB Article: "System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied." error message may appear Besides, I think you're doing it the hard way, you can go to Local Users and Groups within Computer Management and enable the account through there.

 

[pbcopter]

If you are running an elevated command prompt, the title (top of window border) will say Administrator:Command Prompt

 

[MalcolmW]

If you are running an elevated command prompt, the title (top of window border) will say Administrator:Command Prompt

Then on my system the right click context menu command `Run as an Administrator' is not working as detailed elsewhere in this forum and in other Websites. So I'll rephrase my request:

How do I open a command prompt as the hidden Administrator?

Or

How do I open Computer Management as the hidden Administrator in order to be able to enable the Administrator account and then log-in to Windows as the Administrator?

Malcolm Walker

 

[MalcolmW]

Well, let's take a look at this Microsoft KB Article: "System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied." error message may appear

I have looked in detail at MSKB article 555644 and have not found anything to assist me. The check list in italics follows with my comments in plain type.

1. Verity correct time zone and clock synchronization:
To do this administrator rights are needed. Administrator rights are not available to me - hence the need to enable the hidden Administrator.
Windows Time Service Technical Reference
http://technet2.microsoft.com/Windo...a0fcd250-e5f7-41b3-b0e8-240f8236e2101033.mspx
Going to this URL returns:
Server Error in '/WINDOWSSERVER' Application. Runtime Error

2. Verity correct permissions on the remote host.
Tip: A useful that can be used is: (GPResult.exe) Command Line Tool
How to Use the Group Policy Results (GPResult.exe) Command Line Tool
How to Use the Group Policy Results (GPResult.exe) Command Line Tool
3. Open the required ports on the remote computer.
As I am not accessing a remote computer I wonder how items 2 and 3 could be relevant?

4. Verity that the computer account is active and the computer connect to the domain.
Tip: A useful that can be used is: Netdom.exe Command Line Tool Netdom.exe
Netdom Overview: Networking and Communications
The article at this URL is dated 28th March 2003 and relates to network connections applicable to Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2. There is no reference to Windows 7

5. Verity correct replication in the Active Directory Replication.
Troubleshooting File Replication Service
Troubleshooting File Replication Service
Network issues seem to be related to the File Replication Service.

To sum up the commonly stated method of making the hidden Adminstrator account available at Windows log-in doesn't work on my system. So does it work for any of the contributors to this thread? Or maybe I have a rogue upgrade to Windows 7 from XP Home? I did follow the upgrade instructions very carefully at the time.

Gentlemen of the Windows SevenForums I need your help.

Malcolm Walker

 

[pbcopter]

Go to c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe.
Right click cmd.exe and select Run as Administrator".

I don't know why your system doesn't elevate from the normal command prompt.

 

[MalcolmW]

Go to c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe.
Right click cmd.exe and select Run as Administrator".

Thank you but unfortunately the behaviour remains consistent with the same error message being returned:
(The command prompt window is titled C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe that from another reply in this thread indicates the command prompt is not elevated.)

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\System32>net user administrator /active:yes
System error 5 has occurred.
Access is denied.
C:\Windows\System32>

I don't know why your system doesn't elevate from the normal command prompt.

Then it surely follows that as my system doesn't appear to elevate the command prompt has to be related to the System 5 error. I'll try searching on that error again and will report in due course.

In the meantime my thanks to the contributors to this thread; for your interest and the time you have taken to respond. It is very much appreciated.

Malcolm Walker

 

[Dzomlija]

If you are running an elevated command prompt, the title (top of window border) will say Administrator:Command Prompt

Then on my system the right click context menu command `Run as an Administrator' is not working as detailed elsewhere in this forum and in other Websites. So I'll rephrase my request:

How do I open a command prompt as the hidden Administrator?

Or

How do I open Computer Management as the hidden Administrator in order to be able to enable the Administrator account and then log-in to Windows as the Administrator?

Malcolm Walker

Try creating a shortcut to CMD on the desktop:

1. Click the Start Orb rb:
2. Type "cmd" (without quotes) in the search box
3. Right-Click "cmd" in the search results, then click "Copy"
4. Right-click an unused part of the desktop, then click "Paste Shortcut"
5. Right-click the new "cmd - Shortcut", then select "Properties"
6. In the "Shortcut" tab, click the "Advanced" button
7. Add a checkmark to the "Run as administrator" box
8. Click OK
9. Click OK
10. Open the command prompt window using the shortcut on the desktop you've just creaated, and try running the "net user administrator /active:yes"

Although my advice to you would be to leave the built-in adminstrators account turned of for security, and then rather try to figure out why the normal right-click-run-as-administrator" isn't working...

 

[MalcolmW]

Thank you but I had tried your suggestion with the same outcome:
System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied.

As I do not have an account with administrator rights in my system I have a need to enable the hidden Administrator account so that I can implement changes to the users accounts. Otherwise this matter would not be an issue for me.

Malcolm Walker

 

[Dzomlija]

Thank you but I had tried your suggestion with the same outcome:
System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied.

As I do not have an account with administrator rights in my system I have a need to enable the hidden Administrator account so that I can implement changes to the users accounts. Otherwise this matter would not be an issue for me.

Malcolm Walker

How many user accounts are setup on the computer? If you're the only one, then there is no way (other than user account corruption or malware/virus infection) that you can be a standard user.

If you ARE the only user account, then you are the Administrator, although in Windows Vista and Windows 7, the administrator is reduced in rights for normal use, and is elevated only when needed, which is the cornerstone of UAC, and why it works so well.

Have you lowered, or worse, turned off your UAC settings? Try settings you UAC levels back to defaults, and try the "Run as Administrator" again.

Whatever the outcome, there is more going on here than just a "simple error message"...

 

[Darician]

I am curious, if you go to Computer Management then Local Users and Groups and click on Users, do you see Administrator listed there? If so, if you double click on Administrator, can you uncheck the option to have the account disabled? And if this is possible, does the Administrator then show up on the login screen?

 

[MalcolmW]

I am curious, if you go to Computer Management then Local Users and Groups and click on Users, do you see Administrator listed there? If so, if you double click on Administrator, can you uncheck the option to have the account disabled? And if this is possible, does the Administrator then show up on the login screen?

Thank you for your interest. Administrator is listed but the answer is No as `Access is Denied' with no further information. Also the right click context menu does not include `Run as Administrator' when starting Computer Management from Start | Search | Computer Management.

However from Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Computer Management can be started with `Run as an Administrator' but regrettably the same error message is returned again bereft of any further information.

 

[wysiwyg]

Are you sure you have 7 Professional and not 7 Home Premium.?

Type winver in Search.

 

[Dzomlija]

I am curious, if you go to Computer Management then Local Users and Groups and click on Users, do you see Administrator listed there? If so, if you double click on Administrator, can you uncheck the option to have the account disabled? And if this is possible, does the Administrator then show up on the login screen?

Thank you for your interest. Administrator is listed but the answer is No as `Access is Denied' with no further information. Also the right click context menu does not include `Run as Administrator' when starting Computer Management from Start | Search | Computer Management.

However from Control Panel | Administrative Tools | Computer Management can be started with `Run as an Administrator' but regrettably the same error message is returned again bereft of any further information.

Again, have you adjusted your UAC settings in any way, and what happens if you reset UAC back to default settings?

 

[MalcolmW]

Whatever the outcome, there is more going on here than just a "simple error message"...

This is the situation:
From Control Panel | Users Accounts three users are listed:
TestNet - Administrator
Malcolm - Standard
Guest - Guest account is off

From a Command Prompt Run as Administrator returns:
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\System32>net users
User accounts for \\TESTNET
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Administrator Guest another*
Malcolm Testnet
The command completed successfully.
C:\Windows\System32>
*`another' is the user I need to delete.

I turned UAC off sometime ago and the option to turn it back on is not available to the Adminstrator Testnet and although the option appears for the Standard user Malcolm, apart from a screen flicker, nothing happens when it is clicked or double clicked.

 

[MalcolmW]

Are you sure you have 7 Professional and not 7 Home Premium.? Type winver in Search.

Proof positive!

 

[wysiwyg]

 

[Dzomlija]

Whatever the outcome, there is more going on here than just a "simple error message"...

This is the situation:
From Control Panel | Users Accounts three users are listed:
TestNet - Administrator
Malcolm - Standard
Guest - Guest account is off

From a Command Prompt Run as Administrator returns:
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7600]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
C:\Windows\System32>net users
User accounts for \\TESTNET
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Administrator Guest another*
Malcolm Testnet
The command completed successfully.
C:\Windows\System32>
*`another' is the user I need to delete.

I turned UAC off sometime ago and the option to turn it back on is not available to the Adminstrator Testnet and although the option appears for the Standard user Malcolm, apart from a screen flicker, nothing happens when it is clicked or double clicked.

Login to the TestNet account, then change "Malcolm" to administrator, log off, then login to Malcolm