Migrating User Account to Administrator

[Hyphen]

I just found out about the hidden Administrator account in 7, herp derp. I hate UAC prompts and I want to use the account. How can I migrate everything from my old user account to Administrator while not breaking any program dependencies or anything like that?

 

[seavixen32]

You might want to read this article, but it doesn't sound particularly easy: Configuring Default User Settings

 

[Ztruker]

Why not just make your current account Administrator if it isn't already and disable UAC? You do that via msconfig / Tools tab.

 

[Hyphen]

Why not just make your current account Administrator if it isn't already and disable UAC? You do that via msconfig / Tools tab.

I've read that the built-in Administrator account is different? My user account has alwyas been set as an Administrator but I still get UAC prompts. I've heard the true Administrator account doesn't. I don't want UAC disabled.

 

[Ztruker]

I'm sorry but you aren't making any sense. If you could use the built in Administrator account and it did not give you any UAC prompts then you have effectively disabled UAC. How is that different from disabling UAC and using the account you now use?

I'm not trying to give you a hard time, I just don't understand.

 

[seavixen32]

Why not just make your current account Administrator if it isn't already and disable UAC? You do that via msconfig / Tools tab.

I've read that the built-in Administrator account is different? My user account has alwyas been set as an Administrator but I still get UAC prompts. I've heard the true Administrator account doesn't. I don't want UAC disabled.

Yours is an administrator account because you have only set up one user account on your computer.

However, your account does not have the full permissions that the hidden administrator account has.

If you decide to unhide the "real" administrator account you'll have two account icons on your desktop:

One will be for an account named Administrator that runs without any UAC prompts and the other will be for your user account that will use UAC unless you decide to disable it.

What people sometimes do is use the "real" administrator account to install new programs and drivers, without the hassle of UAC, and then switch to their own account when using their computer.

 

[t-4-2]

I'm sorry but you aren't making any sense. If you could use the built in Administrator account and it did not give you any UAC prompts then you have effectively disabled UAC. How is that different from disabling UAC and using the account you now use?

I'm not trying to give you a hard time, I just don't understand.

If I may interject.....
I think what the OP wants is to have his/her own admin/standard account NOT to be bothered by UAC prompts.
The OP wants it the same way as if using the built-in admin account... no uac interference.

 

[seavixen32]

This workaround I used for Vista may be what he's after:

UAC without Prompts

Vista Ultimate

Start
Run
Type secpol.msc
OK or Enter
Local Policies
Security Options
User Account Control: Behaviour of the Elevation Prompt for Administrators in Admin Approval Mode – set to Elevate without Prompt
OK
Restart computer

Vista Home Basic or Home Premium

Start
Run
Type regedit
Navigate to:
HKEY­_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Current Version\Policies\System
Set Dword ConsentPromptBehaviorAdmin to 0.

The workaround should be good for Windows 7 as well.

It means that UAC is not disabled, but he won't get nagged by it either.

 

[t-4-2]

Why not just make your current account Administrator if it isn't already and disable UAC? You do that via msconfig / Tools tab.

I've read that the built-in Administrator account is different? My user account has alwyas been set as an Administrator but I still get UAC prompts. I've heard the true Administrator account doesn't. I don't want UAC disabled.

You are right. You should not disable UAC.
It is not advisable to use the Built-in Admin Account because it can do anything without being prompted for warned. That opens the danger of doing something bad and damage the computer.
The Built-in Admin Account should be your emergency account to fix the mess you might have made.

Here is an alternative :
User Account Control (UAC) - Elevate Privilege Level
User Account Control (UAC) - Elevate Privilege Level - Vista Forums

The above tutorial will work in Win 7. I am using it.
Warning : even then, you still have to be careful in what you are doing.

 

[Hyphen]

I want to migrate everything from my user account to the Administrator account, without any issues or breaking of dependencies is really what I want to do.

 

[NashvilleKit]

More on this fascinating (?) issue

OK, I've read all this and I THINK I understand. HOWEVER ... there is still a difference between a user (who has administrator privileges - like me who is the ONLY user) and the actual (normally hidden) Administrator account. Even if I right-click on my desktop Regedit icon and click 'Run as Administrator' I do NOT get the same privileges as if I were to logoff and logon as the (normally hidden) Administrator.

For example, in Blink's wonderful tutorials about "cleaning up" the Navigation pane, he references a Key called HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node. When you run Regedit "as Administrator", you do NOT see that Key. When you actually logon as the Administrator, you do see the 'Wow6432Node' Key. Now Blink does instruct you to logon as Administrator, but I was going to cheat and discovered this anomaly.

Now for my 2 problems:

(1) Somehow in messing around on my desktop, I have managed to UNHIDE the Administrator user account and it causes me to have to click on my name whenever I boot my PC. I.e., it stops and displays TWO user icons forcing me to select mine. I am the only real user, my location is secure and I do not use passwords, so all my systems have always booted straight to 'ready to use.' How do I rehide the Administrator?

(2) Ironically enough, my other related problem is my Win7 laptop which I use only when traveling. I have never accidentally unhidden the Administrator and I need to find out how I logon as Administrator in order to follow Blinks NavPane cleanups. Ugh.

NO NEED TO REPLY -- I found the answer on this fantastic web site immediately after I wrote the above. It's at: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/507-built-administrator-account-enable-disable.html