Windows 7 Administrator Privileges

[peekaboo]

My wife asked me to set her Windows 7 so that it doesn't revert to the login screen after turning on the screen saver or turning off the monitor.
I typed "control userpasswords2" into the "run" application and unchecked the "users must enter password to log on...".
I'm 95% sure I clicked on "cancel" but still it logged out and back in and now my wife's account, which is the only account, cannot run anything as administrator.
Everything I try to run makes the UAC pop up and the "yes" button is grayed out.

Help.

[mikeL]

Did you go check to make sure the "Log in without password" took effect, if it did, and you cannot change it back. You can always do a system restore to a time before you changed the settings.

Also see if your wife is in the administrator group, it may have bumped her down to just a user.
Control Panel > User Accounts

I haven't delved into the "Log in without Password" on Win 7, I will give it a try after work today, and see if the same happens.

[peekaboo]

I'm pretty sure I clicked "cancel" but apparently it still took effect.
I wanted to do a system restore but when I try to run it, the UAC pops up with the "yes" grayed out.
Can't open "Control Panel > User Accounts" either.
I couldn't even install Acrobat Reader last night.
Surely there is a way to restore Administrator privileges.

This behavior of Windows 7 which is forcing me to google unsuccessfully in order to make basic changes to my own damn system is very annoying.
Very Linux like.

[EzyStvy]

doesn't revert to the login screen after turning on the screen saver

As with ALL versions of Windows wouldn't you do this IN the Screen Saver window?

[mikeL]

Here's how to enable the Administrator account in Win7.

To enable the Windows 7 administrator account:

net user administrator /active:yes

To disable the Windows 7 administrator account:

net user administrator /active:no

To change the password of the Windows 7 administrator account:

Net user administrator password

[peekaboo]

Originally Posted by EzyStvy As with ALL versions of Windows wouldn't you do this IN the Screen Saver window?

I don't know. I'll be sure to try as soon as I get my privileges back.

[peekaboo]

Originally Posted by mikeL Here's how to enable the Administrator account in Win7. To enable the Windows 7 administrator account: net user administrator /active:yes To disable the Windows 7 administrator account: net user administrator /active:no To change the password of the Windows 7 administrator account: Net user administrator password

Where would I be entering this?

[mikeL]

from the command prompt, either go to Run- then type cmd.exe or go to Start > All Programs >Accessories > Command prompt

[peekaboo]

Typed in "net user administrator /active:yes"
Result: "System error 5 has occurred. Access is denied"

Most vexing.

[mikeL]

when you get to the cmd prompt icon in accessories right click on the icon and choose Run as Administrator, hopefully it will work for you.

[peekaboo]

Originally Posted by mikeL when you get to the cmd prompt icon in accessories right click on the icon and choose Run as Administrator, hopefully it will work for you.

Sadly, I cannot click the "yes" on the UAC popup as it is grayed out.
I feel like I have been locked out of my home by my coffee table.

[mikeL]

Sorry but I'm at a loss, about the only thing left would be a re-install.

[peekaboo]

Reinstall it is then.

[peekaboo]

Solved the issue (sort of) without a reinstall.
Unfortunately I'm not entirely sure how.
I installed the "test build update" and restarted the computer, I pressed F8 in order to boot in safe mode and got a notification that the update process failed.
Finally it booted into safe mode and the only account available was "Administrator". Logged in. Created a new account for my wife, another administrator account for me and rebooted.
That was that.

[mikeL]

Glad to hear it, you must of found a bug with win7.

[Real Newby]

Hi peekaboo and mikeL, it seem you are definately not alone! I have exactly yhe same problems, installed W7 2 months ago, got admin rights from the W-help through the channels, un-ticked the box "disable administrator rights" and installed all the programs. (Adobe, flash, axtive-x and others) all was good, then we (wife-n-I) wanted the start-up screen to not show the two buttons, and just start-up into our useable computer thingy.
Went back in, re-ticked the box, all was good and the system worked good.
Wind forward 3 weeks till 5 days ago, tried to install a program, don't have admin rights. OK, I'll un-check the box again, can do that, guess what? no-can do! went and did the CMD prompt thingy, and the Admin box is greyed out.....on every thing!
Very confused, can't install a simple program off the web for my 12yr olds home-work from "wordle". Can't install anything!
Computer works fine, but not the installing bit.
I read your fix, but it doesn't make any sense to me, sorry, limited computer boffin language.
One thing is good, we have the OP Sys on one HD and all out files on another, so all is saved... but this should be a simple fix...
as we say in AUS: "Not Happy Jan!"

[rustamabd]

lol, definitely no need to reinstall windows to fix this.
Here's a solution:
User Account Password - Change from WinRE - Windows 7 Forums
The idea is to boot in recovery console mode (f8), then temporarily replace magnify.exe with cmd.exe and enable the admin account.

[David M]

This thread originates back to May 10, 2009.