Microtek Scanner Software (Scanwizard) Says I Don't have Admin Privileges - but I do

you can test the software on another xp pc - to see if it is not corrupt
the only other option i see is creating another admin account to test from

Sadly, creating another admin account didn't work.
I'm fairly sure the software itself isn't corrupt, as I have tried numerous versions, all with the same result.  And, it is software that I have successfully installed in the past.

Oddly, I am able to do all sorts of other things that require admin access (like, for example, create an account with administrator privileges!)  It's just this particular software, in all its variants, that won't recognize this.

My first guess is that the Scanmaker installer is getting an error trying to copy a file to a destination folder and is spitting out that "admin" message just because it is the most common reason, but not the only reason.  

Are you doing anything non-default during installation, like  trying to override the destination folder?  Do you have enough freespace on the hard drive?  Are there any network shares involved in the install path?   Anything unusual about protected folders on the hard drive?

If you're not taking the default destination - try it.  If you are, then try giving an explicit destination folder instead.

The latest version of the scanmaker software is available on cnet.   You may want to confirm it is the same version as the one you are using.  Click "Download the latest version" and see if the file you get is the same as the one you are using:

http://download.cnet.com/Microtek-ScanMaker-ScanWizard/3000-2118_4-124376.html

Good thoughts, thanks.  I don't think I'm trying to do anything non-default, no.   I'm downloading the file, and running it, from the c: drive; it expands itself into several directories, and then runs the setup.exe, all from the C: drive, which has plenty of room.

I don't think I've got anything unusual going on with the protected folders on the hard drive, and I ran sfc a few minutes ago to confirm that all my system files are intact.

The  version you've pointed to is for MacOS but, in any event, I've tried several versions of the Scanwizard software, including the latest available from MIcrotek's site.

Some notes that may apply - some relating to XP in spite of the article title.  See especially #19:

http://ww3.microtek.com.tw/tw/uploads/faq/pdf/scanner_vista_howto8.pdf

I've read through that, which I should have mentioned in the original posting, and unfortunately none of it helped.  #19, in particular, is about permissions required to RUN the software, rather than to install it.

I think I may have to just give up and get a new scanner.  

Sorry.

You don't have any anti-virus running, do you.

Tough one.

it could also be a corrupt OS - did you run sfc, or even a repair install yet ?
http://www.updatexp.com/scannow-sfc.html                        SFC use in XP
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm            Repair install  XP

nobus - as mentioned in an earlier post (but easy to miss), I did run SFC, with no change in the result.

I am using Microsoft security essentials, but even when I turn off real time protection, I have no difference in the result.

Crikey!

try a repair then?

Wouldn't a repair mangle a lot of my current registry settings, necessary for function of my various applications, such that I'd have to re-do their installation and/or configuration?  I've always thought of that as kind of a "last resort".

i never had any problems with it  - but read the article completely first, before starting; always a good procedure to do so

I found this on my own , eventually.

tx for feedback