Computer's admin profile inaccessible
Hi Experts,
A client's machine running Windows 10 (free upgrade) is now experiencing an issue whereby the main (admin) profile on the PC is inaccessible. The secondary profile is a standard user, which is making the whole situation a bit of a pain. The parent folder for the admin account appears to be present, though accessing through a standard profile gives me no indication of what's inside.
What I need to do, in no particular order, is:
1/ Gain access to the admin account;
2/ Change the standard account into one with admin rights (very easy, usually);
3/ Have the admin account's user profile appear on PC startup (only the standard profile's icon appears, at this stage, with the 'log in' button underneath as though it's the only profile present.
This machine is a local, stand-along machine which has never been on a domain.
Let the solutions flow...
A client's machine running Windows 10 (free upgrade) is now experiencing an issue whereby the main (admin) profile on the PC is inaccessible. The secondary profile is a standard user, which is making the whole situation a bit of a pain. The parent folder for the admin account appears to be present, though accessing through a standard profile gives me no indication of what's inside.
What I need to do, in no particular order, is:
1/ Gain access to the admin account;
2/ Change the standard account into one with admin rights (very easy, usually);
3/ Have the admin account's user profile appear on PC startup (only the standard profile's icon appears, at this stage, with the 'log in' button underneath as though it's the only profile present.
This machine is a local, stand-along machine which has never been on a domain.
Let the solutions flow...
The administrator account from Windows 7 forward has been disabled by default and design.
The First User is always the local admin and NOT standard.
So if the user here has screwed things up, you need to reset the password offline with Pogostick as referenced above.
The First User is always the local admin and NOT standard.
So if the user here has screwed things up, you need to reset the password offline with Pogostick as referenced above.
ASKER
Hi guys,
I have the admin password but no access to the account itself. When I've gone into the (traditional) Control Panel, I've accessed the current (standard) account and attempted to either change its account type (to administrator) or manage another account. In both instances, I get the attached pic.
As you can see, there is no place to type in the password and the 'Yes' button remains greyed out.
I have the admin password but no access to the account itself. When I've gone into the (traditional) Control Panel, I've accessed the current (standard) account and attempted to either change its account type (to administrator) or manage another account. In both instances, I get the attached pic.
As you can see, there is no place to type in the password and the 'Yes' button remains greyed out.
ASKER
Are you able to run System File Checker ? You need to be admin, open cmd.exe with Run as Administrator and run SFC /SCANNOW. Allow to complete and restart. You cannot run this from a standard user unless you can ok it.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Well John just did his job.
I should have posted the solution and then provide the link.
If safe mode won’t help, you can try the following:
Try booting from your DVD and enabling the built-in Administrator account that is disabled by default.
Choose to”Repair your computer“.
Choose “Command Prompt“. Now type the following:
net user administrator /active:yes [press Enter]
net user administrator password:11223344 [press Enter]
Once you enable the Administrator account, you will see an icon for an Admin account on the Welcome Screen when you reboot and can get into Windows with the password we’ve used during repair 11223344.
http://www.wincert.net/microsoft-windows/windows-7/windows-7-administrator-disabled/
Hopefully this is right now..
I should have posted the solution and then provide the link.
If safe mode won’t help, you can try the following:
Try booting from your DVD and enabling the built-in Administrator account that is disabled by default.
Choose to”Repair your computer“.
Choose “Command Prompt“. Now type the following:
net user administrator /active:yes [press Enter]
net user administrator password:11223344 [press Enter]
Once you enable the Administrator account, you will see an icon for an Admin account on the Welcome Screen when you reboot and can get into Windows with the password we’ve used during repair 11223344.
http://www.wincert.net/microsoft-windows/windows-7/windows-7-administrator-disabled/
Hopefully this is right now..
ASKER
With a nudge from Thinkpads_User, this solution came about.
If its password issues then you could use a utility like Offline Password Editor to change/blank the password.
http://pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/
If its a different reason then please include any error messages or other information related.