Computers Windows

How To Login As An Administrator in Windows

Published at 03/29/2012 16:32:08

Introduction

The average PC user doesn't need administrator privileges. Instead the standard user account is more that sufficient to meet many user needs. Standard accounts have more restrictions in an effort to prevent users from accidentally or intentionally make changes to the operating system.

The User Account Control feature in Windows might be the reason why people may need to log in as an administrator. When UAC is active, a standard user cannot make basic changes to the operating system, such as maybe updating device drivers or enabling or disabling the firewall. An administrator can do just about anything with ease on a PC, where a standard user would be blocked from making changes, or at least receive a stern warning that they are about to change something in the operating system. Logging in as an administrator in Windows is possible in a couple of different ways.

 

Step 1

Log in as an administrator in Windows by having another person with administrator privileges upgrade your account from the standard level. You can either ask this person for his or her username and password or having them log in to the account themselves.

 

 

 

Step 2

Click on the Start button in the bottom left hand corner of the Windows desktop. Type "user accounts" in the search box at the bottom of the Start Menu if you have Windows Vista or Windows 7. Click Manage Another Account. Click on the icon for your user account that currently has standard privileges. Click on Change the Account Type. Select the option that changes the account to an administrator.

Step 3

Log out of the other people administrator account in Windows. Log back into Windows using your own user account name and password, that was just upgraded from a standard to a administrator account.

Step 4

Right-click on the icon for an application or a file and select Run As Administrator. This allows you to use your elevated privileges to use a program that is restricted to administrative privileges. Log in with your username and password.

Step 5

Restart your computer if none of the previous steps allowed you to log in as an administrator. Enter "Safe Mode" when Windows begins to boot back up. On some computers you can press the "F8" key on the keyboard, but refer to your users manual just be sure. In some versions of Windows, Microsoft created an administrator account that may or may not be password protected.

Tips and Comments

Be careful not to delete files on your hard drive that are related to the Windows operating system, which is possible while logged in as an administrator.

Sources and Citations

  1. "How do I log on as an administrator?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/How-do-I-log-on-as-an-administrator>.
  2. " How do I mark an application to always require a full administrator access token?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/How-do-I-mark-an-application-to-always-require-a-full-administrator-access-token>.
  3. " How do I run an application once with a full administrator access token?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/How-do-I-run-an-application-once-with-a-full-administrator-access-token>.
  4. " User Account Control: Use Admin Approval Mode for the built-in Administrator account (Win7)." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/User-Account-Control-Use-Admin-Approval-Mode-for-the-built-in-Administrator-account>.
  5. " User accounts: frequently asked questions." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/User-accounts-frequently-asked-questions>.
  6. " What are User Account Control settings?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/What-are-User-Account-Control-settings>.
  7. " What is User Account Control?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/What-is-User-Account-Control>.
  8. " What is an administrator account?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/What-is-an-administrator-account>.
  9. " What to do if you forget your Windows password." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/What-to-do-if-you-forget-your-Windows-password>.
  10. " Why is User Account Control necessary?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/Why-is-User-Account-Control-necessary>.
  11. " Why use a standard user account instead of an administrator account?." Microsoft Windows. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2012. <http://Windows.microsoft.com/en-U.S./Windows7/Why-use-a-standard-user-account-instead-of-an-administrator-account>.

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