Can't open photos with built in administrator

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  1. Posts : 8
    Win 10
       #1

    Can't open photos with built in administrator


    Okay as it implies I can't open photos, I did have this problem before on my other computers. Whenever I try to add a new account it takes me to setttings and when I hit the button to add another account I get a black windows box for half second and nothing happens. Should I try and make a windows account and login or what?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 5,169
    64bit Win 10 Pro ver 21H2
       #2

    Hello Fyrd and welcome to the TenForums,

    None of the Windows Apps will work via the Built-in Administrator account. This is by design.

    The hidden built-in elevated "Administrator account" is a local account that has full unrestricted access rights to the PC. By default, this "Administrator" account will not be prompted by UAC. Anything that runs while signed in to this "Administrator" account will also have full unrestricted access to the PC, so it is not recommended to use the built-in "Administrator" account for everyday usage. It's recommended to only use the built-in "Administrator" account as needed instead.

    You should be able to add a new account though. Try the various options in https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5...dows-10-a.html
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 8
    Win 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    What happens if I can't even open the box to add local account or sign in with windows?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 5,169
    64bit Win 10 Pro ver 21H2
       #4

    It sounds as if you have some corrupted files on your system. Can you login to any account on your PC?

    If you can open an elevated command prompt (right click on your start button to access this) please run the command: sfc /scannow

    If this does not repair errors then you will need to run the command:
    Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth


    If you run into any problems with these commands have a look at the tutorials below:

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...dows-10-a.html

    https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/7...-10-image.html
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 8
    Win 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I did my best in running these commands and yielded nothing. Even in boot I can't seem to run the scan now. What is the next course of action. Should I roll back to 8 and start again?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5,478
    2004
       #6

    Fyrd said:
    What happens if I can't even open the box to add local account or sign in with windows?
    You can a a user from the command prompt. For example to add new user "NewUser" as part of the Administrators group:
    Code:
    net user "NewUser" "NewUsersPassword" /add
    net localgroup Administrators "NewUser" /add
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 8
    Win 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I managed to make another account but It still giving me the same error. What else is there left to do?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 5,169
    64bit Win 10 Pro ver 21H2
       #8

    Your original error was being unable to open photos with the built-in administrator account. Can you explain what is happening now you are using the new account? What app are you trying to use? What is the error message?

    So that we know the status of all your accounts can you also report back on the results of the following test.

    Open a command prompt (right click on start icon) and type wmic useraccount list full
    Refer to tutorial: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/3...dows-10-a.html
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 8
    Win 10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Anything Windows, photo viewer, and Windows movie and video. It gives me same error. Can't open with built in Administrator, then it goes on to say "Sign in to another account". It doesn't really give much information other than that basic sentence. Whenever I hit close another error box open up and it gives me the same thing plus whatever extension of the file I tried to open.



    AccountType=512
    Description=Built-in account for administering the computer/domain
    Disabled=TRUE
    Domain=Lenovo-PC
    FullName=
    InstallDate=
    LocalAccount=TRUE
    Lockout=FALSE
    Name=Administrator
    PasswordChangeable=TRUE
    PasswordExpires=FALSE
    PasswordRequired=TRUE
    SID=S-1-5-21-1896927433-2202731820-3763874318-500
    SIDType=1
    Status=Degraded


    AccountType=512
    Description=A user account managed by the system.
    Disabled=TRUE
    Domain=Lenovo-PC
    FullName=
    InstallDate=
    LocalAccount=TRUE
    Lockout=FALSE
    Name=DefaultAccount
    PasswordChangeable=TRUE
    PasswordExpires=TRUE
    PasswordRequired=TRUE
    SID=S-1-5-21-1896927433-2202731820-3763874318-503
    SIDType=1
    Status=Degraded


    AccountType=512
    Description=
    Disabled=FALSE
    Domain=Lenovo-PC
    FullName=
    InstallDate=
    LocalAccount=TRUE
    Lockout=FALSE
    Name=Dyrd
    PasswordChangeable=TRUE
    PasswordExpires=TRUE
    PasswordRequired=TRUE
    SID=S-1-5-21-1896927433-2202731820-3763874318-1004
    SIDType=1
    Status=OK


    AccountType=512
    Description=Built-in account for guest access to the computer/domain
    Disabled=TRUE
    Domain=Lenovo-PC
    FullName=
    InstallDate=
    LocalAccount=TRUE
    Lockout=FALSE
    Name=Guest
    PasswordChangeable=FALSE
    PasswordExpires=FALSE
    PasswordRequired=FALSE
    SID=S-1-5-21-1896927433-2202731820-3763874318-501
    SIDType=1
    Status=Degraded


    AccountType=512
    Description=Built-in account for homegroup access to the computer
    Disabled=FALSE
    Domain=Lenovo-PC
    FullName=HomeGroupUser$
    InstallDate=
    LocalAccount=TRUE
    Lockout=FALSE
    Name=HomeGroupUser$
    PasswordChangeable=TRUE
    PasswordExpires=FALSE
    PasswordRequired=TRUE
    SID=S-1-5-21-1896927433-2202731820-3763874318-1003
    SIDType=1
    Status=OK


    AccountType=512
    Description=
    Disabled=FALSE
    Domain=Lenovo-PC
    FullName=Dasher
    InstallDate=
    LocalAccount=TRUE
    Lockout=FALSE
    Name=Owner
    PasswordChangeable=TRUE
    PasswordExpires=FALSE
    PasswordRequired=FALSE
    SID=S-1-5-21-1896927433-2202731820-3763874318-1001
    SIDType=1
    Status=OK

    What do I exactly look for? The degraded part? Do I change that in Command?
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #10

    There's nothing wrong with your Windows, most probably nothing corrupted. I think you are in so called Audit Mode in which Windows by default always signs in with the built-in admin account. In Audit Mode the only Windows UWP app working is Settings, all others (Edge, Photos, Mail, Weather, People and so on) can't be used, no new user accounts can be created using Settings > Accounts.

    Windows remains in Audit Mode even after restart if user has not specifically told Windows to exit from Audit Mode to OOBE Mode using the Windows System Preparation Tool (Sysprep).

    I think a bit theory is important now making this post quite long; if you are not interested in the boring stuff, jump to label Solution below. OK?

    Note   Note
    The solution given takes you to normal Windows operating mode with a normal local or MS user account even if you would not be stuck in Audit Mode as I suspect.

    The given solution involves no risk for functionality of Windows being completely safe.


     The boring stuff


    Windows has four operational modes:
    1. OOBE Mode (Out-Of-Box Experience), also called Welcome Mode
      • Uses Windows PE (Preinstallation Environment) for setting up Windows after installation
      • In OOBE user sets up language and formats, can customize settings or select defauls with Express settings, sets up the initial user account and so on
      • All clean installs and first boot of any preinstalled Windows go through OOBE

    2. Normal Mode
      • The normal mode of Windows
      • Windows enters normal mode when OOBE (setup) is done
      • In ideal case when Windows works without any major issues user never needs to leave normal mode

    3. Safe Mode
      • A troubleshooting mode with only the drivers and files needed for bare minimum functionality of Windows

    4. Audit Mode
      • A special mode of Windows allowing customization of Windows install image before any user account have been created
      • Audit Mode always signs in with the built-in administrator account because it is normally used when Windows have been installed but there are no user accounts created yet
      • Once started, Windows remains in Audit Mode until user specifically exits it to OOBE with Sysprep

    An example of using Audit Mode can be seen in this tutorial: Windows 10 Image - Customize in Audit Mode with Sysprep - Windows 10 Forums

    Using the method in above tutorial I for instance always create a personalized Windows image which I then deploy to my machines instead of clean installing, customizing and installing software separately on each computer. In doing so I can customize the default user profile meaning whenever a new user account is created, it gets the defaults set by me (wallpaper, theme, screensaver, icon settings, Explorer settings, browser homepages, software and so on).

    My customizations also include the OEM information seen in System properties. Easiest way to personalize this is to use Audit Mode and Sysprep. In screenshot an example about personalized OEM information, custom PC info (A), custom support info including support website link (B) and custom OEM logo (C), Finnish flag in my case:

    Can't open photos with built in administrator-2016_06_21_10_21_011.png

    I am not sure how you have ended up in Audit Mode. Usually there are only two ways to start Windows in Audit Mode. First one is to restart from OOBE when Settings dialog (titled Get going fast) is shown:

    Can't open photos with built in administrator-2016_06_21_10_23_552.png

    Pressing CTRL+SHIFT+F3 now instead of selecting Express or Custom settings will restart Windows in Audit Mode using the built-in administrator account before any actual user accounts have been created.

    The second way to start in Audit Mode from existing Windows installation is to use either the Sysprep GUI (C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep\Sysprep.exe) selecting Enter System Audit Mode, Restart and clicking OK:

    Can't open photos with built in administrator-2016_06_21_10_28_423.png

    ... or using command %windir%\system32\sysprep\sysprep.exe /audit /reboot in an elevated command prompt.

    However, it's now not important for me to know how you got there, let's get you you out from there :)



     Solution (boot to OOBE)

    1.) Browse to C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep folder, run Sysprep.exe:

    Can't open photos with built in administrator-2016_06_21_10_32_014.png

    2.) Select Systen Cleanup Action: Enter System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE), select Shutdown Options: Reboot, click OK:

    Can't open photos with built in administrator-2016_06_21_10_34_185.png

    3.) You will see that Sysprep starts working:

    Can't open photos with built in administrator-2016_06_21_10_34_596.png

    4.) Audit Mode always exists to OOBE. You need now to go through it starting with selecting language, time zone and formats,

    Can't open photos with built in administrator-2016_06_21_10_54_541.png

    5.) If Windows has already been activated or the PC has digital entitlement, select Do this later when prompted for a product key:

    Can't open photos with built in administrator-2016_06_21_10_38_138.png

    6.) You must set up a user every time OOBE is run. If Audit Mode was entered from an existing Windows installation and user accounts already exist, you cannot use any existing MS or local user account here. In screenshot I have tried to use / setup user Kari but because that user already exists I am told to use another username:

    Can't open photos with built in administrator-2016_06_21_10_41_009.png

    That's it. You have now exited Audit Mode and are in Windows normal mode. Edge and other Windows UWP apps work as they should.

    Kari
    Last edited by Kari; 21 Jun 2016 at 18:00. Reason: Lots of typos :)
      My Computer


 

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