Windows 10 no administrator access

svenlandic · 15 Dec 2015

NavyLCDR said:

Yep, you done deleted all administrators except for the built in Administrator account...

You can try these fixes - should be the same for Windows 10:
Lost administrator account on Windows 7 - Microsoft Community

Oh, and make sure you do a Power -> restart to actually get a full cold boot, that might be required to activate the Administrator account when no other administrators are present in the system.

I ran 'net localgroup administrators' and got the exact same results as the others.

This all started when I enabled the built-in admin account (net user administrator /active:yes) so I could get past the error message: 'The requested operation requires elevation.' -even though I'm logged in with my microsoft account. This caused my admin account to be disabled so I changed it back to ..../active:no.... I eventually had to do a system restore to get it back to where it is now.

I followed the quoted link and all it's telling me to do is boot into safe mode to disable the built-in admin account albeit with a recovery disc. Right? And I did that except not with a disc. It's still not letting me run anything as admin. This is probably the most frustrating time I've ever had with an OS.

Will enabling the built-in admin automatically delete the other user accounts? Because I didn't intentionally delete anything.
At this point I'm not opposed to doing a clean install.

edit: I was able to create a shortcut to admin command prompt:
Right click on desktop--->New--->Shortcut
Type the location of the item: cmd
Click Next
Type a name for this shortcut: Elevated
Click Finish

We'll see where I get with this.

NavyLCDR · 15 Dec 2015

If you can run an elevated command prompt ("run as administrator" command prompt), such as with the built-in administrator account in safe mode, then you can add an administrator user account with these commands:

windows - Create admin user from command line - Super User

shortmort37 · 15 Dec 2015

NavyLCDR said:

If you can run an elevated command prompt ("run as administrator" command prompt), such as with the built-in administrator account in safe mode, then you can add an administrator user account with these commands:

windows - Create admin user from command line - Super User

I was unable to run an elevated command prompt. I was unable to do anything, except make a copy of my important files, and make a list of my installed programs. (Because I couldn't run task scheduler, I couldn't list the command line parameters for some cygwin jobs I run, so I had to recreate them.)

However, my problem is finally solved. I threw in the towel, wiped W10 and reinstalled W8.1. I'm just about back to where I was before this debacle started. I have to agree with the poster who said, this was the most frustrating experience I've ever had with an OS. Was I stupid enough to upgrade to W10 without having a secondary administrative account? Yes. But, apparently I'm not alone, and this is a hole into which many people are going to fall. It's unconscionable for M$ to permit you to undertake the upgrade without forcing you to create a local administrative account, or at least warn you. My $0.02, your mileage may vary.

Dan

svenlandic · 15 Dec 2015

I wasn't able to do anything with the admin CMD so I gave up and did a clean install with a Win10 iso. I have admin control, UAC, and everything else back but probably won't be able to revert back to 8.1. I planned on sticking with windows 10 no matter what anyway. I'll get everything hammered down in a few days.

jimbabwe · 16 Jan 2016

shortmort37 said:

I was unable to run an elevated command prompt. I was unable to do anything, except make a copy of my important files, and make a list of my installed programs. (Because I couldn't run task scheduler, I couldn't list the command line parameters for some cygwin jobs I run, so I had to recreate them.)

However, my problem is finally solved. I threw in the towel, wiped W10 and reinstalled W8.1. I'm just about back to where I was before this debacle started. I have to agree with the poster who said, this was the most frustrating experience I've ever had with an OS. Was I stupid enough to upgrade to W10 without having a secondary administrative account? Yes. But, apparently I'm not alone, and this is a hole into which many people are going to fall. It's unconscionable for M$ to permit you to undertake the upgrade without forcing you to create a local administrative account, or at least warn you. My $0.02, your mileage may vary.

Dan

I am currently working through the same problem and I think I am going to have to resort to the same solution - looks like I'm reinstalling. What a kick in the teeth...