Hi. I'm trying to reinstall Windows, since I don't have access to an admin account. I currently have Windows 10 Home, version 2H22 installed.
The problem is that A) my system doesn't boot from USB and B) even if it did, I can't install anything from exe files. No Media Creation Tool for me.
If you enable the built-in (normally hidden) admin account you can proceed to create the admin account you should have but have apparently lost somehow.since I don't have access to an admin account.
Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10
How is it that you have lost access to the normal admin account you should have?
If this happened recently you could potentially use System Restore by forcing your PC to boot into Advanced Startup options (power button to interrupt boot 3x).
You would need to know the appropriate password.
If you have or can beg access to another PC you can create a Win 10 bootable install disk on that of course.
To boot a system from a bootable disk you need either tomy system doesn't boot from USB
- configure boot priority in your BIOS/UEFI
or
- hit the appropriate key during POST (just after power up) to have a boot selection screen displayed.
The key depends on the BIOS/UEFI manufacturer - a list is available in the relevant tutorial in the huge searchable Tutorials section.
It doesn't matter if you have Windows 10 Home or Pro.
As stated, there should be at least one visible Admin account on the computer. Did you previously have a Admin account? Is there another Admin User you can login as?
If you are a standard user, you will need an Admin Password to make changes, download, install software and to enable the Hidden Administrator Account.
You do not need to build your Windows 10 installer USB Flash drive from that computer, you can go to any other computer that you own, or your friends. Download Media Creation Tool and burn the Windows 10 ISO Image. Or have the administrator on this computer do it.
I believe I disabled the default account myself. As for booting from USB, I just checked: that option isn't in the BIOS setup. The system in question is a Dell Optiplex 7010 with BIOS version A28.
You cannot Disable the Admin account, you can create a Standard User with no Admin rights. If you are logged in as a standard user, when you download or install software a prompt comes up asking for the Admin Password. If you still remember your Admin account Password, type that in.
If you are not an authorized Admin user, then you will need to contact that person.
If you have a Bootable USB Flash drive with the Windows Installer on it, you put the USB drive in and restart the computer and press F12 repeatedly. You should see a one time change of boot order. Select the USB Flash drive and it will boot the computer from the Flash,.
That is, if you have a USB Flash drive with the Windows Installer burned to it. If that doesn't work, then either the Flash drive doesn't have a Bootable Installer on it, or the USB Flash drive was not selected as the first boot device. Test the Flash drive on another computer.
I'm telling you, there's no USB option. Therefore, I cannot boot the system from a flash drive.
Quote