Administrator level User

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  1. Posts : 35
    Windows 10
       #1

    Administrator level User


    This sounds odd but I got a call from a friend who said that after completing a "recent" Win 10 update, he lost all admin privileges on his account. I got him to do a few checks remotely and it appears that he definitely does not have admin access. He is not aware of any other users on his laptop - it was a shared family computer - and I'm wondering if there is any easy way to check for other user accounts while not having administrator access.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,421
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    Activate the built-in Windows administrator account using option 5:
    Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10

    Then once logged in as the built-in administrator, your "friend" can then make their own user account an administrator:
    Change Account Type in Windows 10

    A Windows Update will not change an administrator account to a standard user account. There is something else going on.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 35
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    NavyLCDR said:
    ....
    A Windows Update will not change an administrator account to a standard user account. There is something else going on.
    This was my immediate reaction as well. I haven't actually seen the laptop myself and have been trying to resolve this via text messages. To say tedious is an understatement. However, I am certain there is nothing strange going on here other than a lack of knowledge.

    Thanks for the solution. I will have to get the laptop and do it myself as I'm not certain the owner could do so. I'll report back.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 35
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Got the laptop. It's a Lenovo G500 so possibly has Lenovo stuff in the way? Anyway, booted it normally and it opens into a regular account without admin privileges. Rebooted it into Recovery mode (per Option 5) and get Lenovo logo and Preparing Automatic Repair message; then Select Account + "You need to sign in as an administrator to continue but there aren't any administrator accounts on this PC". There is an option "Forgot your password or don't see your account?" but selecting that brings up a screen which should list admin accounts but there aren't any. Pressing the only option on that page Restart leads eventually to a BSOD with Stop code: 0xc00002e3 (which I know is misconfigured o/s or missing or damaged system files).

    Can anybody suggest next steps in resolving this?
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #5

    jimbobs said:
    "You need to sign in as an administrator to continue but there aren't any administrator accounts on this PC".

    Can anybody suggest next steps in resolving this?
    Use Option Five again, but this time boot from a Windows 10 install usb or recovery drive. You only get asked to select an administrator account if you boot from the system's own Advanced Startup.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 35
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Bree said:
    Use Option Five again, but this time boot from a Windows 10 install usb or recovery drive. You only get asked to select an administrator account if you boot from the system's own Advanced Startup.
    Thanks.
    I've just noticed that the laptop is now stuck trying to get into Recovery mode and won't boot into the user account that was on there. Is there a way to break out of Recovery mode?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,345
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #7

    jimbobs said:
    I'm wondering if there is any easy way to check for other user accounts while not having administrator access.
    This will not apply at this point in time but it might come in handy sooner or later.
    --- This PC > Local Disk C > Users. You will see whatever users are on the computer.

    Moving on to the Recovery mode question: is this what your Recovery mode screen looks like?
    Administrator level User-recovery-mode.jpg
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 35
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    MeAndMyComputer said:
    This will not apply at this point in time but it might come in handy sooner or later.
    --- This PC > Local Disk C > Users. You will see whatever users are on the computer.

    Moving on to the Recovery mode question: is this what your Recovery mode screen looks like?
    Administrator level User-recovery-mode.jpg
    It never actually gets there. It shows a Lenovo logo with an activity indicator and "Preparing Automatic Repair". Then it shows a screen with Select Account, etc.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 31,398
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #9

    jimbobs said:
    ... I'm wondering if there is any easy way to check for other user accounts while not having administrator access.
    A standard user can open a command prompt and use net users to list all user accounts. They can also use net localgroup administrators to list all administrator accounts.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 9,754
    Mac OS Catalina
       #10

    A "Administrator" User does not have "Root" privileges. A true Administrator can pretty much wreck a OS in Windows if you enable the actual Administrator aka Root account. Something else messed up with his Security Permissions and it could have been him just trying to get around the whole Trusted Installer Ownership. Lenovo's come with a built in utility to attempt to repair Windows from the Recovery Partition. Most likely when you tried to get into Windows Recovery, it was actually the Lenovo stuff. If you boot with a USB or DVD with Windows 10 burned to it, you can get around that whole Lenovo mess.
      My Computer


 

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