I am the only user but I am a Local Administrator


  1. mlg
    Posts : 73
    Win 10 Prof
       #1

    I am the only user but I am a Local Administrator


    Windows 10, Version 21H1, Build 19043.1288
    There have been many messed up users and permissions on this machine over the years. At this point everything is working very well most of the time. But there are occasional situations, usually with a Windows file, when I'm denied access and told my request requires Administrative rights. This even happens if I try to delete said file from the Admin Command Prompt. Most recently this has occurred as I've tried to remove an app I installed from the Windows Store. Somehow it was installed several times and I want to clean out all the left over files before installing a fresh version.

    I don;'t know but I suspect that being a Local Administrator isn't the same as the BIG Administrator Windows wants under such circumstances. Is there an important difference between the two? Should I also have another User who is THE Administrator and somehow different from the Local one? If so, how might I fix this?

    There are no plans to move to Windows 11 since this desktop is about 4 years old and lacks some of the requirements. It's good and it was expensive - not expecting to upgrade for quite a while if possible.

    Thanks for all suggestions.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 8,057
    windows 10
       #2

    Windows has changed after the massive ransomware attacks so any key files are now by default protected and you can mess with them so any virus even with admin rights cant mess the system. For some files the UAC asks for conformation on some files but other are locked out if they are key even from admin.
    Trying to change any of this is dangerous and a security risk and you can brick the system
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 31,478
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #3

    mlg said:
    ... But there are occasional situations, usually with a Windows file, when I'm denied access and told my request requires Administrative rights...
    I don;'t know but I suspect that being a Local Administrator isn't the same as the BIG Administrator ... Should I also have another User who is THE Administrator and somehow different from the Local one?

    That shouldn't be necessary. Yes, you will be prompted at times that in order to continue you need to use your admin rights. This is because for most of the time, even though you are signed in as an administrator, for safety you are actually running most processes as a standard user. When prompted you can click 'OK' to continue with admin rights.

    You really don't want to use an account with the full blown rights of THE Administrator, all sorts of malware could then sneak past you and run with your admin rights. That used to be a real problem in XP, but with UAC in Windows 10 it can't run as admin without you being warned that it's trying to.

    This is all for our protection. Do not just automatically click OK every time you are prompted, especially if you were not expecting such a prompt.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 16,786
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #4

    mlg said:
    I don;'t know but I suspect that being a Local Administrator isn't the same as the BIG Administrator
    No, there are just Admin user accounts & Standard user accounts.
    - Even the Built-in Admin referred to above as "THE Administrator" is just an Admin, nothing more.

    If you try to open an elevated Cmd/PS window, if you try to access / change things in particular folders or run particular applications then you will be challenged to give an Admin's permission to do so. If your account is an Admin one you will see this "ConsentUI" whereas a Standard user would see a version of that dialog that demanded an Admin's UserName & password.


    There is one further complication. There are some things that Windows does not even let an Admin change. Windows implements this by using its user account mechanisms & dreaming up a virtual user called the "System". So you might see some references to the "System user" in this & other threads.


    All the best,
    Denis
      My Computer


  5. mlg
    Posts : 73
    Win 10 Prof
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I recognize the circumstances in which you essentially have to give yourself (the Admin) permission by clicking on the button that has the admin symbol on it. But this time, for reasons I don't understand, It tries and says access is denied. Perhaps this is one of those situations you refer to where Windows just refuses. I gather my hands are tied and I have to leave it?
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 16,786
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #6

    mlg said:
    ... But this time, for reasons I don't understand, It tries and says access is denied. …
    If you look a the folder properties you will find that Admins do not have access permission.
    Right-click, properties, Security tab, Advanced
    There might be a very few folders for which Admins do not even have permission to look at the folder properties.

    By the way, which folder[s] are we talking about?

    Denis
    Last edited by Try3; 18 Oct 2021 at 05:34.
      My Computer


  7. mlg
    Posts : 73
    Win 10 Prof
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I'm trying to delete several installations of Deezer, a music streaming app that had its own player in the past but now ONLY seems to have the one from the Microsoft Store. No surprise...using this player seems to force one to use Windows Media Player whereas I would like to use Foobar or another player. I used Revo to uninstall. However a few folders are left:
    C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Deezer.62021768415AF_5.30.60.0_x86__q7m17pa7q8kj0
    Deezer.62021768415AF_5.30.60.0_x86__q7m17pa7q8kj0
    Deezer.62021768415AF_5.30.60.0_x86__q7m17pa7q8kj0
    Properties
    I am the only user but I am a Local Administrator-image.png
    Madeline is me.
    There is also a user that is clearly messed up and a user nowhere else on the machine:
    I am the only user but I am a Local Administrator-image.png
    And opening Advanced - here is what I have - I did take ownership but maybe something more?
    I am the only user but I am a Local Administrator-image.png
    Thanks for staying with this. Is there something I can do in properties?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 16,786
    Windows 10 Home x64 Version 22H2 Build 19045.4170
       #8

    I never play around in the C:\Program Files\WindowsApps folders but the permissions you show should allow you to do what you want unless any of the other entries in

    have a Deny entry that affects Madeline. You can check for that by going to

    then click on the Effective access tab,
    Select a user,
    enter Madeline,
    Check name [it will show it as ComputerName\Madeline],
    OK,
    View effective access button
    and seeing if the permissions still show as Full control.

    You mentioned having used Revo so I assume the folder is empty. Personally, I'd just leave it there to gather dust but, providing you have first made a system mage and checked that the imaging utility's own boot disk still works, you could always boot from a Windows 10 InstallUSB & use its Command prompt to delete the folder. I wouldn't bother, myself.

    All the best,
    Denis
      My Computer


  9. mlg
    Posts : 73
    Win 10 Prof
    Thread Starter
       #9

    The folder has a subfolder named app. I am not permitted to delete the folder nor the two files inside it.
    I viewed Madeline's Effective Access and I do have full access.
    But I noted that two other users listed:, Trusted Installer and System ALSO have full access. Might their full access be preventing my full access from actually having full access?

    You're certainly correct that I can leave this stuff to collect dust and not worry about it and that may be the final "answer". But I wanted to do a fresh install of the Windows App that now has to be used to stream Deezer hoping that it would behave better and that maybe I could change the player Microsoft chooses for me. This is why I'm bothering.

    Greatly appreciate your help.
      My Computer


 

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