Lost my Administrator Privileges in Windows 10 - need help!

I checked my system integrity with "sfc / scannow" and I ran the "DISM /Cleanup-Image" tool, both in an elevated Command Prompt. Both had clean results.

Razz said:

I know our documents, pictures etc. are safe.

Besides my old Dell laptop (which you just helped me with) that I bought second-hand a couple of years ago, my wife and I each have a Desktop PC and my wife has a new Acer laptop. Any important stuff we have is stored on all 4 computers as well as a USB drive.

If it were my only machine, then I'd worry that the 'Administrator' problem may come back to bite me some time later. As it isn't your main PC then I'd be prepared to leave it as it is, but be prepared to do a clean install should problems arise later. To do a clean install, use the Media Creation Tool to make a bootable install USB...
Clean Install Windows 10

This same install USB can be used to do an in-place repair upgrade, leaving your apps and documents intact. That is probably worth trying now, but the clean install I'd keep back for if/when problems appear.
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

Bree said:

This same install USB can be used to do an in-place repair upgrade, leaving your apps and documents intact.

I downloaded The Media Creation Tool, as per your recommendation, and just downloaded Windows 10 to a new USB. I assume using this method to reinstall Windows 10 on my laptop is a better method than reinstalling via the Advanced mode that you access via shutting down and restarting several times until the pop-up. Is this correct?

I think it's a good idea for me to reinstall & leaving my apps and documents intact at the moment. If I have any problems in the future, I will do a clean install.

By the way, 2 questions:

1) will my email client (Thunderbird) accounts & address book also be saved?

2) Due to buying second-hand, I don't have a key, will this be a problem or is it stored on Microsoft somewhere or on my motherboard?

Razz said:

... I assume using this method to reinstall Windows 10 on my laptop is a better method than reinstalling via the Advanced mode that you access via shutting down and restarting several times until the pop-up. Is this correct?

Yes, the 'Reset this PC' from the advanced start up is effectively a clean install using the already installed Windows on the PC as the source files. There is an option to keep your files, but NOT your installed apps - they will be removed.

To keep your apps, run Setup on the USB from within Windows to do a repair upgrade. You are upgrading (to the same version in this case) so all files and installed apps can be retained, but the Windows system will be rebuilt using the source files from the USB.

By the way, will my email client (Thunderbird) accounts & address book be saved?

Yes, like other apps, these should be retained. If you find a problem afterwards, like any other upgrade a windows.old folder will be created. For 10 days after the repair upgrade you will have the option to go back to your previous build.

Great! Thanks again for all your help Bree. I truly appreciate your time and expertise.

I finished the install onto my USB. Now, on hindsight, I think I screwed up I think I clicked "Create installation media for another PC" instead of "Upgrade this PC now". Do I need to redo the download?

Razz said:

.I finished the install onto my USB. ...I think I clicked "Create installation media for another PC" instead of "Upgrade this PC now". Do I need to redo the download?

No, that's what you need. What you have made is a bootable USB that can used to do either a clean install, or the in-place repair install. It can also be used to boot to the repair options like the command prompt. It's a useful tool to have.

For the in-place repair install, you start by logging into your exiting Windows and running the Setup you'll find on the USB. That's step 5 in the tutorial...
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

Remember to take the USB out when it gets to the stage of rebooting, otherwise you'll boot from the USB instead of continuing with the upgrade repair.

Bree said:

Remember to take the USB out when it gets to the stage of rebooting, otherwise you'll boot from the USB instead of continuing with the upgrade repair.

Thanks, I would have forgotten that

Thanks for your response, sorry about pestering you with a private message, I have time this morning to get on with the reinstall so I was anxious.

Darn, I forgot to ask....Do I need to do the following?



But, I do remember to deactivate my Anti-Virus before the reinstall.

Just to let you know, the reinstall went well. Hopefully it'll be a long time before I need your help again. Thanks again Bree. Have a nice life!