Administrator

[eaan]

My computer has lost it's mind, I AM the system administrator! What is the problem here?

 

[echrada]

Hi there, what is the question?

 

[Airbot]

Hi Eaan,

You will need to be more specific about what exactly is wrong and maybe fill out your system info so we know what specs you are working with..i.e, OS, 32 bit or 64, what kind of computer,etc.

 

[johngalt]

The problem is simple - the OP is a new user of Vista and cannot understand why UAC is prompting him/her to approve of some sort of action that requires administrative privilege levels.

Hi, eaan, and welcome to the forums.

You've got a bit of reading to do with Vista and what it is - I suggest that you start off with one of our own posts - http://www.vistax64.com/vista-news/186801-microsoft-why-uac-user-account-control.html - and ask all the questions that you want - we are here to help.

Above and beyond all, though, I *implore* you to do a lot of reading (and I mean a couple of days worth) before making up your mind on whether UAC is a bane or not - because that very same bane is a *crucial* front line defense against a lot of Malware out in the wild today.

In the meantime, if you would post *what* you are trying to do, not only can we explain why you are being prompted but also we may be able to help solve the issue.

 

[eaan]

I am working with vista home premium. (32bit) I did not have any problems with my system for several months. I recently tried to "add/delete programs" and run my virus software. My system told me to restart and log on as an administrator. There is only one user on my system, ME!, and I am an administrator. I have no other users to "log on" as. Can anyone help?

 

[Airbot]

eaan,

I am still not clear on what the exact problem is. Did you want to uninstall a program and when you did it, it told you that you had to be an administrator? Or it asked you to run your antivirus as an administrator? This can be normal User Account Control prompts. You can right click on the program icon you want to run and click run as administrator or go to the Start Menu-Control Panel-User Accounts to see if you are currently running as the administrator. Maybe this is what you're asking, maybe not. Post back.

 

[eaan]

No, my system is telling me to log on as an "administrator" whenever I attempt to do anything that changes it's content ie.... change software, add / delete programs, run virus software etc....
I only have one user account and one option when logging on.

 

[coolnewyorker]

First of all, there is always a built in Administrator. You can see it in Quota entries list. (START > Computer > right click on Local Disk [C:] > Properties > Quota > Quota Entries) It is listed as BUILTIN\Ad

Since you are the only user, there is no need for User Account Control. Turn it off. I have it on only when I turn on Guest account.

If this does not solve the prob. try doing stuffs in Safe mode.

 

[coolnewyorker]

Speaking of built in administrator/s, can anyone explain those 7 other logged in users I stumbled upon in Quota Entries for [C:] list.

I wanted to copy/paste it here but I do not know how ( I did but it came out with huge fonts that cannot be contained in Quick Reply box. One user is clearly named BUILTIN\Ad