Denied Administrator's Privileges /Tried Many Methods To Resolve This

Question

I have attempted creating and deleting every kind of account, but I cannot get my Administrator's privileges. Since I have XPSP2 HOME Edition, I read during original setup, my name has to be entered.  This seems to be the only way mentioned to assign administrator's rights. This was not done in Safe Mode though.  I was in the hospital, and a friend did the setup for me.  Could the fact that setup was not done in safe mode be the problem? I bought an external hard drive so I could do a new install, but I hate like heck to go through that undertaking.  There has to be a way to resolve this without going to that extreme.   Tech Support gave up on the phone after some valiant attempts. They told me to do a PC Restore. That will wipe out so much data and programs,etc. I began moving everything to the external hard drive, but there is so much that it has overwhelmed me.  I have no control over startup or all kinds of things.  I am the sole owner of this computer.  If visiting friends or family  need to use the computer, they just sign on under guest or use my log on. I have a password to open windows.  It is a Dell Dimension 1100, 2 GB ram, 2.53GHz ,  500GB Seagate Ex HD, 80 GB internal drive.  Is there a wizard out there with a solution?  I am willing to try  a last ditch effort to avoid PC Restore..........that is like going back to the Dark Ages!!!!!

NemesisDB · Answer

Let's start with the basics. Click Start, click control panel. Click "switch to class view" if it's not in that veiw already. Open "User Accounts" and report back all of the accounts you see at the bottom, along with their type (for instance: Dan, Limited ... John, Computer Administrator ... Guest, Guest account is off).

This is just to get us started.

artizen · Answer

You can always login in Safe Mode as Administrator and upgrade any accounts. At least as long as you know the Administrator password.

zpatric7 · Answer

I used Safe Mode , and the Administrator account exists(no name, so, I assume this is the default Administrator account). These are the accounts in User Accounts in Safe Mode:

Administrator
Computer Administrator

My name
Computer Administrator
Password protected

Guest
Guest Account is off

When I try to change anything in ( in Normal mode) Startup, like to uncheck items I don't want to load in startup, after I return to the desktop, a message appears that says I do not have Administrator's privileges to change anything, etc. I don't have Adminstrator's privilege to many things.

Do you want me to click on the default adminstrator or on My Name Computer Administrator Password Protected and try to change Startup while I am in Safe Mode to see if it denies me the privileges? If I recall correctly, if I use my name, and my password in Safe Mode, it will deny me with that message after I change anything and return to Normal. I wanted to double check this with you because I am worried about losing any data. As long as I do not delete my account, I wont' lose any data, will I?

Thanks for your help.

RoHe · Answer

Boot in Safe Mode using the Admin account. See if you can create a new account with full Admin privileges. Then reboot normally into that new account. See if that account now lets you change Startup settings. If it does, take ownership of all the files belonging to the "My Name" account. You can then delete the "My Name" account.

You could also try running a windows system file check:
click start>run
type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
click OK
Insert XP CD if sfc requests it and reboot when it's done.

Ron

zpatric7 · Answer

Hi RoHe:
Well, I followed your instruction: in Safe Mode, I used the Administrator (default) account to create the new Admin. account to try and change Startup settings (to uncheck all the junk from programs I have removed from my hard drive)...here is the message I received:
" An Access Denied error was returned while attempting to change a service. You may need to log on using an Admninistrator account to make the Specified changes".
I attempted to change Startup settings logging on as the new Admin. acct. (in Safe Mode), and when that failed, as the Admin (default) acct. in Safe mode again. Failure with both approaches.

Then I ran the sfc /scannow command, and it did not request my XP CD. The Windows system file check ran and then, disappeared.

I am not even hooked up to any network. The only hook up I have is to my DSL (SBC/ATT-Yahoo). I had read somewhere that adminstrative privileges can be overriden by your network, but this is just my personal computer, and I never signed on to a network. Does Dell automatically assign us to networks? I have never used any of the network setup stuff in XP SP2 that is listed in Programs.
What should I do to make it so I have Administrative privileges??

Thank you very much.
Patti

RoHe · Answer

Did you try to change the settings using that new Admin account after booting normally (eg, not in Safe Mode)?

If that doesn't work, reboot in Safe Mode, and:

Sign in as 'Administrator'
Right-click on My Computer
Click on Manage
Expand Local Users and Groups
Click on Groups
Double click on Administrators
Click on Add
Enter the new account name on this machine that you want to assign administrative privileges to
OK your way back out.

Now reboot machine normally. The account you selected should now have administrative access.

Ron

zpatric7 · Answer

Yes, RoHe, I tried to change the settings w the new Administ. account in Normal mode also. I signed in as Administrator (default) in Safe mode, R clicked My Computer, selected Manage, and I could not

expand Local Users and Groups because it is nowhere to be found.

Here is what I did find at the top of the left margin: Computer Management (Local)

System Tools and it's subcategories:(Event Viewer, Shared Folders, Performance Logs and Alerts,

and Device Manager). Storage: (Removable Storage, Disk Fragmenter, Disk Management). And,

Services and Applications. Under Computer Management, in the Computer Name Tab, it listed my Domain: MSHOME. I don't know if any of that was pertinent, but I thought it couldn't hurt!

I expanded everything on the window....Local Users and Groups is not there, anywhere.

???

Thank you again.

Patti

RoHe · Answer

Dunno what else to suggest. :( Ron

zpatric7 · Answer

Ron:   Does it mean that  Local Users and Groups  is present only when someone is part of  a network or that my XP SP2 is corrupted / missing Local Users and Groups?  Is it time to do that PC Restore?    You have been great.  Thank you very, very much for your help.   Patti

NemesisDB · Answer

I've seen programs with rootkits prevent their uninstallation before ...  could be something like that?   Think it's worth it for him to post on the hijack board?

NemesisDB · Answer

You're always welcome to try. Try posting your symptoms here: http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board?board.id=si_virus

It might also be helpful to them (and me) to say exactly which process your're trying to keep from loading

artizen · Answer

'' An Access Denied error was returned while attempting to change a service. You may need to log on using an Admninistrator account to make the Specified changes'. This message is specific to XP systems that have installed IE7. just ignore the message. Message Edited by artizen on 02-06-2008 11:07 PM

zpatric7 · Answer

I'm willing to try, if you think it could help. Patti

zpatric7 · Answer

Hi artizen: I can't just ignore the  'denied message' because I can't get rid of useless, old junk in Startup or do important changes without Administrative privileges.   For instance, there is now an issue with Adobe Flash Player 9.  I cannot download and install it without Administrative authority, etc.   Where did you find that info?  I would be delighted if that were the problem.  Please let me know. Is there some kind of fix for it other than getting rid of it?  I really like it, but I like FireFox also. If it would give me back my rights or is it too late to undo whatever it did?   Thank you. Patti

zpatric7 · Answer

Thanks, NemesisDB, for the link. I will do it at some point during the day(it's 2:30 am).

I am trying to uncheck the following: (these are either removed from my PC or very seldom used):

iTunes Helper - removed iTunes fr pc

Real Player - never use

DVD Launcher - seldom use

Site Advisor (McAfee) ....I disabled this in add-ons

MS Messenger - never use

Yahoo Messenger - never use

Daemon (Tools)- use rarely

Virtual CD - removed fr pc

Quicktime - never use

Run Google Web Accelerator - removed fr my pc

These were in startup, but aren't now.....I have no idea what happened except, every time I logon,

I right click on exit in each to remove it fr the system tray:

Picasa2 - rarely use

AT&T Self Support Tool - rarely use

Google Notebook - removed fr my pc

Motive ?

There are more, but I am not 100% what the abbreviatons stand for..I have forgotten.

Windows General

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