XP doesn't recognise Administrator privileges (even in SAFE mode!)

Question

My problem is that I am unable to make certain changes to my OS (XP, SP2) because it tells me I need to have Administrator privileges to do so.

I am using an Administrator account when attempting these changes!

Problem: I'm trying to use MSCONFIG to stop a service starting at startup. Whenever I make a change, MSCONFIG tells me:

"An Access Denied Error has been returned while attempting to change a service. You may need to log on using an Administrator account to make the specified changes."

I've tried this using my normal Administrator account, and have also booted in SAFE mode and used the default Administrator account, but get identical errors.

Can anyone offer any help with this problem? Cheers, Adam

Goose3mc · Answer

ya mang. what you need to do is change the priviledges that your admin accounts actually have. as strange as it may sound, even as admin, they still stop you from doing a few things. ill find a site for you with a walkthrough brb

Goose3mc · Answer

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288991 this should do it

jadrake · Answer

I understand that maybe the Administrator accounts don't actually have full access to everything. Unfortunately, I don't follow your method of changing this.

The Microsoft article you've referenced is about folder-sharing. Sure, it has some mention of changing privileges, but I don't see how that would affect MSCONFIG.EXE

Am I being dumb and not understanding?

Cheers,

Adam

jmwills · Answer

If you are talking about the 'Built-In' Admin account, downgrading the associated rights with that account is not possible, as far as everything I know.  There is a reason it is the Built-In Admin Account.  You can't delete it nor change the priviledges.

HiGhLaNdEr48 · Answer

This can be associated with a virus,trojan or malware. Do

scans of your computer. Also if you have zone alarm you may

need to turn off OS firewall in ZA. Go to program control>Main

and click the first custom button from the top.Uncheck enable

os firewall.

jmwills · Answer

What kind of changes are you trying to make?

jadrake · Answer

I've Googled the problem, and read these comments elsewhere, so:

No virus - just scanned the entire system
No trojans - as above
No malware - scanned as well
No ZA - don't use it

So, still a problem, and no obvious solutions ...

Windows General

XP doesn't recognise Administrator privileges (even in SAFE mode!)

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