LAPTOP Run as administrator

brownbabygirl

Just bought a new hp laptop for my mum and it is all set up. Only thing giving me a headache is that it will not allow me to install the printer as I am not an administrator. What does this mean? It also wont allow me to download MSN messenger and I am guessing the reason is the same. Any help appreciated. thanks

ps. I will be sure to click 'thanks' for all responses:D

isofa

You need to setup (or may already have, but are not using) an Admin account, the account you are using to log in doesn't have administrator rights. Find out from: Start > Settings > Control Panel > Users or Accounts.

brownbabygirl

isofa wrote: »

You need to setup (or may already have, but are not using) an Admin account, the account you are using to log in doesn't have administrator rights. Find out from: Start > Settings > Control Panel > Users or Accounts.

Thanks. I checked that and the user is marked as administrator. Baffles me

Viper_7

Right click what ever you're trying to install and Select "Run as Administrator"

If that works then specific access rights have been set up under the user profiles.

macman

It's set up that way so that if you're a User who is also the Administrator, you don't get automatic Administrator rights when working as a 'normal' User, in case you stuff things up. At least that's Microsoft's warped logic!

Knub

What operating system are you using?

I assume Vista as you are having access rights and there are no problems like this in XP - and it's a "new" computer?

Standard user should be able to run things as admin you will just receive a UAC prompt with the secure desktop asking you if you are sure you want to proceed.

Alternativley, as someone has mentioned, try right clicking and "RUN AS". If you have an administrator account on the PC, enable/logon as it and try it then.

If you are looking for "RUNAS" in Vista a good program provided by MS is:

ShellRunAs <--- google it, download.

Any other information?

isofa

macman wrote: »

It's set up that way so that if you're a User who is also the Administrator, you don't get automatic Administrator rights when working as a 'normal' User, in case you stuff things up. At least that's Microsoft's warped logic!

It's actually a safety feature, too many people run their systems logged in as Admin, which is why their systems are more at risk. You should only use an Admin account to perform admin tasks, migrating back down to a power user/user account for day to day use.

Knub wrote: »

I assume Vista as you are having access rights and there are no problems like this in XP - and it's a "new" computer?

There certainly is the same protection in XP Pro, Win 2K, etc, if you are not logged into an Admin Account and try to perform an admin task you'll be rejected. UAC is something very different in Vista though.

Knub

isofa wrote: »

There certainly is the same protection in XP Pro, Win 2K, etc, if you are not logged into an Admin Account and try to perform an admin task you'll be rejected. UAC is something very different in Vista though.

Same protection meaning that there are two types of account, standard and admin. One can do all, the other can do very little I don't even fathom working as a standard user in XP

The initial user created in XP is a full administrator, unlike Vista which creates a standard user with "elevated privaledges". Seperate accounts afterwards have to be awarded standard user and administrator in XP.

Just trying to figure out which OS the OP is as it will explain a lot and we can help further

brownbabygirl

thanks guys. I am using Windows Vista home premium

Knub

In which case, we need to know the account you are logged in as now, and the others available.

E.G - Might have: Mum, Dad, Tim, Administrator, Guest.

To check goto:

Start-->Control Panel-->User Accounts (classic view)

Then you will have a list on the right hand side which willy say the username, show a picture and tell you what type of acount you are running (Administrator, Standard).

If you click the option "Change your account type" do you get a warning message come up saying "USER ACCOUNT CONTROL, then CONTINUE or CANCEL"?

If it does this you are an administrator with elevated privaledges and you can click ok and view/change the accounts. If you don't get this option then you are not an administrator and need to login as the original user you created when you setup VISTA.

Alternativley you could try the option "Turn user account control on/off". You could try disabling it but this is a security feature I wouldn't disable permanently.