Windows 10: Hidden Administrator account, no backup admin

I foolishly hid my only administrator account using the registry editor and I can't do anything with the secondary account that I have on the computer.

I went to:

Created a new key
>"SpecialAccounts"
Created a new key under that
>"UserList"
Created new Dword (32bit)
>"Test" <-- Name of the administrator account
Set hex value to 0.

Having completely forgotten to elevate the secondary account to an administrator, I logged out.

Now I can't log in to my administrator account. When I log in with the secondary account, the UAC prompt has no option for sign in or administrator password entry, it just allows you to click "No". I have no rights to edit the same entry in the registry editor and I can't access gpedit.msc.

I tried using Shift+Restart to use command prompt - which does allow me to sign in with my admin credentials. I tried "net user Administrator /active:yes" (and tried the same with my named administrator account), which says it was successful, but makes no changes after exiting command prompt and continuing to windows. I also opened "regedit" through the command prompt and tried to make the same entry in regedit that I initially made (the keys and dword don't show up when I open it), but with a value of 1, with no effect.

I tried booting into safe mode as well and clicking on the account icon to switch users, but the option doesn't exist (account hidden).

I ended up doing a reset on the computer, but I am left with the same option at the sign in screen and no access to administrator accounts.

:)

 

Windows 10 wifi / administrator fault

Hi,

Try to enable the hidden administrator account in your Windows 10.

Enable the (Hidden) Administrator Account on Windows 7, 8, or 10

Then you can check, if your existing account is an admin or not. Then if it isn't using the hidden admin account you can switch it to an admin account.

Best Regards.

 

Beware: clean install of 1511 treats built-in Admin account differently than Windows updated to 1511

It is not advisable to operate under Hidden Administrator.

I would go to Settings>User Accounts and create a normal Admin Account, then run
net user administrator /active:no in Admin Command Prompt to disable Hidden Admin to see if this bug replicates.

 

Welcome to TenForums @johnny51

You're not the first to shoot yourself in the foot like this, and you won't be the last *Smile

You need to enable the built-in Administrator account and use that to undo this - difficult without a normal admin login available, but not impossible. See Option Four in this tutorial.

Enable or Disable Elevated Administrator account in Windows 10

 

You are a beautiful, beautiful person!

Thank you!

Signed in with the Administrator account and correcting my mistake now. *Party

 

Well done! That was quick work, you obviously know your way round a PC. But you should stick around TenForums, there's a lot more you can learn here.

 

I would say you've proved that already. I'll definitely be sticking around to soak up some of the knowledge and wisdom that you and the other masters have to offer.