Windows 10: I use my local administrator account, so why am I getting this error?

Nope, that looks like some sort of rescue boot CD. Not real sure what it is. But it does not look anything like a System Backup. A System Backup would be a file on a HDD that is anywhere from 20GB to 60GB. Or a stack of DVDs several inches high.

 

Chipwood,

Odd. The error message in your first post said "This app can't be activated by the Built-in Administrator.", but your account details show that the built-in "Administrator" is currently disabled. What account were you signed in to when you got this error message?

Your account details show that you currently have a ghc80 and Gordon E account available.

If you like, run the two commands below to get further details for these two accounts to see if they are an administrator account or not.

net user "ghc80"

net user "Gordon E"

 

The OP reference would be to Gordon E, then a local administrator account.
Results of netuser enquiries:
Code: Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.14393](c) 2016 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. C:\Users\Gordon E>net user "ghc80" User name ghc80 Full Name Comment User's comment Country/region code 000 (System Default) Account active Yes Account expires Never Password last set 04/08/2017 20:03:52 Password expires Never Password changeable 04/08/2017 20:03:52 Password required Yes User may change password Yes Workstations allowed All Logon script User profile Home directory Last logon Never Logon hours allowed All Local Group Memberships *Administrators *Users Global Group memberships *None The command completed successfully.================================================================ (c) 2016 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. C:\Users\Gordon E>net user "Gordon E" User name Gordon E Full Name Comment User's comment Country/region code 000 (System Default) Account active Yes Account expires Never Password last set 23/07/2017 13:10:46 Password expires Never Password changeable 23/07/2017 13:10:46 Password required No User may change password Yes Workstations allowed All Logon script User profile Home director Last logon 05/08/2017 08:30:29 Logon hours allowed All Local Group Memberships *Users Global Group memberships *None The command completed successfully.[/quote] Sorry, I feel I'm a foolish nuisance in all this!*Redface

 

Don't feel that way. We just had to get more details to narrow the focus and see what may be going on. *Smile

You're ghc80 account is currently the only enabled administrator account.

You're Gordon E account is currently just a standard user type of account. Not an administrator.

If your goal was to re-register the "Get Started" app for the "Gordon E" account, then see if using the command for that app in Option Two of the tutorial below while signed in to the "Gordon E" account may work for you.

*Arrow Reinstall and Re-register Apps in Windows 10 Windows 10 Performance Maintenance Tutorials

 

and, what do I have to do to actually get into Safe Mode.? Thanks![/quote] Did you upgrade to Windows 10 from Windows 7? If so, did you use the built-in admin account as your user account in Windows 7 prior to upgrade?

I've seen this happen when a Windows 7 user has only used built-in admin as normal user account, then done an in-place upgrade to Windows 10 switching to Microsoft account in Windows 10 OOBE. A bad security flaw Microsoft has not fixed yet makes it possible.

This is the only known way to get built-in admin account converted to a Microsoft account, upgrading from W7 built-in admin account switching to W10 Microsoft account in OOBE. System will then basically have two built-in admin accounts, the old W7 one used for upgrade, converted to MS account in W10 OOBE, and the "real" one which remains disabled by default.

These cases are relatively easy to spot from Settings > Accounts > Your info; as there's no way to switch the built-in admin account (mistakenly converted to Microsoft account while doing W7 > W10 upgrade) back to a local account, the account info although showing the MS account email under username totally lacks link to switch to a local account.




(Screenshot taken from tutorial Switch to Local Account in Windows 10 Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials )

In my opinion the only reasonable action in these cases is to reinstall / reset. I'm not saying this now applies to OP's case, I am just saying it would explain everything.

 

I agree Kari. Depending on what chipwood's ultimate goal or issue is, a repair install may be able to repair the system without losing anything and hopefully avoid a clean install.

 

Result:

I'm also concerned that for any new app UAC is asking me to enter an admin account user name with 'ghc8032...' seemingly there permanently, which is different from the account 'ghc80'. UAC refuses the password I have, and I can find none for 'ghc80'

 

chipwood,

I'm thinking it may be best to bite the bullet and reset Windows to start fresh with the account you want created during the reset.

*Arrow Reset Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials

Be sure to back up anything that you do not want to lose first to a different drive though. A reset will wipe everything on the Windows drive.

 

Kari wrote

No, the computer was bought from Dell as a refurb to replace my eight year old Dell Inspiron 560MT Win 7 64 bit that I upgraded to 10. It was shaky and yielding frequent critical errors that shut it down.

The new one I think from what I spotted once, but can't find, was probably ex Windows 8. Maybe a refurb wan't the way to go even if it was Dell.

Back to you and Brink.

 

You may not know that running in Safe Mode disables store Apps and you get the (terribly phrased) message "Doesn't work with built in Administrator" message.

Take it in mind - don't assume you've done it wrong - things don't work in Safe Mode either.

 

That is not true. In screenshot taken just now I have booted to Safe Mode and opened Store and XBox apps:





That notification about Store apps being disabled will only be shown when signed in with built-in admin account, be it Normal, Safe or Audit Mode. It will not be shown in Normal and Safe modes signing in with normal local admin account.

Of course not all Store apps function normally in Safe Mode, but saying that they show user notification about being disabled when signed in as built-in admin when user has in fact signed in with a local admin account is simply not true.

 

Aim for this simple oldie is to get back the hidden administrator account, (ghc80); one or two local accounts with admin or standard permissions i.e Gordon E and if needed another; get passwords sorted for all 2/3.

From another thread of Problem arisen with re- installation of Office Home and Student 2007
get Office 2007 to load properly

 

chipwood,

If you're able to sign in to the ghc80 account, you should be able to change the Gordon E account to be an administrator.

*Arrow Change Account Type in Windows 10 Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

If ghc80 is a Microsoft account that you don't remember the password for, then you should be able to reset its password online at Microsoft.

*Arrow Reset Password of User Account in Windows 10 Windows 10 User Accounts Tutorials

 

I shall try that, but before I do, i am encountering another problem with the closely named Microsoft email account ghc8043. I managed to log in with the already in place password, which I do not have noted. I chose lost password, but on submission there no action.

 

Are you able to use Option 3 to reset the Microsoft account's password online at Microsoft?

What folders do you have listed in the "C:\Users" folder?

Are you sure that "ghc80" and "ghc8043" are not the same account since "ghc8043" was not listed in the account details command?