Windows 10: Lost my Administrator Privileges in Windows 10 - need help!

OK, I've had one thought.

I don't know what's wrong with your Administrator account. It looks like its desktop is broken. The fact that you can use Ctrl-Alt-Del to log out suggests you managed to log in OK with the blank password. So why doesn't it accept it at the UAC prompt in your normal account? That's a puzzle that @Brink may be able to shed some light on.

However, you may be able to use the 'broken' log in to Administrator as it is. Try logging in as Administrator. At the black screen, use Ctrl-Alt-Del again. This time select Task Manager. From Task Manager, on the 'File' tab choose 'Run new task' and run netplwiz. This can be used to reset the password for your other account. This is Option Two in this tutorial.

Reset Password of User Account in Windows 10

Select you other account in the list in netplwiz and click the Properties button. On the 'Group Membership' tab you can make it an administrator. That's Option Three in this tutorial.

Change Account Type in Windows 10

 

I'm not sure what else to suggest either than what you already have just posted Bree.

If that doesn't work, then it may be best to backup anything he doesn't want to lose, then clean install.

 

Thanks @Brink, I was afraid that might be the response. It'd odd that Administrator appears to accept a blank password at login, but not at the UAC. Maybe once the original account is an admin again they could try resetting the Administrator password to a blank password and see if it makes a difference.

For peace of mind though, a clean install would be my choice too - once everything is well backed up, of course.

 

YAY! Thanks to Bree's prompt help and guidance, my problem has been solved!

I'll try and explain how the problem was resolved:

When I went into the task manager, after clicking on the Administrator account from the login screen, and then running "netplwiz", I was able to change the Administrator password. But within my account, stuff still didn't work for me. I tried going into the Administrator account and could tell it accepted my new password because the little "welcome" message appeared under the password field (this hasn't happened before). However, as before, nothing happened for about a minute. Then a desktop appeared very briefly but it only showed the recycle bin and my Last Pass vault. After approx. 5 seconds it vanished and a black screen appeared. I waited for several minutes but nothing happened.

I then repeated the procedure to run "netplwiz" and this time I highlighted my account and following your instructions, on the next page selected "Group Membership" and assigned Administrator rights to my account.

I cannot thank you enough for your time and all your help! *Smile

 

So it appears that the hidden Administrator account, which is now enabled (thus appearing as an option on the login screen) is just not working. Who knows why, perhaps it's corrupted somehow.

So again as per your comment earlier, I assume the smart thing to do is create another account and assign administrator rights to it.

Is this correct? Also, will the new account naturally adopt all from my account?

 

You are in and have admin rights again, that's good. Unfortunately you cannot just make a replacement for Administrator. These special built-in accounts (Guest is another) are an integral part of the operating system and can neither be deleted or created. It's a good idea to have a second local administrator account, but just as an alternative way in should you loose the password again.

Now would be time to take stock, make sure you have backups of all the documents you need to keep, and that you have the install media and software keys for anything you installed. There's no rush now that you have an apparently working system again. The problem with Administrator will still be lurking in the background, though. We cannot say if it's going to cause trouble down the line.

When you are happy that you have everything you need to do a clean install and rebuild your PC if necessary, then we can see if it's possible to repair. I suspect either of your Aomei or Macrium images are too recent to be of help. I'd leave Administrator enabled for now and try, in this order:

Check system integrity with sfc /scannow in an elevated command prompt. Option Three here:
Run SFC Command in Windows 10
(note: you may need to run this several times until it fixes all it can)

Run the "DISM /Cleanup-Image" Tool in an elevated Command Prompt.
Use DISM to Repair Windows 10 Image

do a repair install of Windows 10 by performing an in-place upgrade without losing anything.
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

After each step, try logging in as Administrator and see if anything has changed. If Administrator has a working desktop after trying these, then set a blank password and disable it, then it's there for next time you may need it.

If not go to the next step. I suspect none of them will work, but it's worth trying just in case. The ultimate step is to do a clean install, wiping everything off the PC and starting form a clean slate, I'm afraid.

As I said, there's no rush now you have a useable system. You may decide to risk it and not that the ultimate 'Clean Install' step. It's your call, but make sure you keep everything backed up, just in case.

 

I know our documents, pictures etc. are safe.

Besides my old Dell laptop (which you just helped me with) that I bought second-hand a couple of years ago, my wife and I each have a Desktop PC and my wife has a new Acer laptop. Any important stuff we have is stored on all 4 computers as well as a USB drive.

I will probably do the steps above but will likely not take the "ultimate 'Clean Install' step", as you call it.

If I do decide to do a clean install, should I do it via the Advanced mode that you access via shutting down and restarting several times until the pop-up?

 

I checked my system integrity with "sfc / scannow" and I ran the "DISM /Cleanup-Image" tool, both in an elevated Command Prompt. Both had clean results.

 

If it were my only machine, then I'd worry that the 'Administrator' problem may come back to bite me some time later. As it isn't your main PC then I'd be prepared to leave it as it is, but be prepared to do a clean install should problems arise later. To do a clean install, use the Media Creation Tool to make a bootable install USB...
Clean Install Windows 10

This same install USB can be used to do an in-place repair upgrade, leaving your apps and documents intact. That is probably worth trying now, but the clean install I'd keep back for if/when problems appear.
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

 

I downloaded The Media Creation Tool, as per your recommendation, and just downloaded Windows 10 to a new USB. I assume using this method to reinstall Windows 10 on my laptop is a better method than reinstalling via the Advanced mode that you access via shutting down and restarting several times until the pop-up. Is this correct?

I think it's a good idea for me to reinstall & leaving my apps and documents intact at the moment. If I have any problems in the future, I will do a clean install.

By the way, 2 questions:

1) will my email client (Thunderbird) accounts & address book also be saved?

2) Due to buying second-hand, I don't have a key, will this be a problem or is it stored on Microsoft somewhere or on my motherboard?

 

Yes, the 'Reset this PC' from the advanced start up is effectively a clean install using the already installed Windows on the PC as the source files. There is an option to keep your files, but NOT your installed apps - they will be removed.

To keep your apps, run Setup on the USB from within Windows to do a repair upgrade. You are upgrading (to the same version in this case) so all files and installed apps can be retained, but the Windows system will be rebuilt using the source files from the USB.

Yes, like other apps, these should be retained. If you find a problem afterwards, like any other upgrade a windows.old folder will be created. For 10 days after the repair upgrade you will have the option to go back to your previous build.

 

Great! Thanks again for all your help Bree. I truly appreciate your time and expertise.

 

I finished the install onto my USB. Now, on hindsight, I think I screwed up *Sad I think I clicked "Create installation media for another PC" instead of "Upgrade this PC now". Do I need to redo the download?

 

No, that's what you need. What you have made is a bootable USB that can used to do either a clean install, or the in-place repair install. It can also be used to boot to the repair options like the command prompt. It's a useful tool to have.

For the in-place repair install, you start by logging into your exiting Windows and running the Setup you'll find on the USB. That's step 5 in the tutorial...
Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

Remember to take the USB out when it gets to the stage of rebooting, otherwise you'll boot from the USB instead of continuing with the upgrade repair.

 

Thanks, I would have forgotten that *Shock

Thanks for your response, sorry about pestering you with a private message, I have time this morning to get on with the reinstall so I was anxious.