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I recently obtained a used windows 7 computer. The only visible user had administrator privileges, and its name was that of the previous owner's. I changed the name via User Accounts ► Change your account name, but for some reason that revoked my admin privs. Now, whenever I try to do something that requires admin privs a box pops up that wants me to enter an administrator password, but doesn't have any place to type any password.
After a bit of googling, I found a few places that said the first step to fixing this was to boot into safe mode. I restarted the computer and pressed F8, but that didn't do anything. The only other way I saw to boot into safe mode uses msconfig, which needs admin privs. I tried changing the name back, in case that helped, but that, too, requires admin privs.
How can I get my Administrator privileges back?
1F8 should work, try pressing it repeatedly in half second taps while the computer is restarting. There is only a small window when it will work. Unless it has been deliberately disabled. – rob – 2014-04-10T16:53:23.950
Do you have a windows 7 disc? – Raystafarian – 2014-04-10T16:54:14.620
Something like http://www.passwordresetkey.com/site/ would solve your problem
– Ramhound – 2014-04-10T16:56:50.983Okay, the problem appeared to be that I was holding down
F8
, not pressing it repeatedly. Thanks @rob! – The Guy with The Hat – 2014-04-10T16:58:28.007@Raystafarian No, the previous owner did not give me the disc. – The Guy with The Hat – 2014-04-10T16:59:49.767
@Ramhound Could you expand upon that and add it as an answer? I'd probably upvote it if you did. – The Guy with The Hat – 2014-04-10T17:02:06.003
@TheGuywithTheHat the real answer is what you did after you got into safe mode.. – Raystafarian – 2014-04-10T17:04:21.167
No; I don't post recommendations as an answer ever – Ramhound – 2014-04-10T17:09:55.977
1Why would you not install Windows from scratch after getting a used laptop? – joeqwerty – 2014-04-10T21:42:57.257