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How do I get administrative privileges on Windows XP?

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Summary: If you have the password for the administrator account, you can easily elevate any other login account to have administrator privileges.

I have a problem with my computer. Recently I updated Windows from 2000 to XP Professional and now I can't see the 'Administrator' account. The account that I'm using doesn't have administrator rights. How can I configure the account that I'm using to have administrator rights?

The administrator account is still there, it's just hidden, presumably for your protection. But we can still sign in using it, and then grant your other regular, account administrative rights.

But you will need the password for the 'Administrator' account. I'll assume you have that.

In Windows XP Pro, that Administrator account is not listed on the login screen, unless it's the only account on the machine. You can still log into it, though ... by rebooting into 'Safe Mode'. Press F8 when Windows begins to boot, and you'll be given a list of boot options, one of which is 'Safe Mode'. Select that, and the 'Administrator' account will appear on the login screen.

From here it's easy. Once you've signed in as 'Administrator':

  • Right-click on My Computer

  • Click on Manage

  • Expand Local Users and Groups

  • Click on Groups

  • Double click on Administrators

  • Click on Add

  • Enter the account name on this machine that you want to assign administrative privileges to.

  • OK your way back out.

Now reboot your machine normally, and the account you selected should now have administrative access.

Related:

Article C2373 - June 19, 2005

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Recent Comments
33 Comments

Hi Grey, if u really forgot the xp password,
Boot ur system with xp OS cd, and go to second repair option, while installing the installing devices press shift F10 and then in command prompt type : (control userpasswords2) enter. There u can reset the password of administrator.if u got any problem contact me in [email address removed]
Regards
naga subbarao

Posted by: naga subbarao at March 16, 2009 4:08 AM

my Dear: my son work on the computer password and I want to installation program autocad but i found message called (requires administrator privileges please log in with administrator befor attempting installation of autocad) what can i do (thanks for help)

You'll need to follow the instructions in the message and login using your computer's administrator account, or an account that has administrative privileges.
- Leo
22-Mar-2009

Posted by: youssef at March 21, 2009 8:11 AM

"I work only with one account the default Administrator. Some say it is better to create another account with Admin privilages. Any comment on that?"

That is risky business. Having an account set as an admin that is regularly used is an easy way to have a security issue. If you are on an administrator account and you get a trojan or other malicious software, It too will have full admin control over the pc. Having a non-admin account that is used as a regular account and an admin account that is used when needed is the best way to go. Although more of a hassle at times, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Posted by: William Spalding at April 17, 2009 6:35 PM

Here I'm posting a few methods / utilities which can be used to recover Windows password:
1st Method:
The first thing which you check if you forget login password. When we install Windows, it automatically creates an
account "Administrator" and sets its password to blank. So if you have forget your user account password then try this:
Start system and when you see Windows Welcome screen / Login screen, press ++ keys twice and it'll
show Classic Login box. Now type "Administrator" (without quotes) in Username and leave Password field blank. Now press Enter and you should be able to log in Windows.
Now you can reset your account password from "Control Panel -> User Accounts".
Same thing can be done using Safe Mode. In Safe Mode Windows will show this in-built Administrator account in Login
screen.
2th Method:
There are many 3rd party utilities which claim to recover forgotten Windows password:
Windows Password Reset Tool is a program that works instantly to remove any lost or forgotten password. Simply boot your PC from the supplied Boot CD, and get access to forgotten Windows and administrator passwords in just seconds. Their method is so much faster/easier, and works great!
http://www.resetwindowspassword.com

Posted by: Alice at April 27, 2009 7:06 PM

Sir, I want to install macromedia flashplayer 10.
But I can't. They said I must have administrative privileges to get that. But how I can get it? I really don't understand. Could you teach me how to do that step by step? I really hope your answer..Thanks before..

Posted by: christian hearn at May 2, 2009 10:09 PM

hi. i have the same problem:"Please check your accounts,iff you have no administrator privilege,please login again!" but i have i'm the administrator and why i just can't update mi BIOS ?

Posted by: Tibor at May 19, 2009 6:07 PM

Hi Sir,

Hi i m Tamil Arasan Sir i try to Disk Defregment in my computer but it 'll ask You should Have Administrator Privilege Volume. Can U Explan this how to clear this problem Please.


Thank u Sir.

Posted by: Tamil at May 19, 2009 11:10 PM

It seems that created a reset CD is a common way to reset windows password. A few days ago. I have my computer password lost and so I download a Windows password unlocker from http://www.passwordunlocker.com .

Firstly, I must use a second computer that can link to Internet. With this PC I downloaded Windows Password Unlocker 4.0 and decompress it on that PC. Note that: there is a .ISO file, I need to burn the .ISO file to a CD.
Secondly, Got out the newly created CD and insert it to the locked computer.
Thirdly, re-booted the locked computer and then followed the process of instructions. Just a few steps, the old password was removed.

So I can re-login the locked computer with no password. But for safe, I created another password.

Posted by: happykaka at May 30, 2009 6:26 PM

My machine displays "XP". When I rebooted into safe mode, it said "XP Pro" and I could not change it. I followed the steps anyway and a lovely "Administrator" icon appeared, which was not the one I was using just before having to do all this, and had an ancient password. Things worked OK, I system restored, but now I'm worried that there is at least one other Administrator account on my machine....it's wireless. I'd be very grateful if you could advise: how do I find out how many Administrator accounts there are on the machine; how can I safely delete them ? Thanks

Posted by: Martin at June 1, 2009 2:53 AM

There is a way to reset windows password without erasing anything.
Follow the instructions:
1.Free download the iso file : http://www.resetwindowspassword.com
2.Burn it to a disk to create the boot disk, that simple.
3.Configure your pc or laptop to boot in the cd drive,
4.Insert the CD, reboot from CD drive, and then just follow the process of instruction. A few steps later, admin password would be cleared
Setting new password:
Step one: Open the "Control Panel"
Step two: Click the "User Account "
Step three: Select the account you wanna to set a new password.
Step four: Click "changing Account " and "set up password", then fill out the form as listed. Click "Create Password".

Extra-cost utilities aren't necessary. I've lost the password to my Windows Administrator account, how do I get it back? discusses a free utility to do same.
- Leo
12-Jun-2009
Posted by: jiujiu at June 11, 2009 8:50 PM

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