I am not sure if a virus got to this but at this point I don't care. The problem is when I use the command: net user administrator /active:yes It comes back saying Access Denied. My friend forgot her password to her windows 7 user account (admin rights) and is stuck with a standard user account as a result of that. Now she can't install anything because her account is not a admin account. When I go into safe mode he Administrator account is disabled. I see the account under net users but no matter what technique I use to enable it or reset password it comes back as Access Denied. Any ideas?

Sir, before you type net user administrator /active:yes , make sure you are Run Command Prompt As Administrator. Regards, MCP | MCTS | MCITP

That is the whole point. Are you not paying attention sir? I am being DENIED the right to be an Administrator. And yes I was at a command prompt when I typed that in. Some people's kids. I know you are being funny but I am not laughing. Good grief. We cannot log into any account which has admin privileges. If I had those privileges I would not be talking to you now. Las, try again.

That is the whole point. Are you not paying attention sir? I am being DENIED the right to be an Administrator. And yes I was at a command prompt when I typed that in. Some people's kids. I know you are being funny but I am not laughing. Good grief. We cannot log into any account which has admin privileges. If I had those privileges I would not be talking to you now. Las, try again. "Do not bite the hand that feeds you." ...or don't berate those who are just trying to help. As this is a personal computer and not business-related, I suggest you repost your question in the Microsoft Answers forums. And try to be a little nicer about it. Kindness goes a long way in asking for help.If you found this post helpful, please "Vote as Helpful". If it answered your question, remember to "Mark as Answer". Rich Prescott | Infrastructure Architect, Windows Engineer and PowerShell blogger | MCITP, MCTS, MCP [Blog] Engineering Efficiency | [Twitter] @Rich_Prescott | [Powershell GUI] Client System Administration tool | [PowerShell GUI] New AD User Creation tool

I've had a look at this, and whilst it is true that you can access the built-in Administrator account (even if it is disabled) from Safe Mode, you can only do so if there is no other administrative account active on your system. Unfortunately, a forgotten password still means that the administrative account is still there and active, only that you don't have access to it. See if the following Tutorial helps: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85657-password-reset.html

That is the whole point. Are you not paying attention sir? I am being DENIED the right to be an Administrator. And yes I was at a command prompt when I typed that in. Some people's kids. I know you are being funny but I am not laughing. Good grief. We cannot log into any account which has admin privileges. If I had those privileges I would not be talking to you now. Las, try again. Thanks PanJammi. Regards, MCP | MCTS | MCITP

Ok so the easiest solution to this, that no one seems to have tried, but works for me. *** To activate the hidden administrator even if locked out from any admin account or in any situation*** You can/should utilize any linux boot disk...*1 All you have to do is go into the system32 folder, and delete or move a file called sethc.exe (sitcky keys) Then make a copy of CMD.exe , rename it to sethc.exe, and place in system 32 folder. reboot pc From the login screen hit shift 5 times fast, it will pull up CMD, you will be administrator pre login so you can activate the administrator account. From CMD will all know its just a " Net User Administrator/Active:yes " Now REBOOT the pc, and go to login in non-Safe mode, administrator account will show with no password. -- *1This file move around can be done from the recovery portion of your widows boot, via command line as well, but a good old (any) linux boot with a gui works great and is fast for the average user. --- Thank you , Thank you.. not one person on the web has thought of this and it works for me lika a charm every time on every distro of windows thus far.