Windows 8 user account can not install new software

Hi everyone. This is my third attempt here to hopefully get some answers I need as to how to get my new install of 8 to work.

I bought 8 on the special download price and installed it a couple of weeks ago. For about 2 days things were great but no more. I installed something from Microsoft's Windows 8 store and now I can not install anything else. Not from Microsoft, not from any other publisher. When I try I get an error "The extended attributes are inconsistent" On some things I am told I need to be on the administrator account but I do not get the requester to ask for the admin PW like I did in 7. My husband, who installs business software and interfaces systems all the time for a living, looked at it and set up the hidden administrator account for me. I could now install from that account and all seemed fine. However, he does not work on 8, only 7, plus he travels the world as part of his job and is not home a lot so I am on my own most of the time, trying to maintain my computer myself.

I have LOTS of 3rd party software. I am a digital artist so I have many Adobe and Corel products. I also am a gamer so I have things like Diablo 3 and Portal on my machine. I subscribe to Steam, so it is there too. This issue did not start with any of them, though, but with a small application I downloaded from Microsoft on the Windows 8 store. At least I think that may be where it started. I know this is the day I stopped being able to install anything on my user account and started getting that error every time I tried. The first thing that gave me issue was in attempting to install Samsung Kies for my Note tablet. That was the first instance of that error code. This was a couple of weeks ago at least.


Also, I am in the BETA for Neverwinter Nights. I downloaded and installed the game which, of course, had to be done from the admin account. This was automatically placed in the public games folder. I do not want to play an online game from my admin account. I logged out from there and logged in to my regular account. It did not show Neverwinter as being installed there. This happened with Skype too. I figured I knew where it was saved so I went to the public folder and launched the game. It is not able to run from there and crashes. It does run from the admin account. Why? It seems that things like this must be installed from the account where it is going to be used but I can not do this. How do I grant my regular account permission to install? I have searched the user settings and I have not found a way. this account is part of the administrator group. Why can it not install? I have looked all over to find tutorials or any kind of instructions for fixing all of this but nothing I have found seems to apply. Would I be better off just going back to 7 where I knew how to do all of this and could make things work or can any of this be fixed in 8?

My real issues are, 1) How do I fix this error? I have run virus scans and malware scans and all have come up clean. Would a system reset maybe help? I would happily do this if it would fix things. I will follow the steps outlined to me on another forum I have also posted to and scan with some very special tools as soon as I can answer a question as to how this is done. Maybe this will find the problem. If I knew for sure what caused problems I would be sure to remove it and fix the issue, but no idea of how to proceed at the moment. One thing that I do need answered is, what to do if the scan tool wants the disk to repair damaged files? I have the downloaded version of Win 8, so no disk.

2) How do I grant a higher level of permission to my user account now? I looked at that tool and do not understand it at all. I see that you can add a Power User group to your groups but it brings up a box with stuff you have to fill in and I have no idea of what to do in that area. Neither does my husband. I have searched Microsoft's info and found nothing on this at all, only that thing that explains how to set user notifications. This is not what I need at all. How do I find these answers so I can set things up properly?

I just want my computer to work for me and right now it is not.

Thanks for your time.

Jane

On some things I am told I need to be on the administrator account

Click to expand...

Windows 8 is more secured than the previous versions of Windows so sometimes you need to right click on the Installer and run as Administrator. To avoid the nagging prompt:
Win+X->Control Panel->Action Center->Change User Account Control Settings
and set as shown below:

My husband, who installs business software and interfaces systems all the time for a living, looked at it and set up the hidden administrator account for me. I could now install from that account and all seemed fine

Click to expand...

I am unclear about this hidden account. Is it the built in Administrator account that was initially disabled when installing Windows 8 ? and your husband might have enabled & changed the name of the account ? if so, installing Metro Apps with built in Administrator account will not work. Please read this article:
Build-in Administrator account can

1) How do I fix this error? I have run virus scans and malware scans and all have come up clean. Would a system reset maybe help?

Click to expand...

Yes, trouble shooting on line is a little bit harder since we don't have a whole picture of what has been installed in your PC and how you installed it so if I were you, I would start it from a fresh install of Windows 8. In addition, when installing new software, always disabled what ever anti virus software you are running to avoid conflict that anti virus might have caused. Or better yet, don't install any anti virus software, just use Windows Defender that came bundled with Windows 8 is good enough.

2) How do I grant a higher level of permission to my user account now?

Click to expand...

You must login using the Administrator account
Win+X->Control Panel->Administrator Tools->Computer Management
Click on Users then follow what on the screenshot

I have the downloaded version of Win 8, so no disk.

Click to expand...

If your download is an ISO file, you can create a bootable DVD/USB from it.
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2227-create-bootable-usb-dvd-windows-8-iso.html

Hope this helps.
Cheers !!!

Thanks so much for responding. I really appreciate any suggestions at this point.

I do not know why the administrator account was disabled when I installed Windows 8, we did not disable it, but it was indeed disabled. I thought I read somewhere it was hidden, but that is just my poor memory. Built in sounds right. I am the one who activated it by following instructions from the Microsoft site, so it should be correctly installed.

Any thoughts on how to share apps with other accounts when installed from the administrator account? This is not something I am at all familiar with. I was one of those really bad people who simply ran as the administrator before so no problems. Plus I am the only one on this computer so only my account and a mostly unused guest account. This is all new ground to me.

I will look through the information you have given me later tonight or first thing tomorrow and post an update. Thanks again.

Jane

I do not know why the administrator account was disabled when I installed Windows 8, we did not disable it, but it was indeed disabled. I thought I read somewhere it was hidden

Click to expand...

This is correct, The built in Administrator is disabled by default and since it is disabled, it is hidden.

Any thoughts on how to share apps with other accounts when installed from the administrator account?

Click to expand...

I've already mentioned this, you cannot install Metro Apps with built in Administrator account because it will not work. Destokp application will work if during install, some applications will give you the option whether it's available for everybody or just for yourself. However, I recommend to use your own user account to install it.

If you decide to install fresh Windows 8. Make sure you have an internet cable connected to your router so Windows setup can access their server to install all the required drivers and during set up when it prompts to enter user account, just setup a local account with full Administrator right (I think it is a default), you need to read the screen message before click "Next".

I have the same problem here on my new windows 8 laptop.there is only one user account and when i see its properties in control panel, its says "Administrator Local Account" "password protected" .When i opened the computer management via control panel, i see no options for user at all.There is everything from the screen shot but no option for user account. Please help me.

jacksparrow said:

I have the same problem here on my new windows 8 laptop.there is only one user account and when i see its properties in control panel, its says "Administrator Local Account" "password protected" .When i opened the computer management via control panel, i see no options for user at all.There is everything from the screen shot but no option for user account. Please help me.

Click to expand...

Couple of tools are only available in the Window 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise editions:

1. The Local Users and Groups
2. The Local Group Policy Editor

You have the standard version

Thank you topgundcp. But i dont understand why sometimes it denies me certain actions even if i am signed in as an administrator.i dont have any problem installing/ uninstalling softwares but somehow i cannot edit PGN (chess database) files directly in C programs folder.it asks me to save it somewhere first and then i can move the file from there to programs folder.Also I cannot delete certain fonts from control panel.

jacksparrow said:

Thank you topgundcp. But i dont understand why sometimes it denies me certain actions even if i am signed in as an administrator.i dont have any problem installing/ uninstalling softwares but somehow i cannot edit PGN (chess database) files directly in C programs folder.it asks me to save it somewhere first and then i can move the file from there to programs folder.Also I cannot delete certain fonts from control panel.

Click to expand...

Windows 8 has tighter security on the system folders such as Program Files, Windows etc...
To edit/save files in these folders you need to run as Administrator. Just right click on the program/shortcut and select Run As Administrator

Thanks for the quick reply.Any other way to delete fonts? I want to delete some chess fonts but the message "the fonts are in use" pops up and no matter what i just cant delete them.

jacksparrow said:

Thanks for the quick reply.Any other way to delete fonts? I want to delete some chess fonts but the message "the fonts are in use" pops up and no matter what i just cant delete them.

Click to expand...

We start hijacking this thread and it's not fair to the thread starter. Maybe you should create another thread and ask question, I'll be happy to help you.

Cheers

You are right.I am sorry

I have not yet started to work with my computer on the problems as I want to be sure my husband is home to help and he worked very late today. I did, however, think of another question. How can I install as administrator or run anything as administrator from my user account? I have tried and am getting that same error "the extended attributes are inconsistent.". My guess is this is all art of the same problem. I am also finding I can not even delete desktop icons from my user account. This is not good. I have to be on the admin account just to remove unused icons? i am not talking about uninstalling a thing, just uncluttering my desktop.

Now googling for "the extended attributes are inconsistent." brings up a youtube video: "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLaxl0cbyWw&feature=youtu.be"

It tells you to go to control panel, sound, sounds, Program events:, scroll down to Windows User Account Control, and in the sounds: drop down list at the bottom left of the dialog, select the first option (none). Then the problem disappears.

I don't know, but if UAC is experiencing a corrupted sound file, and thus cannot continue... - is that the cause of your problem - well, it's worth a try, isn't it?

Fafhrd, I did watch the video and tried what you suggested in it, but I am still having issues. I am also now having issues with my Mozy account because of it and they can not seem to figure out why either. their tech remoted in to my system today and spent nearly an hour trying to install a new version of Mozy and could not.

topgundcp said:

I do not know why the administrator account was disabled when I installed Windows 8, we did not disable it, but it was indeed disabled. I thought I read somewhere it was hidden

Click to expand...

This is correct, The built in Administrator is disabled by default and since it is disabled, it is hidden.

Any thoughts on how to share apps with other accounts when installed from the administrator account?

Click to expand...

I've already mentioned this, you cannot install Metro Apps with built in Administrator account because it will not work. Destokp application will work if during install, some applications will give you the option whether it's available for everybody or just for yourself. However, I recommend to use your own user account to install it.

If you decide to install fresh Windows 8. Make sure you have an internet cable connected to your router so Windows setup can access their server to install all the required drivers and during set up when it prompts to enter user account, just setup a local account with full Administrator right (I think it is a default), you need to read the screen message before click "Next".

Click to expand...

First, I am not sure what a Metro app is. Was that in response to me?

I do have my system online through a router. Are you thinking I need to directly connect and bypass the router during instillation? I can see that this would make sense.
Jane

First, I am not sure what a Metro app is. Was that in response to me?

Click to expand...

There are 2 types of Apps in Windows 8. A regular desktop application that you install the same way as in Windows 7. A metro App (also called Modern App) is installed thru the Apps store. When you first install Windows 8, Microsoft also installs quite a few Metro Apps such as Maps, People, News, Mail etc... Metro apps always run in full screen mode or split screen mode. A picture is worth a thousand words, here is an example of Metro Apps:



Here's a Weather App



Here's Weather App & News App running in split screen mode:

I do have my system online through a router. Are you thinking I need to directly connect and bypass the router during instillation? I can see that this would make sense.

Click to expand...

No, as long as you have internet connection whether direct or thru the router is fine so that during installation of Windows, the installer will have a way to access their server to install the necessary drivers for your PC hardware.

Ok. I have not installed Metro apps from my Admin account, then only from user account. What I was trying to install that would not go was 1) Samsung Kies for my Note, 2) Neverwinter Nights Beta. I was in the week-end beta and never got it to run for me on my user account so I never got to play. I did not get to participate in the last round of beta due to the same issue. I have been beta testing for years for different companies all the way back to the original Ultima Online. I hate it when I miss one like this, but I particularly hated missing this one because Neverwinter Nights is a favorite game of mine. 3) at least 2 updates from installed software, but those could be installed from Admin and run under the user account. If I right click on any program or install from my user account, I do get the request for the password now which is a mysterious change as I have done nothing to bring this about, but when I enter the PW and hit return I get the same error I have been getting all along.

Another oddity my Mozy account started having issues and saying I was over the limit when I was not. I could not figure out how to fix it as it would not allow me to access my account, it was suspended on their system, so I talked with their tech support. That young man remoted in to my system and fought with it for over an hour. He tired to install the newer version of their software and it would not install in either account. It kept getting an error saying it did not have permission to run or something I did not quite get was blocking it. He could not find the problem even though he dug around for a long time and has now moved this to the next level of support and they are going to remote in by appointment and try and get my account fixed. maybe in the process they will see what is wrong.

I would still ask you to google "Extended attributes are inconsistent" - others experience seems identical to yours:
Let me google that for you
for instance:
Micks' Musings: The Extended Attributes Are Inconsistent in Windows 8
and
https://chentiangemalc.wordpress.co...rompt-extended-attributes-are-inconsistent-2/
and many more

Fafhrd, it does seem that at least part of my issue was the sound file that was activated by my spider web theme I have running at the moment. I had no idea it had messed with the sound files as I do not listen to my computer unless I have a reason to. No speakers are hooked to it, only headphones. I reset this to Windows default and now can do admin actions with no problem.

There is still something affecting my computer, though. I have not dug into this much but the 2nd tier tech support at Mozy was totally at a loss when he tried to figure it out when remoted in. He spent nearly t hours trying to get the latest version of their software to install, which should work just fine and it would not install at all. I need to revisit that and then see if I can figure out things like the Neverwinter issue and why my mail app can access the net just fine from the user account and not on the admin account. Odd.

One question before I go, are you able to remove something from the admin account and not a user account? I do not want to uninstall my ail app and lose all the stuff I have stored there as this is where I keep a lot of info that comes trough email but the first time I tried to run it in the Admin account it went out and downloaded the program again and the new download can not be activated. If I can simply remove that and only access mail on the web when I need to, that would solve at least that issue.

Thanks so much for all your effort on my part here. I do so appreciate everyone's help!

Jane