Enabling hidden Admin account.

Syncopator

Syncopator

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There are many "solutions" to this on the net, but they all say to enter the following from an elevated command prompt net user administrator /active:yes

This doesn't work for me.

(There is only one account on this machine - Administrator)

I need to do this so that I can rename a file.

Can someone help please.
 
If you type "net user<enter>"
in the elevated command prompt it will show all the accounts.
You cannot set Administrator "active" if it is already active.

Why not give more details what you are trying to do. Which file are you trying to rename?
 
Thank you for the response Miles Ahead.

The instructions I received were:

"in Windows Explorer, go in the folder below:
Code:
---------
C:\Windows\WinSxS\ManifestCache
---------
There should be a file with a .bin extension and blob in it's name. For exemple, mine is called *702349c5b78f9a04_blobs.bin*. Rename that file to *backup.bin*, then restart your computer. After the restart, wait 10-15 minutes to make sure that Windows is well started, then check in the ManifestCache folder to see if a new blob file have been created."

However, the person has replied with a possible work-around.

Nevertheless, I would still like to know how I activate the hidden Admin account.
 
Thank you Brink.

I had looked at that article in my search. Quite frankly it lacks clarity. There is only one account on this machine; it's named Administrator. I can't see what I am supposed to do.
 
Well, Miles and Brink, as I said in my post #3

There should be a file with a .bin extension and blob in it's name. For exemple, mine is called *702349c5b78f9a04_blobs.bin*. Rename that file to *backup.bin*, then restart your computer. After the restart, wait 10-15 minutes to make sure that Windows is well started, then check in the ManifestCache folder to see if a new blob file have been created."

This is the system's response to trying that

access denied.jpg
 
Thank you, but I don't understand the takedown procedure and prefer not to experiment.

Take Ownership is already in the context menu and doesn't work - at least in this instance.
 
Then I think your only alternative is to boot a WinPE USB or CD/DVD and rename the file while it is not in use by the system.
 
MilesAhead said:
Then I think your only alternative is to boot a WinPE USB or CD/DVD and rename the file while it is not in use by the system.
Click to expand...

Thank you Miles.

I don't understand WinPE, so haven't got that facility.

What I do have is Microsoft's disks (32 and 64) which I bought from Microsoft. The computer was bought new from HP with Windows 8.1 pre-installed. However it had a lot of "extras", including games and HP stuff. With the newly acquired (64) disc from Microsoft I reinstalled from scratch in the original partition - so losing all the extra rubbish.

Some time later I encountered a problem with the PC not booting up. I searched Google from another machine (with XP) for a solution but couldn't find anything - it just wouldn't boot.

I took it to a local IT company who overcame the problem. I have no idea what that involved.

I recently discovered that Windows Update was not working. I also found that I can't refresh the machine. Someone is trying to help with this and I don't want to step on any toes by asking here or anywhere else. I started this thread just to ask for assistance in overcoming the inability to be granted full (hidden) administrator privileges which is needed in order to perform the actions required by the other helper. I tried following Fred Langa's procedure, which appeared in Windows Secrets, without success.

It looks to me as though the easiest route in the long run would be a refresh, a repair, or complete re-installation - except that refresh doesn't work. The system gets so far and coughs up a message saying that it can't complete or whatever. It then proceeds to undo any changes so I'm back where I started.

Is there a sure-fire way I can reinstall the operating system?
 
I can't boot from disc. The option doesn't present itself. I've tried slowly pressing F8 during boot but that has no effect.

How do I access the BIOS or UEFI or whatever in order to change the boot order?
 
Syncopator said:
I can't boot from disc. The option doesn't present itself. I've tried slowly pressing F8 during boot but that has no effect.

How do I access the BIOS or UEFI or whatever in order to change the boot order?
Click to expand...


On my machine it is F12. You may have to look in the owner's manual or check the online forum for your model if F12 does not work for you.
 
Yes Miles, that's correct.

However, it doesn't help I'm afraid. I had tried before, via the "recovery" route in the control panel. Tried both refresh and restore more than once. It gets so far then terminates, coughing up the message "Windows could not complete the installation, etc." It then says "Restoring your previous version of Windows". And a bit later "We couldn't install Windows 8.1. 0x800704B8 - 0x3001A"
 
MilesAhead said:
But at this point it seems like your are on the verge of a complete reinstall anyway. It may be a "nothing to lose by trying" scenario?
Click to expand...

Yes Miles, I'm thinking this too. I have, however, been receiving help from someone else at sysnative. I will persevere with this for the moment, but I am no stranger to biting the reinstallation bullet :o.
 
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