Enabling the Built in Administrator in Windows

Legacy KB ID: 3623

Question

My attempts to install QuickBooks and Point of Sale fail due to insufficient privileges.  But I am the Local Administrator.  What can I do?

Answer


An installation can fail for a Local Administrator for a number of reasons:

  1. If there is a firewall, antivirus or some other monitor blocking the installation files;
  2. The user account has become corrupted;
  3. Some administrator privileges have been reserved for the Built-In Administrator.


Solutions

Users should go through standard troubleshooting steps first to eliminate usual causes that prevent a program installing.  Where problems persist users should start with Solution 1 and continue to the next solution if the solution does not resolve the issue.


Solution 1: 

Install in Selective Start-Up Mode.  Click here for instructions.


Solution 2: 

Create a new Local Administrator account and with this account install in Selective Start-Up Mode.


Solution 3:  Enable the Built-In Administrator and install with this account.


To enable the built-In Administrator do the following:


 Windows 10/11 Pro & Enterprise:


  • Click on Windows Key + R to open the run dialog;
  • Type: lusrmgr.msc and click OK;
  • In left pane click on Users folder then in the middle pane click on Administrator
  • Untick Account is disabled on the General tab.


Windows 8 Pro:


  • At the Metro Start Screen click on Windows Key + X;
  • Select Computer Management;
  • Click on Local Users and Groups, then  Users, and then Administrator;
  • Untick Account is disabled on the General tab.


Windows 8 (basic):


  • Open an elevated command prompt:  Win+X > Select Command Prompt (Admin)
  • At the command prompt enter:  Net user administrator /active:yes (you may copy and paste this command)
  • press Enter;
  • Close the elevated command prompt.

 

Windows7 Professional/Ultimate& Vista Business/Ultimate & Windows XP Pro:


  • Right click on Computer, then Manage, then Local Users and Groups, then  Users, and then Administrator;
  • Untick Account is disabled on the General tab.


Windows7 Home Premium & Vista Home Basic/Home Premium:


Local Users and Groups is not available in Computer Management with these operating systems but you can enable the Built-in Administrator account using the command prompt, as follows:


  • Click on Start, then  All Programs, then Accessories, then right click Command Prompt and left click Run as administrator;
  • Type in the following command to turn on or off the account:
    • Turning on: net user administrator /active:yes
    • Turning off:  net user administrator /active:no
  • In these operating systems it can also be difficult to determine if the user is in the Administrator group or not. To view users and groups:
  • Either:  Click on Start, in the Search programs and files box, type control userpasswords2 and you will be able to see the users and groups module.
  • Or:  Click on Start, then  All Programs, then Accessories, then Command Prompt, then type control userpasswords2 and you will be able to see the users and groups module.


Login to the computer with the Built-In Administrator account and install in Selective Start-Up Mode.


When installation completed successfully, login to the computer with a Local Administrator account and disable the Built-In Administrator account.



Additional Note

Windows XP Home Edition – the Built-In Administrator is available only in Safe Mode.

Need more help?

Ask the Reckon Community at: https://community.reckon.com/

Or Log a Support Ticket: https://www.reckon.com/au/support/

How did we do?

Running your PC in Selective Startup to install or activate Reckon Accounts

QODBC asking for an Activation Key a month after installing

Related Articles

There was a problem installing Microsoft Runtime Library (Error 1618 or 1612) when installing RAB
Installation Interrupted when installing Accounts Business
Turning on the Windows Built-In Administrator account
Powered by HelpDocs (opens in a new tab)

Powered by HelpDocs (opens in a new tab)