How to Activate the Vista Administrator - /Active:Yes
How to Activate the Vista Administrator - /Active:Yes
Not many people know that Vista has a hidden super-user account. I will show you how to activate this Vista Administrator account via a 'Net User' command. One benefit of logging on as this super account is that you will never be prompted for the nagging UAC dialog box.
Topics for Activating the Vista Administrator
How to Activate the Hidden Vista Administrator Account
Local Security Method to Enable the Administrator Account
Benefits of Vista's Hidden Administrator Account
Check Vista's User Accounts
Summary of Vista Administrator - Super User (Hidden Account)
How to Activate the Hidden Vista Administrator
Key decision - decide if you need a password for the administrator's account that you are going to activate. My point is that the local policy may insist on a complex password, thus you will not be able to activate the administrator with a blank password. This technique also works on Windows Server 2008, however on that operating system it is more likely you will set /active:no.
Overview
Logon to Vista using your usual account.
Launch the cmd prompt - Make sure you select, 'Run as administrator'
Net user administrator p£ssw0rD
Net user administrator /active:yes
Switch User, or logoff
Logon as Administrator Password p£ssw0rD
(Your password may be different!)
Detailed Instructions to activate the Administrator
Logon to Vista using your normal username and password.
Click on the Start button
Click on Start Search.
Type, cmd.
Right-click cmd, select 'Run as administrator' from the shortcut menu.
In the black 'DOS box', type the following at the command line:
Net help user
The idea of the last command is just to observe the options for Net User. In particular, examine the syntax to set the password.
The next instruction is the crucial command. I have chosen password = p£ssworD, you may want to choose different characters.
Net user administrator p£ssw0rd
Net user administrator /active:yes
Check the message : The command completed successfully
Switch User, or logoff
Logon as Administrator Password p£ssw0rD (Your password may be different!)
Trap1: There should be no space between the word 'active' and the colon.
/active :yes is wrong.
/active:yes is correct.
Trap2: You need a forward slash before /active
Net user administrator active:yes is wrong
Net user administrator /active:yes is correct
Thanks to Rob Hilton for pointing out this trap.
Trapx: Pay close attention to the command, it should be active, not activate.
I thank Ben O'Sullivan for correcting this activate --> active error.
Local Security Method to Enable the Administrator Account
Kindly sent in by Dave Waddell
If you prefer a simpler method, visit the Local Security policy, incidentally, this MMC is worth exploring in its own right.
This is how you navigate to the Local Security Policy.
Firstly click on Vista's Start orb, then in the Start Search dialog box type: secpol.msc. Note: you must include the .msc extension.
Secondly drill down to Local Policy, Security Options
Thirdly double click Accounts: Administrator account status, and select enable.
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