How to Set the Local Administrator in Vista Ultimate

Windows Vista includes an Administrator account, which has full control of the operating system. The Administrator account is disabled by default so a user can't directly log into it. Microsoft recommends using user account control with a standard user account and acquiring administrator permission on a per-application basis. If you want to log in to the Administrator account directly from the Vista welcome screen and use it as a normal user account, you can re-enable it. Windows Vista Ultimate and Professional editions of Windows contain graphical tools for managing user accounts.

Instructions

1. Open the Microsoft Management Console interface by clicking "Start," typing "Mmc" into the search box in the Start menu and clicking "Enter."

2. Click "Local Users and Groups" in the left pane of the Microsoft Management Console window. If you don't see it, click "File," click "Add/Remove Snap-In," click "Local Users and Groups" in the list of available snap-ins, click "Add," click "Local Computer," click "Finish" and click "OK."

3. Double-click the "Users" folder under "Local Users and Groups."

4. Right-click the "Administrator" account and click "Properties."

5. De-select the "Account is Disabled" check-box by clicking it.

6. Click "OK."

References

• Microsoft TechNet: Enable and Disable the Built-in Administrator Account
• Microsoft: Disable a User Account
• Microsoft: Why Use a Standard User Account Instead of an Administrator Account?

Resources

• Microsoft: Windows Vista