Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Removed computer from domain, admin rights problems

Apr 30, 2017 1:34AM PDT

My aunt had an old work laptop from the university she works at. Since no one was using it anymore I got it. When I tried removing the computer from the univesity domain and make my own user I created a new work group. So I'm disconnected now, have a user account, but I have no admin rights and can barely do anything with this computer. Anytime I try to do anything which requires admin righs I need to use a smart card (which I don't have). I can't even run programs as a administrator because of that smart card.

I've tried:

1) Removing the smart card opinion (https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-security/how-do-i-remove-the-insert-a-smart-card-option/1f4a70bc-f63c-4aff-a6f6-e20070aaeb19) but I'm not allowed to use gpedit.msc (any way to fix that?)

2) Enabling the hidden admin account (https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/enable-the-hidden-administrator-account-on-windows-vista/) but because of the smard card issues I can't run cmd as admin (any way to bypass this?)

3) safe mode start, but can't login to the admin user since I don't have the password.

If there is no way to solve one of the above, I've been wondering if I should try to do a clean install of Windows. It is currently Windows 7 enterprise, but I was planning on installing the home version of 7 (I want to upgrade to 10 eventually). Is that a good solution if I can't solve my admin problems and which version should I install? I'm also a bit worried if I can do a clean install since:

I can't do a computer backup -- need admin rights.

Can't install programs to backup drives nor use any program to recover program keys -- need admin rights.

I currently have nothing important on the computer so it's okay if everythings deleted, but I'm worried something will go wrong if there are missing drivers.

Summed up: A) can I gain admin rights in some way without re-install or B) is it safe to reinstall, and can I install Windows 7 home edition as it is?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
Re: admin rights
Apr 30, 2017 1:47AM PDT

A) No
B) Yes and surely Linux also, provided you can get into the BIOS to tell it to boot from the installation medium. But it could very well be they blocked that also. Then ask your aunt to contact the IT support of the university to see what they can do.

- Collapse -
Re: admin rights
Apr 30, 2017 2:49AM PDT

Thank you for your answers. A few stupid last questions: I guess I need a new product key if I go from enterprise -> home? And is it possible to directly install a clean version of windows 10 on top of enterprise, or do I have to downgrade to the windows 7 home edition first?

- Collapse -
I have been reading up on this question
Apr 30, 2017 6:09AM PDT

and it seems that Enterprise Editions of Windows cannot use the free Windows 10 upgrade because it is distributed to companies with bulk licenses . You would have to purchase a new copy of Windows and do a clean install of whichever version you decide to install .

I chose This Link to use as an example ( the second answer is more to the point )

There are more examples Here

- Collapse -
Answer
Windows 7
Apr 30, 2017 5:34AM PDT

You might want to visit the laptop maker's site and see what they have to show for windows 10.

If there is no support for windows 10 it can get iffy doing an upgrade.

While your there check on buying recovery media.

- Collapse -
Answer
This is a mess. Not your doing.
Apr 30, 2017 7:58AM PDT

Microsoft does not support downgrading the Windows OS from Pro, Enterprise to Home. That's not a supported path. You'd have to start over.

-> As to the admin thing that's a side effect of domain control and you must have the admin's local login which might be a little tricky. You don't need to worry about the local login password since there are more than a few ways to reset that. (NTPASSWD and the Accessibility method, google or ask here for which search to use.)

Now that you have a admin local login you can try elevating your account to an admin.

Just in case, I have to preface all this that Admin is not God. Some come back that you need to change folder permissions, ownership and why Admin's just don't get full access. It's a long story and all about why folk take classes on Windows administration but in short, Admin is not God.