Help! My PC says I need to be an Administrator when I try to install or use a program

Many operating systems, including Windows, have different types of user accounts with different permission levels. Often, before you can install a software program, you will need to log on to your computer using an Administrator account. Fortunately, this isn’t as complicated as it sounds.

Log on using the Administrator account

If you’re using Windows XP, an easy way to tell whether you’re using an Administrator account is to point your mouse to the clock on the bottom-right corner of your screen. Right-click the clock, and then click Adjust Date/Time. If you have an Administrator account, a small window will open with controls that enable you to change the time and date on your computer. If you have a Limited User account, you will see a message saying “You do not have the proper privilege level to change System Time.”

Here’s another way to check whether your account has administrator permissions:

1.                  Click Start, then click Control Panel.

2.                  Double-click User Accounts.

3.                  Under Users for this computer, find your user name and verify which Group (Administrators or Users) your account is in.

If your account is shown as a User only, you will need to log on to Windows with an Administrator account before running any Windows Live Safety scans.

To log on using the Administrator account:

1.                  Click Start, and then click Log Off.

2.                  Confirm that you want to log off in the Log Off Windows dialog box. You will be logged off from Windows.

3.                  When the Log On to Windows screen appears, type the administrator user name for your PC (the default is “Administrator”) and the password you assigned to the administrator account when you set up your PC.
Note: If you do not see the Log On to Windows screen, press CTRL+ALT+DELETE twice to display it.

4.                  Click OK.

If a message appears informing you that the system could not log you on, verify that the CAPS LOCK is not turned on, and then retype your password.

Use the Run As command to install a program

If you’re already logged on to your computer as an Administrator and you’re still having problems—and you’re comfortable using Windows Explorer to navigate through files and folders—you can try using the Run As command to install the program.

To use the Run As command:

1.                  Right-click Start, then click Explore. The Windows Explorer window opens.

2.                  In Windows Explorer, navigate to the folder for the program you want to install (depending on whether you are installing from a CD or a network location, you may need to start at your CD drive or My Network Places), then click to select the program.

3.                  Press the SHIFT key, right-click the program, then click Run As.

4.                  In the Run As dialog box, click The following user.

5.                  In the User name and Password boxes, type the user name and password for the Administrator account you want to use.

6.                  Click OK.

Contact the software manufacturer

If you’ve tried the methods suggested here and you’re still having problems, your best bet is to contact the software publisher’s technical support or customer service center and ask for help in installing the application. Microsoft Help and Support provides a fairly comprehensive list of third-party hardware and software manufacturers that you can use to get help with your program. The list is divided alphabetically as follows:

·          Hardware and software vendor contact information, A-K

·          Hardware and software vendor contact information, L-P

·          Hardware and software vendor contact information, Q-Z