Privileged Functionality as a Standard User?

Question

I have performed an initial logon as a standard user. When I check my info under Windows Settings it indicates I am an administrator. I no longer have to authenticate to perform privileged functions.  I want to be able to logon as standard user and authenticate to execute privileged functions. I used to be able to work that way but now I just click "yes" to continue and I automatically authenticate as an admin. Don't want this. How do I set the system back to my desired mode of operations?  Thank you.

Answer 1

"All I want to be is a standard user and authenticate as an administrator when necessary. "

• I'm still not clear on what you are doing, or trying to do.

If you want to 'authenticate as an Admin when necessary' (do something requiring elevated privlidges ?), you need to log on

with a personal User ( 'my name and email' ) Admin account to perform those tasks. Then switch back to your standard User account.

In this instance you need two accounts.

- The default System Admin account is not meant to be used as a personal User account, and shouldn't even been visible in the main Users folder.

This is meant for the system (Windows updates, etc), troubleshooting, and as a backup should your personal Admin account become corrupted.

- The main reason for standard accounts is if you have other peoples accounts on the one machine, in which case as 'the boss' \Admin

of the machine you would not want the others messing with settings or installing \uninstalling software without your permission.

  - Personally, as the sole user of a PC, using a standard account is too tedious to bother with. Unless you rarely do things that 

require elevated privileges.

Yes, there is a very slight additional risk of being hacked\attacked if logged on with an Admin account, but I've never had any problems

(virus\malware\hacked) running with only an Admin account since I started using a PC in 2004.

Due diligence, and running an Anti-virus and firewall real time is adequate.

You can set UAC at a high level if you want more protection via constant reminders that you are about to do something that has

a small chance of compromising your system, but I also find UAC tedious and have it at the lowest setting.

Answer 2

Thank you for your quick reply. I apologize for not clearly stating my problem the first time. I have a standard user account. There is an administrator account on the system but its not me. The problem surfaces when I go to SETTINGS >ACCOUNTS and under my name and email it shows "Administrator." I no longer have to authenticate to invoke administrative privileges; all I have to do is click YES in the pop-up windows and the action is completed.

This is a recent and unwanted change that I did not make. All I want to be is a standard user and authenticate as an administrator when necessary.  Something in the system changed recently and I am at a loss as to what it was and how to fix.  Thank you for your time and effort!

Answer 3

Kevin,

Thank you for your quick reply. I apologize for not clearly stating my problem the first time. I have a standard user account. There is an administrator account on the system but its not me. The problem surfaces when I go to SETTINGS >ACCOUNTS and under my name and email it shows "Administrator." I no longer have to authenticate to invoke administrative privileges; all I have to do is click YES in the pop-up window and the action is completed.

This is a recent and unwanted change that I did not make. All I want to be is a standard user and authenticate as an administrator when necessary.  Something in the system changed recently and I am at a loss as to what it was and how to fix.  Thank you for your time and effort!

Bob

Answer 4

Hi Rwdillard -

I'm Kevin B. Independent advisor and a Windows user like you. I do apologize for the inconvenience that you experiencing right now, let me help you sort things out.

How many accounts is currently registered on your computer?

You will need at least one admin account on your computer to make your desired changes in the future and to elevate permissions on your windows. If you only have one account, it is set by default as admin on your computer.

If you would like to have a standard user account, you can create a new user account on your computer and use it instead.

To create new user profile, please follow the steps below

1. Open the Settings by pressing the Windows Key + I
2. Click on Accounts
3. In the left pane menu, click on Family & Other Users
4. Under other users, click on add someone else on this PC
5. By default, it will going to ask you to sign in using a Microsoft account, click on the link below which says I don't have this person's sign in information
6. Click on Add a user without Microsoft account
7. Fill out a username and click next until completion.

NOTE: Make sure to select standard user when creating the new user profile

Sign out to the current user and sign in on the new user profile.

Hope this will help and have a bless day!

Thanks.

Kevin B.

Independent advisor

Answer 5

"I have performed an initial logon as a standard user."

• Meaning you have just installed Windows and have created only the one account ?

If you have only one account it has to be an Admin account, otherwise you can't do tasks that require elevated privileges.

You will need to create a second account to use as your 'standard' account.

.