Windows Vista

In Windows Vista the Administrator account is disabled by default. You can first try to avoid logging on as Administrator to run a program with Administrator privileges or to approve admin access when asked by User Access Control (UAC).

If that is not sufficient, you have to enable the Administrator account first.

1. Right-click on: My Computer
2. Manage
3. Users and Groups
4. Users
5. Administrator
6. Properties

Enable the Administrator account. After that, proceed as follows, as for Windows XP Professional.

Windows XP Professional

1. Log out to get to the welcome screen.
2. Press Ctrl + Alt + Del twice. (Hold down the Ctrl and Alt keys at the same time, then hit the Del key briefly.) You should now see the classic logon dialog box.
3. Select the Administrator account.
4. Enter the Administrator password and click on [OK] or hit the return key.

Windows XP Home Edition

Only in Safe Mode you can log in as Administrator.

More information

• How to login as Administrator in Windows XP?, a very good article, written by fellow MVP Ramesh Srinivasan
• Forgot Administrator password