I have just noticed that the user account I set up when installing Windows 7 RC has been changed to a Guest Account. I had not set up any other accounts or enabled the Administrator account so I am now unable to make any system changes. I have recently set up my system to log on automatically and I have also just joined the Homegroup from another PC running Windows 7 RC. Not sure if these things may have caused the change of account type. I haven't played around with any other account settings. I have tried starting in Safe mode but the system does not prompt me for an admin password - it just starts up in the guest account so I can still not make any changes. Has anyone else had this problem and found a solution? UPDATE: Other attempts I have made to fix this: - Go into repair console - the system allows me to log in as administrator but when I try to enable administrator account net user administrator /active:yes it says command completed successfully but when I restart the administrator account is still not active - I've tried creating a new user net user username password /ADD - the new user was listed when using net user but when I restart the user is no longer there - I've tried doing a restore from repair console but there are no restore points :( Cheers Pete

Try removing the setting that has you log in automatically. It should probably require temporary elevation to Admin credentials for this, but afterwards maybe you will be log on to the admin account in normal mode or safe mode.-Nick

Same exact thing happened to me. Any clues? Nick, i tried that and nothing.

This may work. Click the Windows Orb (Start), type control userpasswords2 (type the space but not the quotes) and press Enter. Highlight your account > Properties > Group Membership Tab, tick Administrator and Apply, etc.

pedrogrande, I'm sorry to hear that you're having issues with your Windows 7 computer. I know how difficult it can be when your system isn't working propperly. You should check out the Windows 7 forum, at microsoft.com/springboard. It provides support, "how to" video guides andseveral other tips and tricks to make your Windows 7 experience awesome. Thanks Glen v-glferg@microsoft.com

when you log on with your guest account, can you then Log Off using the start menu to get to the log on screen?Then try loging with the administrator account, most likely no password (BUILTIN)its very wierd indeed...Benjamin Niaulin

Iam having the same problem my admin account suddenly changed into a guest account on windows 7 RC. I cant run control userpasswords2 or do any changes to the operation system since i have no longer a admin account :( Looks like a wipe and reinstall is in the pipework. : This is a bad bug in windows 7 : I did startup in repairmode and did a rollback, this got my admin account back ,thankfully :)

I just started having this problem. I was able to get my drive permissions back but I can not change the Users account types. They show as Administrator, but they do not have all rights. When you try to change the accept box is blocked out. This happens even in the Administrator account. I did find someone with the same problem in Vista. As always since it only effects a few MS will not address it. So a wipe and reinstall is what I get also.

Same thing happened here. As far as I can tell, It happened when I used userpasswords2 to change to autologon. Anyway, I finally found a guide to get an admin account working. I used the directions at harryjohnston blog. It worked, but I cannot figured out how to change the old main account name, now identified still as a guest account back to a standare user account. Also, all accounts don't show up unless I use the userpasswords2 command. The address for fix to get into as an administrator and go from there is http://harryjohnston.wordpress.com/2010/03/09/resetting-a-password-in-windows-7-or-windows-vista/ It looks complicated, but took only a few minutes. if anyone finds the fix to change my main account back into a standard account from a guest account, please email me at doefamily@xemaps.com Running 32 bit win 7 Home Premium. It is a bug in my opinion. Cheers J Hull

How about a fix for this awesome problem! Glen?

Same happened to me. I tried to reinstall but I can't. And I used 'control userpassword2' with 'Run', it opens but it doesn't change my (only) guest account back to an administrator... I actually dual-booted Vista and 7 but my vista is having error at the moment. ANY IDEAS EVERYONE?

control userpasswords2 is the culprit and the solution. Gain access to the admin account by restarting in safe mode with command prompt and use the following command at the dos prompt net user administrator /active:yes It will say the command was successful. Restart the computer and enter the admin account. Now run control userpasswords2. You will see all your accounts. Select the one that has been moved from admin to guest and go to properties. Under group Membership change the account from other back to admin. Now, run the same command as above at the dos prompt changing yes to no to turn off the admin account. Restart and you should be able to access your previous account and it will have admin access back.

We had the same issue with one of our computer. As soon as you joined the domain, the local account is reset to "guest accout". If the computer is disconnected from the domain, it doesn't have any active administrator account. I tried all the methods suggested on Microsoft and other tech sites, none of those work... except...... Here is the work around to get activate build in administrator account: download in create an Offline Password Recovery Disc from: http://www.pogostick.net/~pnh/ntpasswd/ Run the CD from boot and follow instructions, (don't create a password for administrator yet, you can do it once logged in). Good luck.John Le

Have you lost your windows 7 Admin Account password? Now, we'd commend you a professional Windows password recovery software— Windows Password Reset Tool as your reference. Time: 5 Minute! Recommend: +++++ As an easy method to reset Windows 7 administrator password , there are only four steps as follow: Step1: Download Windows Password Reset Tool and install it. Step2: Burn the ISO image file onto a USB flash drive. Step3: Boot up your Windows 7 PC by the bootable burned USB in minutes. Step4: Remove the forgot Windows 7 password on the operation interface and logon PC without password.Reset Windows Administrator Password

This may work. Click the Windows Orb (Start), type ‘control userpasswords2’ (type the space but not the quotes) and press Enter. Highlight your account > Properties > Group Membership Tab, tick Administrator and Apply, etc. This is the same as typing "netplwiz" into the searchbar, and if you type it the way he says, you may have to type it into Run.