Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Enable WINDOWS 7 Administrator Account with Group Policy (GPO)

Administrator account is disabled by default on Windows 7.
Group Policy can be used to enable it.
Create a new GPO and go to: Computer configuration -> Policies -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Security Options. On Right Pane click on Accounts: Administrator account status and change the settings to Enabled.


To enter a password for the Local Administrator Account, Group Policy Preferences can be used:

Go to Preferences -> Control Panel Settings -> and right click on Local Users and Groups. Choose: New -> Local User. From Drop-down menu on User name choose: Administrator (built-in).
Put the password and confirm it.




14 comments:

  1. Hi thank you for this, just one question.
    If you do this in the Default Domain Policy will it also chance the Administrator password on the domain controller?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Configmgr, Tips And Tricks: Enable Windows 7 Administrator Account With Group Policy (Gpo) >>>>> Download Now

      >>>>> Download Full

      Configmgr, Tips And Tricks: Enable Windows 7 Administrator Account With Group Policy (Gpo) >>>>> Download LINK

      >>>>> Download Now

      Configmgr, Tips And Tricks: Enable Windows 7 Administrator Account With Group Policy (Gpo) >>>>> Download Full

      >>>>> Download LINK XB

      Delete
  2. I don't know, BUT the Administrator on the Domain-Controller is an AD-Account, not a local one!

    ReplyDelete
  3. does this work with xp too?

    ReplyDelete
  4. You need to apply this policy to OU with computers. Domain controller as well as other servers should reside in another OU

    ReplyDelete
  5. Did this work for anyone? It's not working for me

    ReplyDelete
  6. For setting a password to the local administrator account of a XP/2000/NT4 machine a startup script run by a GPO can be used instead. The script should just consist of the line "net user Administrator %1" and the password entered as a variable inside the GPO.

    brgds,
    Anders

    ReplyDelete
  7. Funciona no windows 8? fiz um teste com duas VM, e so funcionou no win7 =/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hello All,

    I came across your post which by the way was very useful, I was able to enable the account but could not set a password to it, the pw fild(s) is(are) grayed-out... any thoughts?
    Your time and help is appreciated

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am also having the issue Felipe Pinelli is having. Any thoughts out there?

    ReplyDelete
  10. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2962486

    ReplyDelete
  11. The feature to set passwords was disabled in Server 2012/2016 due to some underlying security issue. It is only available in 2008. I built a 2008 just so I could continue doing it this way because I don't consider this a serious security risk.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Use LAPS instead of explicitly defining the password.

      Delete
  12. Configmgr, Tips And Tricks: Enable Windows 7 Administrator Account With Group Policy (Gpo) >>>>> Download Now

    >>>>> Download Full

    Configmgr, Tips And Tricks: Enable Windows 7 Administrator Account With Group Policy (Gpo) >>>>> Download LINK

    >>>>> Download Now

    Configmgr, Tips And Tricks: Enable Windows 7 Administrator Account With Group Policy (Gpo) >>>>> Download Full

    >>>>> Download LINK Ah

    ReplyDelete