How to Open Elevated Command Prompt with Administrator Privileges in Windows Vista

Windows Vista power users have many ways to launch a command prompt or Windows command processor (cmd.exe) with administrator privileges, rights or credentials. It’s a security feature in Windows Vista that comes with User Access Control (UAC) that all processes will launch in restricted mode unless users specifically accept the elevation confirmation. For command prompt, the commands may refuse to run or have access denied error. So users need to launch command prompt will full admin rights and permission state. Here’s a few ways and methods the elevated command prompt can be opened and ran as administrator.

Method 1

  1. Click on Vista Start button.
  2. Locate the Command Prompt menu item (buried deep inside Accessories under All Programs or appear on program access history).
  3. Right click on Command Prompt.
  4. On the pop-up right click context menu, select “Run as Administrator”.

Method 2

  1. Click on Vista Start button.
  2. Click on Run.
  3. Type in “Cmd” (without quotes) in the Open textbox.
  4. You should see “This task will be created with administrative privileges”.
  5. Click on OK or press Enter.

Method 3

  1. Press the Win keyboard key or click on Vista Start button.
  2. Type cmd into the Start Search textbox.
  3. Press Ctrl+Shift+Enter keyboard shortcut. Ctrl-Shift-Enter is the general keyboard shortcut that triggers elevation to “Run as Administrator”.
  4. Press Alt+C or press Continue to confirm the UAC elevation warning prompt.

Method 4

  1. Click on Vista Start button.
  2. In the Start Search box, type in “Cmd” (without quotes).
  3. Right click on the Command Prompt in the search result listing.
  4. In the right click menu, click on “Run as Administrator” menu item.

Method 5

  1. Press on Win + R keyboard keys.
  2. Type in Cmd into the Open textbox.
  3. Hit OK or press Enter.

Method 6

You can create an easy access shortcut to elevated command prompt with administrative privileges at the desktop or Start menu.

Method 7

Add a right click contextual menu option of “Open Command Prompt as Administrator” to the Computer (My Computer) so that you can simply right click and click on the item to open the super command prompt.

Method 8

Turn off or disable User Access Control (UAC).

Method 9

If you prefer to hold down “Shift” key and right click on a folder open a command window here, a registry hack will allow you to open command window at current folder in elevated mode as administrator.

This guide has been reposted and updated at Tip and Trick.

Share and contribute or get technical support and help at My Digital Life Forums.



This entry was posted on Saturday, February 17th, 2007 at 8:36 pm and is filed under Windows Vista. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

29 Responses to “How to Open Elevated Command Prompt with Administrator Privileges in Windows Vista”

  1. Windows Vista OEM Activation Crack (vstaldr) without Modify or Flash BIOS » My Digital Life
    March 2nd, 2007 13:14
    1

    [...] elevated command prompt with administrator privileges. Confirm any security warning that pops [...]

  2. Windows Vista Brute Force Product Key Keygen for Activation » My Digital Life
    March 2nd, 2007 16:45
    2

    [...] “cmd” and hit “OK” button to launch Command Prompt. You may need to open elevated command prompt or turn of [...]

  3. Vista Loader 2.0 OEM BIOS Emu Crack (SoftMod Update) » My Digital Life
    March 10th, 2007 18:39
    3

    [...] Click on Start button, then select “All Programs” -> “Accessories” -> “Command Promt”. You may need to turn of UAC or open command prompt with administrator rights. [...]

  4. Disable TCP Auto-Tuning to Solve Slow Network, Cannot Load Web Page or Download Email Problems in Vista » My Digital Life
    March 22nd, 2007 01:08
    4

    [...] Open elevated command prompt with administrator’s privileges. [...]

  5. How to Run Windows Vista without Activation Forever » My Digital Life
    March 22nd, 2007 17:42
    5

    [...] Open command prompt with administrative rights. [...]

  6. Install Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack (adminpak) on Windows Vista » My Digital Life
    April 22nd, 2007 15:57
    6

    [...] Open a command prompt with administrative privileges (instructions here). [...]

  7. Delete Undeletable Files in Windows Vista » My Digital Life
    May 25th, 2007 16:09
    7

    [...] We can use 2 command-line utilities to take ownership of the files or folders, and then grant full control access permissions to Administrators group, which supposedly you’re a member of. The 2 command line syntaxes are as below. Note that the full path should be included if you’re not at the current directory, and to run these commands, command prompt has to be in elevated mode. [...]

  8. How to Change and Limit System Restore Storage Space Usage Size in Vista with VSSAdmin » My Digital Life
    June 26th, 2007 00:34
    8

    [...] use vssadmin.exe utility, users will need to launch Command Prompt with administrative rights. To do so, simply click on Start button, then type CMD in the Start Search box, and finally press [...]

  9. Download and Install iTunes without QuickTime » My Digital Life
    July 19th, 2007 00:25
    9

    [...] a Command Prompt window (cmd.exe, with administrator privileges in Vista), and then type the following [...]

  10. Internal Error 2739 Error in Vista (32 or 64-bit) When Install Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Reflector Related Programs » My Digital Life
    July 25th, 2007 19:20
    10

    [...] Run an elevated command prompt as Administrator. [...]

  11. eceblogger.com » Installing SPSS under Vista
    July 27th, 2007 04:44
    11

    [...] the same website. The key is to run regsvr32 from a command prompt with Administrator priviledges. Here is a post from My Digital Life on how you can open a command prompt with Administrator [...]

  12. Vista Remote Desktop Connection Client Slow Delay or Disconnect When Connect to Windows Server 2003 SP2 x64 Edition RDP » My Digital Life
    August 27th, 2007 16:13
    12

    [...] autotuninglevel alone will solve most network problems. To disable these network tuning functions, open elevated command prompt with administrator rights, the type the following [...]

  13. VistaTcpPatch Windows Vista TCP Half Open Limit Auto Patcher GUI Version » My Digital Life
    September 1st, 2007 23:33
    13

    [...] Open an elevated command prompt with administrator rights. [...]

  14. Windows Software Licensing Management Tool (Vista SLMGR.vbs) Usage Hack Guide » My Digital Life
    September 2nd, 2007 23:04
    14

    [...] Command prompt window. This is the way to to run SLMgr with options which requires elevated administrator privileges. [...]

  15. Photoshop cs3 ga bs diinstall - CHIP Forum
    September 26th, 2007 07:45
    15

    [...] Re: Photoshop cs3 ga bs diinstall - Today, 06:33 Run an elevated command prompt as Administrator. [...]

  16. Disable, Uninstall and Remove Skype Add-On Call This Phone Number on Web Page and Toolbar Plugin Menu in IE » My Digital Life
    October 10th, 2007 17:16
    16

    [...] and hooks of Skype in IE by unregistering Skype IE Plug-in from the IE toolbar. In Vista, use an elevated command prompt. Close all IE windows before running the [...]

  17. Run Command Prompt Window as Administrator by Right Click Computer in Vista » My Digital Life
    October 17th, 2007 22:37
    17

    [...] to type “CMD” or pressing any keyboard keys just to elevate the opened command prompt window with full administrator credentials and privileges mode? The following registry hack for Windows [...]

  18. Open Elevated Command Prompt Window Here as Administrator at Current Folder Directly in Vista Windows Explorer » My Digital Life
    October 18th, 2007 00:22
    18

    [...] Windows Vista, if User Account Control (UAC) is not disabled, there will be occasional need to open an elevated command prompt window with full administrator rights. When an elevated command prompt is opened, it will normally go to [...]

  19. Hack to Enable Windows Aero in Vista Home Basic Edition » My Digital Life
    November 14th, 2007 14:23
    19

    [...] Restart the Desktop Windows Manager Session Manager by issuing the following command in a command prompt window with administrative privileges: [...]

  20. Vista OEM Activation Crack: Hack to Modify BootMgr to Activate Vista » My Digital Life
    November 14th, 2007 14:29
    20

    [...] If you having problem to modify the BootMgr due to permission error, try to take ownership and grant full control permissions to yourself. To see BootMgr file which is hidden by default, click on “Organize” in Windows Explorer, then select “Folder and Search Options”. Click on “View” tab, then select “Show hidden files and folders” setting under Hidden files and folders section, and also clear the check mark (unselect) on “Hide protect operating system files (Recommended)”. Click “OK” when done. To clear the Read-Only property on BootMgr, right click on BootMgr and then select “Properties”, unselect the “Read-only” attribute and finish by clicking “OK”. If you still having error, try to use other tool such as WinHEX to remove the system, hidden and read-only attributes from BootMgr, or you can run the following command in elevated command prompt: [...]

  21. Invalid Key Error While Activate Vista with OEM Emulation or Mod BIOS Flash » My Digital Life
    November 14th, 2007 15:01
    21

    [...] run above command, open an elevated privileges command prompt or disable UAC. The command will re-install system license files, applicable especially you have [...]

  22. Use Rearm and SkipRearm to Delay and Skip Vista Activation (Almost) Forever » My Digital Life
    November 14th, 2007 15:07
    22

    [...] a command prompt with administrative rights. Click on Continue and/or provide password if a User Account Control dialog pops up to ask for [...]

  23. Clinton
    December 23rd, 2007 19:10
    23

    Please re-upload
    http://depositfiles.com/en/files/2779067
    onto another site

    i try to download it but when i press download it just opens a ad..

  24. How do you get Vista SP1 Special Edition | ProCookie Technology Blog
    February 23rd, 2008 07:33
    24

    [...] After downloading the the Vista SP1 RTM CAB files of around 532.9 MB, use the following command to install the service pack in elevated command prompt with administrative privileges. [...]

  25. Per Johanssons Berömda Blogg » Blog Archive » Vista SP1 finns inte på Svenska än, men …
    March 16th, 2008 18:41
    25

    [...] After downloading the the Vista SP1 RTM CAB files of around 532.9 MB, use the following command to install the service pack in elevated command prompt with administrative privileges. [...]

  26. Infusion Technology Solutions Blog » Blog Archive » » “Internal Error 2739″ When Trying to Install Adobe Photoshop CS3 in Windows Vista
    April 8th, 2008 03:21
    26

    [...] Open a command prompt but do so with administrative privileges. See this link on how to do [...]

  27. How to Unassociate File Types and Remove File Extension Associations in Windows Vista » My Digital Life
    June 20th, 2008 01:52
    27

    [...] Open an elevated command prompt with admistrator privileges. [...]

  28. 0×8007232B DNS Name Does Not Exist Error on Windows Vista or Server 2003 Activation » My Digital Life
    August 7th, 2008 01:25
    28

    [...] For some users who’re using Windows Vista Business Edition or other volume licensing (VL) editions meant for activation via KMS method, the system may erroneously search for KMS host for activation, even if the user uses MAK product key with less than 25 machines on the network. The solution to volume licensing customers for 0X8007232B is also the same - reenter the product key again, using step above, or alternatively, run the following commands in an elevated command prompt: [...]

  29. Solution to "Spore Clames I'm offline" - Electronic Arts UK Community
    September 8th, 2008 17:32
    29

    [...] to do is open an administrator level command prompt, if you are not sure how to do this look at How to Open Elevated Command Prompt with Administrator Privileges in Windows Vista

Leave a Reply

You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Subscribe without commenting

« Create and Put an Elevated Command Prompt on Windows Vista Desktop or Start Menu
Increase or Decrease Windows Vista Aero Glass Windows Border Padding »

Custom Search

New Articles

Incoming Search Terms for the Article

vista elevated mode - elevated mode - elevated command prompt - windows vista elevated mode - elevated mode vista - vista elevated command prompt - administrator command prompt - run command prompt as administrator - all - how to open command prompt - vista administrator command prompt - administrator privileges - how to run vista in elevated mode - firefox elevated mode - open command prompt as administrator - command prompt as administrator - cmd elevated mode - command promt - cmd commands - open command prompt here - elevated admin - vista elevated privileges - running in elevated mode - elevated mode in vista - run as administrator from command prompt - launch firefox in elevated mode - elevated mode windows vista - elevated privileges vista - run as administrator command prompt - how to open a command window in vista - administrator privileges vista - run in elevated mode - administrative privileges - run command prompt as administrator in vista - Windows Vista Command Prompt - vista elevate CMD - command prompt - elevated administrator privileges - windows vista elevated privileges - run command prompt as admin - vista administrator privileges - vista run in elevated mode - Vista Command promt - how to open a command prompt - launch my computer from command prompt - Vista running in elevated mode - run as administrator vista cmd - command prompt administrator - elevated privileges - Download Administrator Privileges - what is elevated mode - administrator privileges - how to open administrator - run cmd in elevated mode - appropriate privileges for vista - open command prompt - Command Prompt with elevated privileges - how to open command prompt as administrator - run with elevated privileges - vista cmd elevation - administrator command - administrator from command prompt - how to run cmd in elevated mode - vista administrator privilege - how to open a command window with admin rights - Open elevated command prompt with administrator’s privileges - administrator privileges for vista - administrator command prompt vista - vista run as administrator command - vista command prompt as administrator - elevate privileges in vista - elevated as an administrator - Hacking Through Command Prompt - vista admin command prompt - vista elevated administrator privileges -