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.

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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.

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

Pages: [2] 1 » Show All

  1. Alexander
    October 20th, 2008 22:53
    31

    Hello!

    Advanced Run is the most powerful free launcher that allows you to run any program, run any command line command, open and edit and print documents on behalf of any user account without switching between users.

    Advantages:
    - Advanced Run substitutes standard Windows Run feature so it is easy to run it by pressing [Win]+[R] standard key combination.
    - Pick Advanced Run… context menu item on whatever file you want to run or open.
    - Pick any user account you need, type it’s password and run a command without switching between users.
    - Select security profile to gain or reduce the privileges of the process you run.
    - Use command templates to dramatically automate your frequent and routine actions.
    - Specify implicitly shell verbs to perform additional actions on the file you need to open.
    - Use command shortcuts to automate your routine work.
    - Share your settings, security profiles and command shortcuts within your corporate network.
    - Take advantage of preinstalled security profiles and a whole bunch of useful command shortcuts.
    - Advanced Run has always been and always will be completely free!

    Check it out at http://www.ilyns.com/advanced-run.asp !

  2. Roger
    October 9th, 2008 21:35
    30

    The simple intructions to run command prompt as administrator by right clicking and choosing ‘run as administrator’ worked a treat! I couldn’t work out how to run as administrator when the only account on my computer is mine. Thanks!

  3. 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

  4. 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: [...]

  5. 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. [...]

  6. 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 [...]

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