What is "open elevated command prompt" or "run command prompt as administrator"?
The "elevate command prompt" is a mode introduced with previous Windows Vista that allows user to execute command line with administrative privileges. So you can see they have the same meaning.
Why we need to run command prompt as administrator?
1. Command prompt cannot be opened automatically with administrative privileges.
2. "Run command prompt as administrator" will give us full rights to use different kinds of command line, such as command to reset Windows 7 password or command to enable/disable built-in administrator.
So it is necessary to specify administrator to run command prompt. Let's see now how to run command prompt as administrator or open elevated command prompt in windows 7 no matter it is accessible or locked.
Method 1: open elevated command prompt from Start menu
1. Click Start button and All Programs.
2. Unfold Accessories and right-click Command Prompt.
3. Select Run as administrator and click Yes on pop-up UAC dialog.
Method 2: Run command prompt as administrator from Search box
1. Click Start and enter "cmd" in search box.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + Enter and if UAC dialog appears, just click Yes button to successfully run command prompt with administrative permissions.
How can you always run command prompt as administrator?
1. Right click on Command Prompt shortcut and select Properties.
2. Click on Advanced button present in Shortcut tab.
3. Enable Run as administrator option and apply the changes.
From then on, as long as you click "Command Prompt", it would prompt you to run command prompt as administrator automatically.
Above methods are usually used to open command prompt as administrator when Windows 7 is accessible. However, while Windows 7 is locked and you need to run command prompt with administrative privileges, how can you do?
Method 1: Run command prompt as administrator in safe mode
While there is built-in administrator set without password, or you know the built-in administrator password, it is easy to enter Windows 7 safe mode and run command prompt with default administrator.
1. Power on locked Windows 7 computer and press F8 until you see the following screen.
2. Select Safe Mode with Command Prompt and press Enter.
3. Command Prompt is successfully opened with default Administrator.
If built-in administrator has protected with password, please select it and enter its password. Then command prompt will be run with it.
Method 2: Run command prompt as administrator on locked screen
If you really cannot run command prompt with built-in administrator on locked computer safe mode, get this method, even though it is not recommended for computer newbie.
It will guide you to rename cmd.exe to sethc.exe through launch startup repair. Then you could run command prompt instead of Sticky Keys application while you press Shift keys five times on Windows 7 login screen.
About more details, you can learn in article reset Windows 7 password with command prompt on login screen.
The differences between Command Prompt window you have run as administrator or not:
1. Run as administrator: window title says "Administrator: Command Prompt" and it opens to "C:\Windows\system32".
2. Not run as administrator: window title says "Command Prompt" and it opens to "C:\Users\[username]".
If you want to exit command prompt, just need to enter "exit" in window and you can easily exit and close window.
Related Articles:
