I recently installed Vista Ultimate on my computer and then joined it to our domain.  The install and joining to the domain all went fine.  But I have been finding out that I am not allowed to do certain things that when I was using XP I was.  So I am wondering about administrative rights and how they work on Vista compared to XP. 

 

For example, using Control Panel-Administrative Tools-Local Security Policy-Local Policy-Security Options, I wanted to enable the local administrator account.  When I select "Enabled" and the click on "OK" I get an "Access is denied, failed to save Local Policy Database." error.  I also tried logging in as a local administrator and received the same error.  When I was using XP, and since I am a member of domain administrators, I was automatically part of the local administrator group and had full control over the computer.

 

Now I keep running into things that I want to change but Vista won't allow me to.  What am I doing wrong?

 

Mike

Thanks for the reply.

 

I have turned off UAC and still have this problem.  For example, when first installed one of our CAD programs asked to verify the license and there is a checkbox that says "Don't show this again".  I can check it but the next time I am going to use the software I get asked again.  It's like I have no write access to the C: drive.  There are also times when I can't delete a file because of permissions.

 

I removed the computer from the domain, enabled the local administrator, re-joined it to the domain and put my user in the administrator group but it still doesn't seem like I have full control.  Am I just going to have to get used to starting programs "as an administrator"?  If I have a user that has the same "Don't show this again" problem, how am I suppose to solve that or will running it as admin work?  It seems Vista doesn't work all that well for domain computers.

 

Mike

that sounds similar to an issue with outlook 2000 - on vista it wont remember your saved passwords - http://www.outlook-tips.net/howto/vista.htm

that problem with the cad program could be a bug with vista compatibility - has the developer got any patches available? have you tried installing or running in compatibility with xp mode?

alot of people install apps with default settings, but you can run the app installer in compatibility mode which works a little better.

as for deleting files, cant answer that one.

you can set the shortcuts on prgrams to always run as administrator - from the properties page.

Thanks again for your suggestions!!

 

 

When I right-click on my shortcuts and select the compatibility tab, the "Run as administrator" is grayed out.  It's like I don't have permission to change it.

 

Mike

I clicked on the "show settings for all users" and the "run as administrator" box is still greyed out.

 

After some searching I did find out that when you right click on the shortcut, instead of going to the Compatibility Tab, if you go to the Shortcut tab and then click on the Advanced button, there is a "run as administrator" box you can check and so far it seems like it helps.

 

I dont know why Vista has 2 of these boxes and why one is always greyed out.

 

Thanks for your help!

 

Mike