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Start a Command Prompt as an Administrator

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Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Essential Business Server, Windows SBS 2003, Windows SBS 2008, Windows Server 2000, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista

This topic describes how to open a command prompt with full administrator permissions. If your user account is a member of the Administrators group, but is not the Administrator account itself, then, by default, the programs that you run only have standard user permissions. You must explicitly specify that you require the use of your administrative permissions by using one of the procedures in this topic.

Administrative credentials

To complete these procedures, you must be a member of the Administrators group.

To start a command prompt as an administrator

  1. Click Start, click All Programs, and then click Accessories.

  2. Right-click Command prompt, and then click Run as administrator.

  3. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.

To start a command prompt as an administrator (alternative method)

  1. Click Start.

  2. In the Start Search box, type cmd, and then press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.

  3. If the User Account Control dialog box appears, confirm that the action it displays is what you want, and then click Continue.