Can't uninstall because "not an administrator"?

users
#1

I'm trying to uninstall 4.1 from a Windows Vista OS using the Windows
uninstaller.

It works for a while, then gives an error message saying I am not logged in
as an administrator.

I am logged in as an administrator of my computer. I don't remember
LibreOffice asking me to become an admin of it. What the heck is it talking
about?

#2

leah wrote:

I'm trying to uninstall 4.1 from a Windows Vista OS using the Windows
uninstaller.

It works for a while, then gives an error message saying I am not logged in
as an administrator.

I am logged in as an administrator of my computer. I don't remember
LibreOffice asking me to become an admin of it. What the heck is it talking
about?

Did you get a UAC (User Account Control) prompt asking to use elevated privileges? If not, try right-clicking the uninstaller and selecting "Run as Administrator", and confirm the resulting UAC prompt.

On Vista onwards, even when you're "logged in as an administrator" most programs still run with restricted privileges; you have to explicitly allow them to "elevate" to use administrative privileges. The difference between restricted user and administrator accounts is that restricted users have to enter an administrator's password, while administrators can just click "yes" to allow elevation. Most recent software will make this request when it needs to, so you don't need to right-click and tell it to run as administrator, but worth a try if for some reason it's not asking.

I hope that helps.

Mark.

#3

I have had the same issues with Vista myself. That is one reason I
upgraded it to Win7. [not Win8]. I was the admin and that was the only
account on the laptop and the account that was created when I set up the
laptop for the first time.

#4

Hi :slight_smile:
There is always "revo uninstaller".  I've even considered buying it because it really makes all of that so much easier.  Right now i only use the trial version when a machine has become so hopeless that there is no easy way out of the mess.  Then i uninstall a ton of programs with it and hope i never see the machine again.  
Regards from 
Tom :slight_smile:

#5

​I have the free version of Revo Uninstaller installed on all my Windows
machines ; that version has sufficed to uninstall every rogue programme
(which, of course LO is not) I've ever encountered. Moreover it's quite
useful for wiping temp files, etc. But with respect to the OP:s problem,
I'd have thought that Mark Borne's suggestion to right-click the
Control-Panel uninstaller and select «Run as Administrator» should have
done the trick ; I hope that she will report back on her experience....

Henri

#6

/snip/

"Run as Administrator", and confirm the resulting UAC prompt.

On Vista onwards, even when you're "logged in as an administrator"
most programs still run with restricted privileges; you have to
explicitly allow them to "elevate" to use administrative privileges.
The difference between restricted user and administrator accounts is
that restricted users have to enter an administrator's password, while
administrators can just click "yes" to allow elevation. Most recent
software will make this request when it needs to, so you don't need to
right-click and tell it to run as administrator, but worth a try if
for some reason it's not asking.

I hope that helps.

Mark.

Using the command prompt in administrator mode, there is a subdirectory
that I can't uninstall. How do you get elevated privileges in the
command prompt? (Win 7 PRO-64.)

--doug

#7

​Doug, do the methods outlined here (
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/windows-elevated-command-prompt/)​

​help ?...

Henri​

#8

Doug wrote:

Using the command prompt in administrator mode, there is a subdirectory
that I can't uninstall. How do you get elevated privileges in the
command prompt? (Win 7 PRO-64.)

Create an icon. on the desktop or Start menu, to run a command propmpt.
You can then right click on it and select "Run as administrator". You
can even change the properties,so that it always runs as administrator.

#9

I have that already. I am running command prompt in admin mode--I set
that up with an icon quite some time ago. But there is one subdir that
still will not delete, using rmdir "\dirname" /q /s which will
delete other stubborn directories (and has).

I will have to dig into some of the resources on the site that was
recommended and see if there is anything else useful.

I really dislike Windows! The last version that was somewhat
user-friendly --unitil it crashed-- was 98.

--doug

#10

Hi.
A solution I have used when MS won't play is to use a live linux CD. Boot the CD and use the linux file explorer/manager to fix up your system.
Steve

#11

You're absolutely right. I should have thought of that. I don't even need the live CD--I am dual-booting two
Linux distros on the machine! Thanx!

--doug

#12

(And this time to the list... I keep forgetting replies don't automatically go to the list!)

Doug wrote:

Doug wrote:

Using the command prompt in administrator mode, there is a subdirectory
that I can't uninstall. How do you get elevated privileges in the
command prompt? (Win 7 PRO-64.)

Create an icon. on the desktop or Start menu, to run a command propmpt.
You can then right click on it and select "Run as administrator". You
can even change the properties,so that it always runs as administrator.

I have that already. I am running command prompt in admin mode--I set
that up with an icon quite some time ago. But there is one subdir that
still will not delete, using rmdir "\dirname" /q /s which will
delete other stubborn directories (and has).

Sometimes folders can become protected so they can't even be deleted while running as an administrator. However, administrators *can* take ownership of any file or folder, then change the permissions and do what they like with it. Be careful though - deleting critical files could stop your computer booting, and just taking ownership or permissions away from the internal "user" account which should have them could cause problems. The files may be protected for good reason!

From Explorer:
- Right click the affected file or folder and select "Properties"
- Select "Security" tab
- Click "Advanced"
- Select "Owner" tab
- Click "Edit"
- Set the owner to your administrator account
- OK everything
- I'm not certain, but you might have to go back into folder Properties > Security and add permissions to give your administrator account full control (you should be able to do this now you have ownership of it)
- You should now be able to delete the folder

From the command line, I'm not sure of the exact commands but it involves:
- takeown (to take ownership of a file or folder)
- cacls (maybe - to set permissions)
- Then you should be able to delete

Mark.

#13

Mark Bourne wrote:

From the command line, I'm not sure of the exact commands but it involves:
- takeown (to take ownership of a file or folder)
- cacls (maybe - to set permissions)

Actually, that should be icacls on windows Vista onwards.