Updated: September 13, 2010
There are very few occasions where you may want or need to do this. But if you're a software developer or a security enthusiast, elevating privileges via UAC or using the Administrator mode may just not be enough.
In Windows 7, the Administrator account is hidden from view, to prevent ordinary users from ruining their machines. Unlike Windows XP, where you could boot into Safe mode and logon as the Administrator, no such function is present in Windows 7. Seemingly, there is no way to get the Administrator to show as an available user in the logon screen. Luckily, there is a very easy way to fix this. Let me show you.
Local policies
Do you remember my Group Policies tutorial for Windows XP? Well, it started there, the exploration into the powerful world of super-practical, cost-free security and system hardening, allowing you to customize your system to just about anything you want, at precisely zero system resource usage. Then in my Windows 7 security tutorial, part two, we discussed security policies once more. So you're familiar with the concept and know your way around.
To unhide the Administrator account, you will need to start the Group Policy editor, by running gpedit.msc from the command line. Or by running secpol.msc.
secpol.msc
And then, in the Local Security Policy window, navigate to Local Policies, Security Options and double click on Accounts: Administrator account status to toggle its state from Disabled to Enabled.
Command line use
You can also execute this from the command line:
net user administrator /active:yes
You will have to run cmd.exe as Administrator:
Log off and you will see a new account present in the logon screen:
Extras: for Windows XP users
I realized I've never discussed this .. So here it is:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/admins.htm
Furthermore, if you're using a solution like SuRun, then you will have the Administrator account enabled in the welcome screen.
Important note
Remember! Using the administrator account should be done sparingly, like when running Windows Debugger against BSOD memory dumps or when initiating one for the sake of testing, like I did in my extensive Windows BSOD tutorial.
You are much better off with limited privileges, either via UAC or a genuine limited account. Clicking Yes when prompted should get the work done in 99% of cases. And when this does not work, starting the program as Administrator via right-click should be enough to cover the remaining 1%. That would be all.
Conclusion
There you go, a very short, very simple tutorial. Enabling the Administrator account is a very simple, quick deal. Plus, it has its merits, but you should not use it as your day-to-day account. Make sure you know what you're doing.
I hope you liked it.
Cheers.