Hello

My uncle gave me this Sony Vaio because he bought an iMac. So, he never mentioned anything that was wrong with it so I assumed it was fine.

Now the problem is, I can download things but It wont let me install them.
The error message says, "You do not have access to make the required system configuration modifications. Please rerun this installation from an administrators account." So I click ok and it pops up again. I click ok and it goes away.

So these are my attempts. I tried to making me the admin. Tried to install. It did the same thing. So I deleted all the accounts but mine, and closed the guest account. So now im the only operating user. It still failed. Then I asked a buddy from work. He said something about the BIOS or whatever, I knew what he meant I just didnt know what it was called. He said to hit the F keys and delete. So when it booted up I tried hitting the F keys and delete but it was up and over before I knew it but I did have enough time to hit all the keys. It started up as usual and I attempted to install again. Failure. Then, somone else told me on another forum, to try using Run > Type MSCONFIG > Tools > and then disable UAC or something. But those were instructions for Vista and not XP. I tried anyway and still nothing works.

Please Help.

Thank You.

Hello and welcome to PCHelpForum.

My question is when you got the Vaio did you create a new account for yourself or did you rename the origonal owners account to your name?

JB.

I made a new account and then deleted the old accounts afterwards.

Ahh you have managed it appears to of deleted the admin account.

Can you try a system restore to before you deleted these accounts?

If the old accounts reapear just rename the origonal owners account to your name in control panel.

I will try. Thank you =]]

Well it looks like it didnt help. It must not of been far enough back date for the restore. Im guessing im hopeless?

So is yours the only account on the PC? Normally I would suggest you right click what you want to install and click Run As... and select an Admin account.

Try booting into Safe Mode (press F8 repeatedly after restarting until you see it).

Use the keyboard arrows and enter to select it.

If there is an Admin account in Safe Mode then you can usually click that (normally it has no password) and create a new account there. Make sure you give the new account Administratr priveleges (or just change your own Account Type)