basically i have come back to my computer after being away for a few days and my avast home edition needed re-registering. so i tried to do this and it came up with the error:

windows cannot access the SPECIFIED device, path or file. you may not have the appropriate PERMISSIONS to access the item.

so i had a look around my pc to find that i have no admin powers at all. in user accounts it says i am an administrator account yet i cannot add/remove users, install programmes, use system restore permissions etc.

i am running vista home PREMIUM and i have one other user which is the guest. when i tried GOING onto this it again said that i dont have any permissions on the account although this is understandable.

any hlp would be greatly appreciated, thankyou.Legit ? ?
Because this is one of the first symptoms of the new crippling features found in Vista...

I know because i've been testing it for 3 months.you mean legit? and what do you think it is?

so far from help from other people etc i have had to install hijack this, mbam malware and ombofix in safe mode but the mbam and combo came up with nothingout of ordinary. please help.non-legit. If there is nothing out of the ordinary then Vista's crippling features "somehow" got enabled. a Non legitimate installation is one way that this can happen, but I'm pretty sure simple file corrupted can cause. it. Have you run the Vista repair from the Vista CD?havent tried the vista cd because it is back home when i am at university and it would be difficult to get hold of. my system is 100% legit ir should be as i bought it from costco only a few months back.I assume, "Run as administrator" is not present under right click?there is but it has the windows security shield next to the option and when i click on it either nothing happes or it comes up with the same error, no permission.

thanks for your help guys.See, if it'll let you do this: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/enable-the-hidden-administrator-account-on-windows-vista/