Local Account And Admin Account Same On Win10/ Hp Printer

I got the laptop as a gift, and one Account was set up as Admin and Local. There is no other account.

Today, I had to print a pdf file, and the computer wouldn't recognize the printer (HP 1102). It had previously set up the driver for the printer itself. Since I had a backup file of Printer driver on my laptop, I tried to use uninstall.exe file to uninstall the driver, and then reinstall it. However Windows doesn't allow the exe file to run with the message that it is a potentially dangerous file, and I need Admin access. That's when I noticed that Admin and Local are same. I don't much fiddle with these settings and am unaware of how to set these up. So I read a few threads here on MG. But I don't get the hang of how I separate the Admin and Local Accounts. I don't want to end up with two local accounts.

Also, while using Printer trouble shooter, I got a message saying I had a USB 3.0 and I needed 2.0. But yesterday I printed without any problems. So how do I resolve these two issues that seem interrelated at one level, and yet are different.

 

Go to USER ACCOUNTS and investigate what is there. Presumably you do know the password for the Admin acc.

NB: Ignore that USB warning, USB 3 are back compatible with USB 2 sockets. But all laptops sold now usually have both USB 3 and USB 2 sockets.
If you look at the EXACT Laptop model specs on the manufacturer website it will tell you.

 

Sorry, couldn't check this space for a couple of days. I don't believe a password for Admin account was set up, since the same account is Local as well as Admin. Or am I wrong? There is mo other account on the laptop. What do you say?

 

When you say the system was given to you as a gift, was that done with the system already set up and a password created?
Normally Windows 8 and above requires you to use or set up a Microsoft account - normally as an Outlook address and password. If a local account was created that also requires a password set up.

 

A few basics for Win 8.1 and Win 10 -

A local account simply allows you to access to the computer but does not connect to any internet sites until you do so yourself. A local account can be a standard user account or an admin account but when there is only one account it will always be an administrator account. Admin accounts have greater access to system settings than do standard user accounts. You don't have to set up a password to use a local account, it's your choice.

Instead of just having access to your computer you can also opt to use a Microsoft account. This gives you the same access to your computer as does a local account but also gives you access to Microsoft's online services such as OneDrive, Outlook.com and XBox games. Again, these accounts can be standard user accounts or admin accounts and they do require a password. This is the default type of account in 8.1 and 10 and lots of ppl don't like it as they see it as a privacy invasion.

So to answer your question, an account can be be local and admin, with or without a password, and that is absolutely normal.

Hope that helps.

 

The system was set up in my name; by this I mean that it had my first name on display when I booted up. There was no password. I have no idea about the Microsoft account, if that was set up. I don't think it would have been done, knowing the person.

 

Thanks Earthling. Definitely helps to let me know that I, at least, have local and admin accounts set up as one and same.
Now if you read my bold sentences in reply to yours, you'll understand my problem that I do not have access to Admin, whereas I should, considering that my local and admin accounts are same. This is what I can't figure out. Any advice?

 

You do realise that to remove a printer driver all you have to do is go to Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Devices and Printers and right click the printer and click Remove Device? Sounds like you are attempting to delete the printer driver files.

 

First, I only removed the printer same way you said, (In fact, I just did it again right now) and then reconnected the printer to the laptop. HP 1102 does show up in Devices and Printers. However when I try to print a document it isn't available as an option.

When this happened the first time, I got a message that I needed to have USB 2.0 and not 3.0. I looked this problem up in Windows forums, and there was a thread advising to uninstall the printer driver, and then reinstall it. So, that's what I attempted, and got the Admin Permission message.

It was actually the Printer not printing that forced me to look this up. So I have these two issues. I must tell you that the same printer has worked before on Win 10 while on another system.

 

You are relying on the HP1102 driver built into Windows. Usually these work OK but not always so try downloading the driver from HP Support.