Q. How can I open a command prompt in Windows Vista with administrative privileges?

When you log on as a user who is a member of the local Administrators group, except when you log on as Administrator, Windows Vista uses UAC (User Account Control) to launch a normal task without administrative privileges. When the task requires administrative privileges, Windows Vista halts the process until you acknowledge a prompt.

An administrator can directly open a command prompt with full administrative privileges by right clicking the Command Prompt shortcut on the Start menu at Programs / Accessories / Command Prompt and pressing Run as administrator on the context menu.

NOTE: When you use Run as administrator, instead of displaying C:\Windows\system32\cmd.exe in the title bar, you see Administrator: Command Prompt.