Running CMD.exe under the Local System Account - A Step-by-Step Guide
CMD.exe, also known as the Command Prompt, is a powerful tool for running commands and scripts on a Windows system. By default, CMD.exe runs under the current user's account, which may have limited privileges and permissions. However, there are certain cases where running CMD.exe under the Local System account can be beneficial, especially for system administrators and advanced users. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to run CMD.exe under the Local System account.
Step 1: Understand the Local System Account
The Local System account is a built-in account in Windows that has extensive privileges and permissions on the local system. It is a highly trusted account and is used by many Windows services to perform various tasks. Running CMD.exe under this account can provide access to system resources and configurations that may not be available to other user accounts.
Step 2: Open CMD.exe as Administrator
To run CMD.exe under the Local System account, you must first open it as an administrator. To do this, right-click on the CMD.exe icon and select "Run as administrator" from the context menu. This will open CMD.exe with elevated privileges, allowing you to perform administrative tasks.
Step 3: Check Current User Account
Once CMD.exe is open, you can check the current user account by typing the following command and pressing Enter:
whoami
This will display the current user account, which is usually the name of the user who is currently logged in to the system.
Step 4: Open Task Manager
Next, open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc or by right-clicking on the taskbar and selecting Task Manager. Alternatively, you can also open it by typing "taskmgr" in the Run dialog (Windows + R).
Step 5: Create a New Task
In the Task Manager, click on the File menu and select "Run new task." This will open a new window where you can enter the name of the task you want to run.
Step 6: Enter CMD.exe
In the "Create new task" window, type "CMD.exe" and check the box next to "Create this task with administrative privileges." This will ensure that CMD.exe is opened with elevated privileges.
Step 7: Open CMD.exe with Local System Account
Click on the "OK" button to open CMD.exe with the Local System account. You can confirm that CMD.exe is now running under the Local System account by typing the "whoami" command again. This time, it should display "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM" instead of the current user account.
Step 8: Use CMD.exe to Perform Administrative Tasks
Now that CMD.exe is running under the Local System account, you can use it to perform administrative tasks that may require higher privileges. For example, you can use it to modify system files, change system configurations, or run scripts that require administrative access.
Step 9: Close CMD.exe
Once you have completed the tasks you needed to perform, you can close CMD.exe by typing "exit" and pressing Enter. This will exit CMD.exe and return to the current user account.
Step 10: Repeat When Needed
You can repeat this process whenever you need to run CMD.exe under the Local System account. However, it is important to note that this should only be done when necessary, as the Local System account has extensive privileges and should be used with caution.
In conclusion, running CMD.exe under the Local System account can provide access to certain system resources and configurations that may not be available to other user accounts. By following this step-by-step guide, you can easily open CMD.exe with elevated privileges and use it to perform administrative tasks. However, it is important to use this method carefully and only when necessary, as the Local System account has extensive privileges and should be used with caution.
