You will need to have administrative privileges in order to install software or perform certain other functions. To find out if you are an administrator on your particular computer, choose one of the links below:

Microsoft Windows 7

Microsoft Windows Vista

Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

Mac OSX

1. Click on the Start button.
2. Select Control Panel.
3. Select User Accounts and Family Safety.
4. Select User Accounts.
5. On the right of the User Accounts window, you should see your account name, account icon and a description listed.
6. If the word "Administrator" is in your account's description, then you are an administrator.  If you see "Standard user," then you are not and administrator and will need to log in as a different user.

Microsoft Windows Vista

1. Click on the Start button.
2. Select Control Panel.
3. Make sure your Control Panel window is in Classic View, by insuring that "Classic View" is selected, on the left side of the window.
4. In the Control Panel window, double click on User Accounts.
5. You will see information about your account in the window, like this:
6. On the right of the User Accounts window, you should see your account name, account icon and a description listed.
7. If the word "Administrator" is in your account's description, then you are an administrator. If you see "Standard user," then you are not an administrator and will need to log in as a different user.

Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Server 2003

1. Click on the Start button.
2. Select Control Panel.
3. In the Control Panel window, double click on the User Accounts icon.
4. In the lower half of the User Accounts window (under the "or pick an account to change" heading), find your user account.
5. If the words "Computer administrator" are in your account's description, then you are an administrator. If you see "Limited user," then you are not an administrator and will need to log in as a different user.

Mac OS X

1. Open the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
2. In the System Preferences window, click on the Accounts icon.
3. In the Accounts window, look at the list of accounts on the left side of the window and locate your account.
4. If you see the word "Admin" immediately below your account name, then you are an administrator on this workstation. If you see the word "Standard," then you are not an administrator and your account cannot be used to install software or make administrative changes.

If you have problems while performing these steps, contact the NC State Help Desk for assistance.