How do I get rid of "You have to be an administrator" blah blah blah

1) You can NOT drag and drop / COPY like that your hard drive. Files are NOT located in 'one place'. For example if you r trying to backup Game X, it isn't just under Program Files, as it is dependent on other files in other directories and no there is no 'normal / universal' way. Anything you remember about XP totally forget about POST-Vista

2) As part of the Vista plan, and all the public bad press about every week a new 'security' issue in XP, you are NOT the Owner of Windows, and never will be GOD, in fact if you use Take Ownership 'over an entire hard drive' you will actually break Windows permanently and need to reload the OS anyway. Trusted Installer is the actual Administrator over the computer, you can not and will not ever be able to access or pull control from it, it is integrated into the OS itself. You are nothing more (even under Administrator account itself) as Power User, if your more familiar with XP. YES this is on Windows Vista / 7 / 8 / 8.1 and 8.1Update.

3) While the other post HELPS with UAC (which you don't seem to be aware of) but will NOT circumvent what I said above, you would still run into issues and WILL BREAK things very easily (OMG you can't believe how easily!)

4) What is your goal here. What are you trying to do. What OS is this ? What version? What is your plan? Let's look at this and see if we can guide you on the best RELIABLE path to your goal.

<<SNIP DUPE POST>>

Okay well the key problem your running into is the Post-Vista security system prevents any sort of method your suggesting, due to the very things your post initially started with and what I made points to, and certainly can't do as your asking especially if they are from OEM systems (Dell, HP, etc.) as that prevents the OS from being used in ANY OTHER HARDWARE configuration.

So to step back and look at what you got here, I would tell you the following:
If your trying to rescue data, then simply run Windows Easy Transfer on the Vista and 7 builds. 8/8.1 prevents that from occuring and you can only synchronize the data by making sure the data (say documents, pictures, etc.) is selected under your ONEDRIVE (the little cloud icon in the tray, right click and select the folders, and there is several Googled tips on how to backup your data to OneDrive). When you reinstall Windows 8, then upgrade to 8.1 (Windows store) then apply the Update to the Update (Windows 8.1Update) during this the cloud will synch automatically all your data back down based on that email account you setup for it.

Next I would tell your son, that Vista can't be reinstalled and it isn't supported (true) anymore everyone is on Windows 8, which there is a simple menu add on to get the 'orb' look and feel to it (again simple Google). Windows 7 is the same as Vista, which shouldn't push your son too far from freaking out, but the problem now (as a Consumer) is it isn't supported either. All Windows 7 / 8 editions will be eligible for a free upgrade to Windows 10 after April 15 per Microsoft (that is when the Consumer Preview edition expires and the released version should be implemented). So it is quite academic about having multiple versions.

Again the main issues is licensing, each edition, is ONLY viable with the system they came with. If you want to keep a working HD for a computer with a copy of Windows on it, you need to purchase a new license copy, whcih is Windows 8. In all cases you will have to reinstall the OS and apps, there is no way around it EXCEPT if you use a BIT LEVEL Backup solution. Someone suggested Malciem I believe it is called, but one of the Mods tested it and it failed bad with the image and restore. So as I mentioned the way to go now is the method I outlined. Sorry.