SQL Server 2008 R2 Express permissions — cannot create database or modify users

Question

Recently just upgraded to SQL Server 2008 R2 Express. When I attempt to create a database after logging in using Windows Authentication with my id myuser I receive this erro

Answer 1

You may be an administrator on the workstation, but that means nothing to SQL Server. Your login has to be a member of the sysadmin role in order to perform the actions in question. By default, the local administrators group is no longer added to the sysadmin role in SQL 2008 R2. You'll need to login with something else (sa for example) in order to grant yourself the permissions.