Permissions on Windows folder

[dcranford]

I have software installs failing because files are needed to be added into the C:\Windows folder. Once I discovered the problem, I tried a manual fix (logged on as an administrator account) by inserting a new file into the Windows folder. I can't do it. I may the last person in the world to figure out that an administrator cannot insert a file into the Windows folder. I've only had 4 hours Vista experience so I'll apologize up front if this has been answered in another question. Is there a fix for this?

 

[linney]

Have you tried running these Installs with "Elevated" privileges by right-clicking on the Setup.exe and selecting Run As Administrator? MSI files don't have this option, not sure why that is.

Things are a bit different in Vista from a security point of view, for example the Administrative Users are mainly running as Standard Users in normal circumstances.

Built-in Administrator Account Disabled

http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsvistasecurity/archive/2006/08/27/windowsvistasecurity_.aspx

 

[dcranford]

I'll take all the clues I can get. I'm managing a small town hospital with big city IT blues...short staffed and short money. I did not do the "right-click", run as process. Thanks for the input. I'll update this post asap.

 

[gpalmer711]

To get around the MSI issue you can create a .bat file that points to the MSI file using msiexec (see technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/library/9361d377-9011-4e21-8011-db371fa220ba1033.mspx )

Then right click on the .bat file to run as admin.

Greg Palmer
Freeware Utilities for Windows Administrators.

http://www.palmersoft.co.uk

 

[dcranford]

Thanks to both of you for your help. I tried the Run As and I noticed a difference in the install (fewer errors) but there were still problems. I stumbled across a discussion on reactivating the administrator account:
>1) Click START
>2) Type: cmd
>3) Right click cmd, click Run As Administrator
>4) Type: net user administrator /active:yes
>5) Press enter
>Now log off and log on with the new administrator account.
>Set a password and delete the account created during the install.
>You will now have complete control over Vista and will not be annoyed with UAC prompts.

When I logged on as the revised administrator, the install succeeded and files were installed into the Windows folder. At least it's a start but obviously this is not a good way to get around something. Needless to say, I've spent way too much time on this. If MS feels the need to lock down business PCs (in our case healthcare), then healthcare has a BIG issue to deal with by the end of the year when XP is no longer available. The manhours alone to just determine what will and will not work is immeasurable. The manhours required to "trick" the PCs to run established software would be overwhelming. You'd think an OS would be designed to be helpful.

Thanks again for your input.

 

[gpalmer711]

I think i'm going to have to start charging for my RunAsUser tool - once it's updated as I think it is going to come in handy.

What I would say is it is bad programming practice to need anything to go in the root of the Windows folder during installation and MS, IMO have taken this step to try and stop many of the viruses that try and replace essential files in the Windows folder.

Your other option would have been to temporarily disable UAC during the installation.

Greg Palmer
Freeware Utilities for Windows Administrators.

http://www.palmersoft.co.uk

 

[dcranford]

It's older programming as you can imagine. Archived data (proprietary software) that we need to keep until the end of time it seems...back when ini files ruled Windows. As for your tool, MS probably has "Run As" copyrighted so be careful with the name.