How to access the value of "Run this program as an administrator" in file's Properties>Compatibilty>"Privilege Level"

Question

On Windows 7, in file's Properties>Compatibilty>"Privilege Level", there is a checkbox "Run this program as an administrator".  Can I access it by VB.Net?

Answer 1

It is set and stored in the registry keys. You could access the keys:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers

which stores the informatino about the compatibilty of the files in your OS.

If one file is set "Run this program as an administrator", the registry key for this file will have the value data: RUNASADMIN

Sincerely,

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Bob Bao [MSFT]
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Answer 2

Thank you very much.

Answer 3

Hi,

 

If I manually add an entry for any file under "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers" will it work.

 

I mean I am an entry under the specified registry location for an exe, so from next time will the exe runs as an admin all the time?

 

regards

Seshu

Answer 4

It is under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER , so if you do not change your account, it can run as admin always in your current account.

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Bob Bao [MSFT]
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Answer 5

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

If add an entry under 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER " that will be user specific, but how can I make it as a machine specific..

 

Answer 6

Use Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) to apply one compatibility mode on your specific application. http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=7352

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Answer 7

Bob,

 

I am working on Windows 2008 R2 Operating System...

My question is, If I add a USER Specific entry it is working fine, But when Add it for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE it is not working.

I dont understand How ACT will help in this situation.

 

Please let me know why is it not working for Machine level.

Is there any other things I have to do for Machine specific.

 

Regards

Seshu

 

Answer 8

For machine level, you could use ACT to apply one compatibility mode, or you could change the application manifest. I recommend you to read the Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) document and learn how to use it. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE cannot help you.

 Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT) : http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc722055(WS.10).aspx

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Answer 9

Bob,

 

I did not get any related information in ACT, and more over ACT is not supported on "Important ACT is not supported on Windows Server 2008 nor is it supported on Windows NT."

 

First let me explain the exact need what I'm looking for. 

We are working on Windows 2008 Operating System. 

We have an exe, and that exe is called at the time of UN-installation/installation of patch. While un-installing patch the corresponding exe is not running with Admin privileges. So I thought of setting the Admin Privileges using registry.

If I add the registry entry under HKEY_CURRENT_USER, it is working fine for the logged in user. But If I add the registry entry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE it is not working, 

 

If I manually set the privilege level for that particular file(Change settings for all Users) it is adding a registry entry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. But if I add the same registry entry manually why is not setting the privilege levels.

 

Please let me know what should I do.

Answer 10

If this application is designed by you, I recommend you to add the manifest into it, and enable the UAC setting in it to run it as admin.

If it is not, then please try this forum for windows server ITPro forums on Technet: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-us/category/windowsserver

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Bob Bao [MSFT]
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