stringZ has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Hey there, I would like to start an executable (test.exe) that has been set to start with administrator privileges. This means I set it up manually by right clicking on it (Properties), going to Compatibility tab, and checking the bottom checkbox (run as administrator). 
use Win32::Process;
Win32::Process::Create($proc, 'C:\test.exe', 'test.exe', 0, NORMAL_PRI
+ORITY_CLASS, '.')

[download]
I'm running my perl script as a normal user, and it can't start this executable mentioned above, because it can't get admin rights. This makes sense, but when I start test.exe manually (from Total Commander or Windows Explorer) it blanks out the screen and asks for approval of giving it elevated privileges. I want Win32::Process::Create do the same, because now it doesn't ask anything, it just fails to start the application.

Is there a workaround using Win32::Process?
Alternatively, is there a way or a special parameter that would ask for administrator privileges before trying to create a process out of this application?

My Win32::Process version is 0.14 and I'm running Windows 7 with UAC enabled.

Thanks in advance,
stringZ

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: Win32::Process::Create with elevated privileges on Windows 7
by BrowserUk (Patriarch) on Oct 20, 2011 at 22:56 UTC

    Try Win32::FileOp::ShellExecute( open => 'theProgram.exe' )

    With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
    Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
    "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
    In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
[reply]
[d/l]

      And if you want to run-as-administrator a program that's not set to run only with admin rights, try 

      Win32::FileOp::ShellExecute( runas => 'theProgram.exe' )

      [download]

      To run it as a different user use "runasuser" instead of "runas".

      Jenda
      Enoch was right!
      Enjoy the last years of Rome.

[reply]
[d/l]
        Another good one, thanks. Other people who read this should note that this solution only works on Windows 7 (or Vista - haven't tested). On XP it won't start anything with "runas".
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[reply]
      Thank you. This one works, helped a lot :)
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Re: Win32::Process::Create with elevated privileges on Windows 7
by Anonymous Monk on Oct 25, 2011 at 10:40 UTC
    your problem is with "windows 7 UAC enabled". The fact is you can have the admin rights its just windows 7 needs to know "Windows Explorer" is open so UAC can link up with your admin rights to make it run.

    But there are big problems with using UAC in windows 7 with Perl and one thing is if your program spits out a file it made and your in another folder with "Windows Explorer" the file will be copy'ed to the folder your currently viewing instead.

    Pure Fact: Perl works best on *nix systems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[reply]

      If find it ironic that the same people who espouse that the unix shells (which one?) is what makes *nix superior to Windows, also tend to be the ones that claim that Perl works best on *nix.

      Ironic because Perl's original raison d'etre was to work around the complexities and deficiencies of those *nix shells.

      Which means that if the Windows shells are even more limited than the *nix ones, Perl is even more useful there.

      With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'
      Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
      "Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
      In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.
[reply]

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