Open Windows Explorer with Admin rights

uidl7526 · 20 Feb 2012

Hi there,

I have the following scenario:
- Windows 7
- User Account Control UAC enabled (level 3 out of 4)
- User account is member of the Administrator's group

I open the Windows Explorer and want to change an .ini file located in the C:\Program Files (x86)\... folder. The file always opens as read-only. This is because Windows Explorer is started with normal user rights (not admin rights).

How can I start the Windows Explorer with admin rights (without changing the UAC settings)? Or is there a user-friendly way of changing contents of files located under protected folders? The only way I found until now is: Open Notepad with elevated rights and open the .ini file from there.

DustSailor · 20 Feb 2012

uidl,

Right click the program and click "Run as Administrator".

This goes for near anything

uidl7526 · 20 Feb 2012

Well, it doesn't work when opening .ini files. There is no "Run as" when opening .ini files.

DustSailor · 20 Feb 2012

If you were to do this to the explorer window before you opened it? I am supposing this doesn't work?

uidl7526 · 20 Feb 2012

There is also no "Run as" function for the Windows Explorer.

DustSailor · 20 Feb 2012

Interestingly enough, when I right click the wording of "Windows Explorer", I only get "Properties", but when I right click its icon, I get the "Run as Administrator" option

Does this help? You would need to navigate to the location of the file.
Also, holding Ctrl+Shift and left clicking it should do the same thing

uidl7526 · 20 Feb 2012

All right, right click and "Run as Administrator" opens the Windows Explorer with admin rights. That works fine until here.
But still, when I open the .ini file located under the Program Files folder, the file opens in read-only mode. I mean, Notepad is still opening with standard user rights.

DustSailor · 20 Feb 2012

Perhaps we are going about this all wrong. Right click the .ini file and select the security tab. Click the first edit (to change permissions). Select your user account name from the list, and if it doesn't have full control, give it full control:

Open Windows Explorer with Admin rights-capture.png

Let me know if you are unable to change its permissions

Just an added precaution, make sure you know what you are doing in modifying this file (I don't know what it is or what its for, but this is all up to you).

PS. can anyone find out what my user account name is? lol... nevermind

uidl7526 · 20 Feb 2012

Thanks for the tip. What we want to change is an .ini file of a 3rd party app. We are trying new features, so there is no need to worry about editing the file.
But this is going into the wrong direction. I mean, even if changing the permissions would work, this is still way too complicated. I assume that would work, but isn't there any easy way of editing files under Program Files? Like it used to be in Windows XP: just open Windows Explorer with adminrights, browse to the needed location, open the file, change it and simply save?

DustSailor · 20 Feb 2012

Well, I just may not be aware of it, but it doesn't mean it isn't possible. Someone else may know of such a way. It may be harder for you if you want to keep the UAC settings on. I would recommend turning it off when you need to. It is as easy as typing "uac" without quotes into the start search, clicking the program, and moving a slider a few points.

Win7 and XP are definately different. Perhaps they were trying to make Win7 a little bit more secure. Win some features, and lose some.

I am out of ideas, but I am not the only person here. Someone else may have some knowledge on this area.