I was trying to install software on Windows Vista Home Premium, but
it required admin rights. It’s an msi package, which doesn’t include
“Run as administrator” in the context menu. How do I install it?
I’m somewhat surprised that “Run as administrator” wasn’t available.
I’m also somewhat surprised that the install just failed, rather than
asking for permission to run as administrator – I believe that the
installer can take care of that itself with your permission.
However, it is what it is, and thus we need to find a way to work
around it.
The good news is that there are a couple of ways.
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What most people don’t realize is that most files that have a
program association can be executed directly from the command line in
the Windows Command Prompt. “.msi” files are no different, and are
associated with the Windows installer. That realization gives us
perhaps the quickest and easiest work around to this problem.
Locate the Windows Command Prompt shortcut in your Programs menu
(typically Programs -> Accessories -> Command Prompt), and right
click on it:
can be executed directly from the command line …”
As you can see, “Run as Administrator” is present. After confirming
with the admin password, you can now use this instance of the Command
Prompt to run whatever you like. Including an MSI:
C:\>
The command prompt may return immediately, but Windows Installer
will also launch in a new window, with the administrative privileges it needs.
I also have to be honest and say that I don’t use this approach.
For my security needs, the whole concept of confirming each time
that I want to do something as administrator is overkill. Hence, I
turn
off user access (or account) control in Windows Vista.
If I’m logged in as a user with administrative privileges, this
means two things:
-
Just running the Command Prompt normally would result in it being
run as administrator. -
More importantly, just running the “.msi” file, through Windows
Explorer or the Command Prompt, would also give it the administrative
rights it needs.
Yes, this approach bypasses some of the additional security measures built into Windows
Vista, so use this approach only if you’re certain that it’s
appropriate for your situation.
But on the other hand, realize that this approach is no less secure
than logging in as an administrator in Windows XP.
I’m running Vista home Premium and when I right click on “Run”, I don’t see the “Run as administrator” option. I haven’t turned off USer Access or Account Control, but could it be that my machine came from HP that way? How can I verify?
15-Oct-2008
Mike, I also have a new HP with Vista Home Premium. Right clicking on “Run” doesn’t do anything, but a left click brings up a new window to type in the name of the program. Below the box is a statement: “This task will be created with administrative privileges.” I was thinking that maybe whenever run in used that it automatically runs as administrator and therefore no additional options are needed. I don’t know, just a guess.
I had a similar problem with a downloaded update file from HP for my scanner. Every attempt to run it, even using “Run as Administrator” failed with a comment that it must be run by the administrator.
The solution: right clicking on the file and getting the properties showed at the bottom this statement:
“This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer” and next to it was an unblock button.
I click on it and then clicked Apply. When I clicked the Apply the message disappeared and it ran with just a double click as it should
This is brilliant. It worked.
To run .msi file as an Administrator.
Thanks.
hey im experiencing a problem…this stupid anti virus deleted my some files from WINDOWS folder and now i can’t view videos(only audio is coming),also i can’t replace the files by copying the entire folder and merging it coz that requires admin priveledges and the file that controls the option has also been deleted…please help me asap…i really need your help…
22-Dec-2009
So you’re telling all users they should just log in and run everything as administrator?
That flys in the face of all conventional security advice. Running as admin means that if you happen to hit malware, it ALSO can install as admin. Brilliant. MSFT put that control in place for a reason.
We also had the same problem with the .msi files we were creating. It was very frustrating. After googling for a very long time we found a registry based solution which worked, we adapted it and came up with the following:
http://www.sourcecodestore.com/Article.aspx?ID=10
Once the Install_As_Administrator.Reg patch is applied, it makes any .msi file run with elevated permissions.
you are the best! it has worked!
Hey nice screenshot too ?
Where did you get the screenshooter ?
Wow, what a great briefs ! Thank you sir, my problem with MSI solved now. Run as administrator in W7-HP almost make me suicide. Thanks again 🙂
Hi,
I installed msi package in windows 7 altimate that pcakage created by me. oftere install that pcakage my os was correpted. that issue killing me
I’m using Standard User on machine. After right-click on cmd to ‘Run as Administrator’. The cmd window title is not show ‘Administrator: Command Prompts’. After open file .msi package at cmd, the installation is failed. Someone help me please..