Summary: Installation packages that use msi files may require administrative rights in Windows Vista, but it might not be obvious how to grant those rights.
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?
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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:
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:
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Just running the Command Prompt normally would result in it being run as administrator.
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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.
Related:
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How do I turn off User Access Control (UAC) in Windows Vista? User Access Control, or UAC, is new in Windows Vista and prompts you each time an application requires administrative access. Annoyance, or feature?
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How do I install programs if I'm not the administrator of the computer? Many programs require that you be administrator in order to install. If you're not, you have few options. Most boil down to: be the administrator.
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Are Limited User Accounts effective? Limited User Accounts in Windows restrict the ability of malware to cause problems on your system. Unfortunately, it may also limit your ability as well.
Article C3527 - October 10, 2008
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.
Posted by: Kitty Ashenbrenner at October 14, 2008 1:55 PMI 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
Posted by: Kirk Ransom at February 5, 2009 5:38 AMThis is brilliant. It worked.
To run .msi file as an Administrator.
Thanks.
Posted by: Adolph Kpesese at May 7, 2009 7:27 AM