How to run an exe file as an administrator using C# code.

Question

_{Wednesday, July 8, 2009 8:56 AM}

Hi All,
             I have written a small C# called SqlExpressInstaller.exe application and in that I am installing the Sql Express using System.Diagnostic.Process class.
             Here the problem is that the Sql Express can only be installed by the administrator. So when I run this SqlExpressInstaller.exe as a non administrator then it is failing to install.

             So how can I run this SqlExpressInstaller.exe by using the administrator credentials from my another C# application (assume that I have the admin user name and password). Or in other words, I have to run an exe file from my C# application like how we run the exe file by right clicking on that and choose Run As (so that I can select the administrator account to run this exe).

             I tried with impersonating the user, but it is not actually impersonating the user. Are there any limitations while impersonating a user from a user account that is having very less previliages?

             Please help me out in fixing this issue.

All replies (3)

_{Thursday, July 9, 2009 5:04 PM ✅Answered | 1 vote}

ProcessStartInfo pi = new ProcessStartInfo();
pi.Verb = "runas";
pi.FileName = "notepad.exe";
Process.Start(pi);

Mind the second line which does the trick.Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they answered your question :)

_{Friday, July 10, 2009 9:28 AM ✅Answered}

Hi,

The alternative way I think you can embed the requestedPrivileges in your manifest file within PE file to tell your OS to run your program as administrator as this article told:

http://www.enusbaum.com/blog/2007/08/26/how-to-run-your-c-application-as-administrator-in-windows-vista/

Thanks
Binze
Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they help and unmark them if they provide no help.
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_{Thursday, July 9, 2009 5:06 PM}

And, if you want to search for more info, UAC is the acronyme used for this thing.Please remember to mark the replies as answers if they answered your question :)