Installing MSI Packages with Elevated Privileges


RunAs is a great way of temporarily elevating your privileges to admin level when you are logged on as an ordinary user. However, while you can right-click on .exe files and select Run As from the shortcut menu, this doesn’t work with Windows Installer (.msi) packages.


Here’s a workaround that makes this possible. Open Registry Editor as administrator and create the following key under HKCR\Msi.Package\shell:


   HKCR\Msi.Package\shell\runas


Now set the default value of this key to the following:


   Install &as…


Now create the following subkey:


   HKCR\Msi.Package\shell\runas\command


Set the default value of this subkey to the following:


   msiexec /i “%1”


Now you should be able to right-click on a .msi file and select Install As from the shortcut menu.


Cheers,
Mitch Tulloch
www.mtit.com/mitch/

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