Opening Explorer shell with admin privileges on XP (with IE7 installed)

Opening Explorer shell with admin privileges on XP (with IE7 installed) I used to demote my user account so that it had no admin priveleges and used a 'sudo-like' trick where you create a shortcut to IE6 and enabled the 'Run with different credentials' option to open a shell window as local admin so I could install and uninstall things, etc.
Asked by: Guest \| Views: 382

Total answers/comments: 5

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Guest [Entry]

"I always use the following command to launch a separate explorer shell on XP/IE7. Looks like /separate switch is undocumented (haven't seen it much on the web till recently).

Use this syntax in ""Target"" of an Explorer.exe shortcut:

runas /user:ComputerName\AdminName ""C:\WINDOWS\explorer.exe /separate""

Replace ComputerName with yours (may be your Domain), ditto AdminName. Remember, all this above goes in the ""Target"" field of a Shortcut to C:\Windows\explorer.exe
Enter the Admin password in the Pop-up Command Prompt and you should see the separate explorer shell (running under the administrator account)

If you change the Toolbar Background of Explorer while logged in as the Admin using gpedit.msc (for XP Pro), when you start a RunAs Admin Explorer instance from the User session, you will see the unique background... and KNOW you're running Admin Explorer (instructions here).

My example tested on XP x64 with IE7 works great:

~Sef."

Guest [Entry]

"All the pieces to the puzzle have been posted, but they just need to be put together.

To run Windows Explorer as Administrator under a non-Administrator account, you have to:

log into the computer as the Administrator
open Windows Explorer
goto the Tools menu and select Folder Options...
goto the View tab and check Launch folder windows in a separate process

If you log into the computer as a non-Administrator, running

runas /user:administrator explorer.exe

will now work. This can probably be set via the registry, but I think this is the easiest way."

Guest [Entry]

"This works well for me:

runas /u:administrator ""explorer /separate""

I can use it just as well for a domain user that has local admin and have access to his network shares as well!

runas /u:domain\username ""explorer /separate""

I can also spec a share if needed, and Explorer opens up at that folder.

runas /u:domain\username ""explorer \\server\share, /separate""

All quotes and commas must be typed as shown and if the share name has spaces, double quoted. Like:

runas /u:domain\username ""explorer ""\\server\share name"", /separate"""

Guest [Entry]

"This works for me to:

I am logged in as a non privileged user in a Terminal Server domain.

From Start > Run:

runas.exe /u:administrator ""explorer.exe /separate""

After hitting OK, a CMD Window opens, asking for the machine's administrator password, and ""PLING"" a brand new Explorer Window opens. Now you can do all of your file handling as if you were logged into the administrator account."

Guest [Entry]

"I'm not sure if this link solves your problem, but it boils down to:

Shift-Right Click -> Run As...
Enter Administrator credentials"