Microsoft KB Archive/895196

= You may receive a &quot;RUNAS ERROR: Unable to run&quot; error message in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 =

Article ID: 895196

Article Last Modified on 8/29/2007

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APPLIES TO

 Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2, when used with:  Microsoft Windows XP Professional

 Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 

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SYMPTOMS
Consider the following scenario:
 * Two user accounts, User1 and User2, exist on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2).
 * The User1 account is subject to the Software Restriction Policies (SAFER) setting on the computer. This setting keeps the User1 account from running a specific application (Application1).
 * You use the User1 account to log on to the computer.
 * You use the User2 account to run Application1 by using the runas command or the Run as graphical user interface (GUI).

In this scenario, you may receive the following error message:

RUNAS ERROR: Unable to run - c:\regedit 1260: Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a software restriction policy. For more information, open Event Viewer or contact your system administrator. The events that are logged by all of this are just the generic SAFER events

Note SAFER is a way for administrators to define what applications may run on a target system. SAFER is deployed by using Group Policy objects and is stored in the registry.



RESOLUTION
A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem, submit a request to Microsoft Online Customer Services to obtain the hotfix. To submit an online request to obtain the hotfix, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=6294451

Note If additional issues occur or any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. To create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites.

Restart requirement
You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information
This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information
The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

  Date         Time   Version            Size    File name --  04-Mar-2005  20:44  5.1.2600.2624     616,960  Advapi32.dll

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STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the &quot;Applies to&quot; section.

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MORE INFORMATION
To use an account that is not the current logon account to run a program, use one of the following methods:  Use the runas command at a command prompt. To do this, follow these steps: <ol> Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.</li> Type runas, and then press ENTER.</li></ol>

Note To see the full syntax for the runas command, type runas /? at a command prompt, and then press ENTER.</li> Right-click the program, click Run as, and then select the user.</li></ul>

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310791 Description of the software restriction policies in Windows XP

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Content Maintenance 35788 Windows SE 153213

Keywords: kbwinxpsp2fix kbfix kbbug kbpubtypekc kbhotfixserver kbqfe KB895196

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