Change properties of shortcut (.lnk) file

[AgiZ]

I am trying to change properties of shortcut to a program so it always runs as elevated user (admin). I have searched for quite a while with no solution :/

What i mean is this:

right click on shortcut --> Properties --> Compatibility --> Change settings for all users --> privilege level --> run this program as an administrator.

I am on windows 7 (and 8, but i guess solution would be the same)

I thought i would find a solution to this in a few minutes, but after an hour i am no closter to one... Can anyone help me?

[Starstar]

hi Agiz ........... welcome on autoit

[Starstar]

Alt+Enter is a short key that can open property of selected shortcut.........what are you think about this.......?

Or may be >this topic will help you....................

Edited March 22, 2014 by Starstar

[z3r0c00l12]

I do this via registry keys.

Although you have to use the target of the .lnk file and not the lnk file itself.

Find the target of your shortcut, I'll use "C:Windowsnotepad.exe" for this example.

If you want to apply to all users on the computer, use the registry key:

HKLMSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers

If you want to apply only to your user account, use the registry key:

HKCUSOFTWAREMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers

The name of the value will be the target, so in this case "C:Windowsnotepad.exe" (without the quotes).

The value type is a REG_SZ.

The data is a space-delimited collection of the following flags: (without the quotes)

"DISABLETHEMES","640X480","HIGHDPIAWARE","256COLOR","DISABLEDWM","RUNASADMIN"

And one of the following: (you can't use 2 of these together)

"WIN98","WIN4SP5","WIN2000","WINXPSP2","WINXPSP3","WINSRV03SP1","WINSRV08SP1","VISTARTM","VISTASP1","VISTASP2","WIN7RTM"

 

[AgiZ]

I tried your approach z3r0c00l12, and while it works nicely for HKCU it does not work for HKLM. I guess some sort of bug on Win8 (i tested all sorts of combinations of it there). So i will use it with HKCU (not optimal, but it will do for now).

Thank you both

[z3r0c00l12]

Can you post the registry key here?

[AgiZ]

Started testing on Win8 x64, so i didnt even try win7 since it doesnt work. This worked:

RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers", "C:Program Files (x86)OpenVPNbinopenvpn-gui.exe", "REG_SZ", "RUNASADMIN")

but whatever is input into either

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers

is ignored. i tried it by hand first.

Am i missing somethng?

[z3r0c00l12]

Can you try this manually?

Go to C:Program Files (x86)OpenVPNbin

Right-click on openvpn-gui.exe, select Properties and the compatibility tab

Click "Change settings for all users"

Check "Run this program as an administrator"

Check both of these to see what is set:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers

 

Let me know what you find.

[AgiZ]

When setting by right-clicking it sets the registry key here:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers (it actually sets "~ RUNASADMIN")

and it works.

When i run this:

RegWrite("HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers", "C:Program Files (x86)OpenVPNbinopenvpn-gui.exe", "REG_SZ", "RUNASADMIN")

it sets the key in:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindows NTCurrentVersionAppCompatFlagsLayers

and it does not work.

When setting this for current user, it sets like defined and therefore it works. Some bug in RegWrite code or what?

Edited March 23, 2014 by AgiZ

[z3r0c00l12]

Can you try this?

I put the 64 after HKLM so that it doesn't go in wow6432node. I'm not sure what the "~" at the beginning does, so I left it out. 

RegWrite("HKLM64\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers", "C:\Program Files (x86)\OpenVPN\bin\openvpn-gui.exe", "REG_SZ", "RUNASADMIN")

Give this a try and let us know if it worked.

I think this compatibility setting is a good candidate for a UDF if a developer is willing to take it on.

EDIT: Looks like the tilde at the beginning is required for Windows 8 and above. http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/6832-compatibility-mode-use-windows-8-a.html (See option 3)

Edited March 23, 2014 by z3r0c00l12

[AgiZ]

I never replied back. Thank you, this worked perfectly

[mLipok]

AppCompatFlags UDF