Vista: file write error / admin permissions

Nazbit · 3 Feb 2007 at 12:09

Hi all,

I have had this error message a few times with a few different programs, just wondering if anyone can solve it for me....

File Write Error
"Program Name" requires the permission to write to "location" folder. Please run "program" under a user account that has the appropriate permissions.

There is only one user account on the computer and double checking in the user section of the control pannel confims that it is an administrator account.

Any ideas?

Cheers

Bobbler · 3 Feb 2007 at 12:28

Right click the setup program when installing and choose "Run as Administrator".
Had to do that on a couple of things I have installed on my laptop since moving to Vista.

If its not during the installation process you are getting this then you can also right click the executable, goto Compatability tab and check the Run as Administrator under privelage level too.

Nazbit · 3 Feb 2007 at 12:45

Excellent, thanks

Rebelius · 3 Feb 2007 at 14:45

anyone know the reason for this? It's really annoying.

benjo plz. · 3 Feb 2007 at 14:46

User Access Control.

Rebelius · 3 Feb 2007 at 14:52

It still does it on mine and I've turned UAC off on my admin account.

benjo plz. · 3 Feb 2007 at 14:54

Don't have any problems here :\.

Nazbit · 3 Feb 2007 at 16:47

Phnom_Penh said:
User Access Control.

I dont beleive this to be the case, user access control is disabled on my machine yet I still need to right click some programs and select run as administrator as suggested by Bobbler.

I dont know why it happens, but certain programs seem to require it.

Bobbler · 3 Feb 2007 at 17:38

Rebelius said:
anyone know the reason for this? It's really annoying.

Security really.
Unix like systems have nearly always had this type of functionality. Its unusal for you to do anything as the root/admin account unless you really need to.
In Windows we have always been rather slap-dash about running everything as the least restrictive account, when we should have always been using privelages which merely get what we need to do and no more.
Microsoft have always taught this in the MCSE/MCP courses on security going back to Windows NT... just no one ever does it and hence we have long had issues with spyware, trojans and virus infections. Thats my take on it all really, I dont mind clicking a few extra buttons now and then to keep my PC from being riddled with crap.

Rebelius · 3 Feb 2007 at 20:24

I don't mind doing it - it's just that it seems really stupid. I'm logged in as my admin account "Thomas" I use a user account "Tom" for day to day use. But when I'm logged into Thomas, I still need to run some things as admin to get them to work, isn't that a bit like using su when you're logged in as root?

I understand why microsoft might do this, because most people just use admin accounts all the time. But it's not consistent - some things install fine on the admin account some things need to run "as administrator" even when you're on an admin account.

Bobbler · 3 Feb 2007 at 20:43

Rebelius said:
But it's not consistent - some things install fine on the admin account some things need to run "as administrator" even when you're on an admin account.

From a website regarding it:

"Most programs recognize the new User Account Control (UAC) security model in Windows Vista. However, in order for this to work properly, the program must be marked by the developer (or identified by Windows Vista) as an program that requires administrative rights.

You are likely to run into some older programs that aren’t properly marked.
"
So in all likelyhood then the actual program you are attempting to install is at fault (or perhaps "old")

Dont get me wrong mate, I understand what you are saying, its quite a change from how things have been done, particularly in the home enviroment.

Rebelius · 3 Feb 2007 at 21:04

yeah, i kinda get where they're coming from and I don't know enough to know whether it's down to the program or the OS - I just know that something feels wrong when I'm logged in as an administrator and need to run things "as administrator".

Also, is this related at all? I've installed iTunes but when I try and run it, I accept the EULA and then get an error:

"The folder "iTunes" cannot be found or created. and is required. The default location for this folder is inside the "My Music" folder."

and the only option is "OK" - I can't choose where to put the itunes folder or anything. might try just creating a C:\Documents and Settings\Tom\My Documents\My Music\iTunes folder and see if that works and then see if I can move it from in the preferences.