Getting "Access to path... denied" even when app.manifest is set to to run program as administrator

Question

I'm trying to delete a folder off the desktop when I get the error that the path is denied. I've even made my app.manifest start the program as administrator. Now with the code below I can delete the folder successfully, but it seems so unnecessary.

  string folder = "c:\\users\\jim\\desktop\\Proto";
  ProcessStartInfo process = new ProcessStartInfo("cmd.exe", @"/C " + @"rmdir " + folder + " /s /q");
  process.Verb = "runas";
  Process p = Process.Start(process);
  p.WaitForExit();

Im trying to use ...

  string folder = "c:\\users\\jim\\desktop\\Proto";
  Directory.Delete(folder, true);

Is it possible to to make that method "runas"?

I assume it's just a mistake and the goal is to create and delete a folder. — Mario, Dec 21 '12 at 17:17
Ther's something else wrong if it's your own desk top and it's you running the process. However you can only elevate by running an other process as elevated and this is a very very very good thing. — Tony Hopkinson, Dec 21 '12 at 17:30

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Dec 21 '12 at 17:16

2

As far as I know it's impossible to elevate just a single call/command. You'll have to launch a new process that might get blocked by UAC. Some programs seem to do so otherwise (e.g. different Windows dialogs), but they just call another process (or their own executable) with different parameters in background.

Besides that: By default, you should have full access to everything on your own desktop. Or are you trying to modify some other user's desktop?

answered Dec 21 '12 at 17:16

Mario

35,726
5
62
78

Yes, but it's what the OP tries to avoid. – Mario Dec 21 '12 at 17:20
@Mario, No I'm just trying to delete the folder off my own desktop. – JimDel Dec 21 '12 at 17:24
@JimDel, well where's the code for that, you've posted a create command! – Tony Hopkinson Dec 21 '12 at 17:26
@Tony, Sorry Tony. I have already edited my question to reflect that I want to delete the folder. – JimDel Dec 21 '12 at 17:28

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 02 '13 at 15:16

1

Well for a start, the user running the application should be able to create a folder on their own desktop.

If the above is the case get rid of the stuff you put in the manifest but don't use a hard coded path

String desktopFolder = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.DesktopDirectory);

Directory.Delete(Path.Combine(desktopFolder,"proto");

If this folder is being deleted for another other user (and admin is another user, elevated or not), then you have to run with elevated all the time, (not a good idea) , or as you are kick off another process with elevated rights to do the elevated stuff.

edited Dec 02 '13 at 15:16

John Saunders

160,644
26
247
397

answered Dec 21 '12 at 17:25

Tony Hopkinson

20,172
3
31
39

I am actually using "Environment.SpecialFolder.DesktopDirectory" in my code. I just left it out for my question for readability. – JimDel Dec 21 '12 at 17:27
Must be something else you haven't mentioned then..... You can presumably delete folder on your desktop yourself, as in right-click -> Delete? – Tony Hopkinson Dec 21 '12 at 17:38

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:12

0

Take a look at this, it shows you how to run a single method as Admin user

edited May 23 '17 at 12:12

Community

1
1

answered Dec 21 '12 at 17:18

Jacques Bronkhorst

1,685
6
34
64

No it doesn't. You need to start a new process to elevate. – David Heffernan Dec 21 '12 at 17:19
That marks up a method as requiring elevate so you can do clever stuff, it doesn't actually elevate though. One of the biggest windows security improvements, was stopping in-process elevation, it's what all the bad guys were using. – Tony Hopkinson Dec 21 '12 at 17:35

Getting "Access to path... denied" even when app.manifest is set to to run program as administrator

3 Answers3