20

I'd like to run a .bat file as a different user to troubleshoot a rights problem which I suspect.

For normal .exe files, you can Shift-right-click to get "Run as...". However, for a .bat file, this does not work (Shift-right-click gives no menu entry "Run as..."). Why is that so, and how can I "Run as" a .bat file? Is it possible at all?

System is Windows XP SP2 Home Edition.

3 Answers 3

21

Use the command line. For example,

runas /noprofile /user:COMPUTERNAME\USERNAME "C:\MYBAT.bat"

See more about the command in the reference documentation for Runas.

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  • 1
    At least in WinXP, this also works in the Run box.
    – pcapademic
    Feb 7, 2010 at 20:22
  • This command line option is not working for me whereas the one below with Right Click Run as is working as expected. What's the difference ?
    – user85
    May 11, 2017 at 15:03
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To add the Run as... option for .BAT files to the context menu, use the following REG file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\batfile\shell\runas\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

Copy the above contents to Notepad, and save the file with .REG extension (say, bat_runas.reg). Right-click the .REG file and choose Merge.

To add the Run as... menu for .CMD files, use this REG file:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cmdfile\shell\runas\command]
@="\"%1\" %*"

Copy the above contents to Notepad, and save the file with .REG extension (say, cmd_runas.reg). Right-click the .REG file and choose Merge.

4
  • Nifty :-). Any idea why this is not the default?
    – sleske
    Feb 8, 2010 at 15:56
  • @sleske - This was default in WIndows 2000. It had been removed in XP (and later) for security reasons. added another registry 'hack' to add Run as for CMD files.
    – Molly7244
    Feb 8, 2010 at 16:03
  • @Molly: Thanks. Still I don't get the "security reasons". I can always "Run as" cmd.exe and then run my .bat, that would be the same, wouldn't it? So where's the security problem?
    – sleske
    Feb 9, 2010 at 0:41
  • 1
    @sleske - sometimes they call it 'User Anxiety', which was the reason for removing the summary from the status bar in Windows 7 when you select a folder. get it? well, i don't ... :P
    – Molly7244
    Feb 9, 2010 at 0:47
2

For normal .Exe files you can get Run as Menu by pressing Shift + Rightclick. But this method does not work for .bat and .cmd files. So you have add that option by creating Registry file

  1. Right click on Desktop
  2. click on New
  3. Then select Notepad

  4. Now copy the code written below to this notepad file

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cmdfile\shell\runas\command] @="\"%1\" %*"

  1. Now press "Ctrl + s" to save this file
  2. save it with "Runas.reg" on desktop or other place you want
  3. Now right click on "Runas.reg" file
  4. click on "Merge"

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