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Whenever I have an application running (Visual Studio 2008, Notepad, etc.) under "Run as Administrator", I cannot drag and drop files from Windows Explorer into the application.

I've tried running Windows Explorer as administrator, but to no avail.

Is there a way to get drag and drop to work when my applications are under "Run as Administrator"?

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3 Answers

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The problem is tied to how security permissions work. The ability to drag and drop from a normal applications to an elevated one would break the security model behind UAC. However, I'm unclear as to why a UAC prompt isn't shown, thus allowing for a temporary elevated operation (much like any linux user experiences every day). This is definitely something that Microsoft needs to work on. What troubles me is that this problem is already old. Vista behaved the same.

There's 2 things you can do (one ugly, one annoying)

  • Ugly: Disable UAC. But you lose all the extra security it offers.
  • Annoying: Use another File manager and run it too as an Administrator

Why another file manager? Because you can't actually elevate Windows Explorer. Despite seeing the option in the context menu of the Windows Explorer icon and a UAC prompt being displayed, the fact is Windows Explorer will not be elevated.

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Actually it can. If you selected the option Launch folder windows in a separate process and close all your folder windows, then the next one you launch the Run as Administrator option will work. Until all folder windows are closed, all folder windows will then be elevated. – Michael Urman Oct 23 '09 at 1:45
This is interesting, but how come it doesn't fix the drag and drop issue? – Chris Dwyer Oct 23 '09 at 18:11
What doesn't Chris? My answer or Micheal comment? – A Dwarf Oct 23 '09 at 18:14
@Michael, under Windows-7 that doesn't work. Explorer can never be elevated to my knowledge. – A Dwarf Oct 23 '09 at 18:16
@ADwarf, Michael's comment. I unchecked your answer because I thought Michael was on to something, but I will restore your check. I knew about the Ugly solution, and I don't want to do the Annoying solution, so I'll just live with it. :) – Chris Dwyer Oct 23 '09 at 18:54
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up vote 1 down vote

This is a workaround according to ADwarf "Annoying" solution: open Notepad with "Run as Administrator". Click on open in file menu and enter * in file name and press enter. Now you can drag files from there to your app. Notepad open browser doesn't support multiply file selection, but you can use other programs in the same way to use drag and drop!

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I'm totally fed up working in Windows 7, I am not able to debug any applications in visual studio 2005/2008, notable drag and drop files to visual studio 2005/2008 , if anybody find any work around please let me know.

Thank you,

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I'm with you on the drag and drop thing, but I'm able to debug with VS 2008 in Windows 7 just fine. You may want to post a question with your specific symptoms. – Chris Dwyer May 26 at 14:52
I agree, Windows 7 is ** - so is anyone that works with or for Microsoft it seems. – PP Jun 8 at 19:33
This should be a comment, not an answer – Casebash Jul 6 at 23:41

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