How do I run Windows Explorer as an administrator when I'm logged on as a different user?

John Savill

June 20, 2001

1 Min Read
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A. The impersonation service, Runas, is a nice Windows 2000 feature. But Runas can't run Windows Explorer impersonated because in Win2K, new Windows Explorer windows are spawned as threads of the main explorer.exe invocation. You can circumvent this behavior in the following way:

  1. Select Start, Run, and type

    runas /user:administrator ""c:program filesinternet exploreriexplore" c:
  2. Click OK.

  3. When the system prompts you, enter your Administrator password.

This command executes Windows Explorer in the desired context; adding a local path makes Windows Explorer emulate the default (i.e., no Windows Explorer bars or buttons).

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