Can't upgrade to Defender in Win. 2k non-admin. acct.

[Guest]

I keep getting notification of a new version of MS Antispyware ready for
installation. I operate normally in a non-admin. account for security
purposes so I attempted to download and install the newer product in that
account. The download took place fine after validating my system but I got
the message that I needed to get GDI+ updated files so I went throught that
routine. It did not fix the problem. I still get the message that I can't
install because I'm not an administrator.

Since I can't run the WindowsDefender.msi file using the "RunAs" command I
wonder how I am supposed to get the program installed in a non-admin.
account?

Am I overlooking something simple??

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

You can use the runas command, but it'll take a little effort.

Try this command, with runas:

msiexec /install windowsdefender.msi.

It's been a while since I used RUNAS on Windows 2000--but MSIEXEC is the
executable that you need to run with elevated credentials, with the
arguments above.

Windows Defender must be installed by an administrator. Once installed,
while still running as administrator, scroll to the bottom of tools,
options--there's a setting there which is crucial to functionality with
limited users--both choices are valid in various limited user scenarios--so
you need to consider how you use the limited user accounts.

 

[Guest]

Thanks to both of you MVPs! I have never used the command line version of
runas before and it is giving me a small problem. When I use the command
line version I am asked for the Administrator password but when I attempt to
enter it at the prompt, the keyboard does not put anything I type into the
command line and of course I get an invalid password response. I apparently
am overlooking something obvious but I'll find it eventually.

Again, thanks a million for your valuable assistance.

Sincerely,
Cecil Britton

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

OK - that was a challenge. After more time than I'd care to say, this is
what works on my system, with windowsdefender.msi in the root of my profile:

E:\Documents and Settings\billS>runas /noprofile /user:bills\administrator
"msiexec /i e:\docume~1\bills\windowsdefender.msi"

This is a cut and paste with only the username changed, so there's a piece I
do not understand--the machine is named bill, the user is named bills--so I
don't understand why user: reads the way it does--however, it works, and it
clearly stated running as "administrator" and required the correct password
for that account.

Now this is XP syntax, not sure what's different with Windows 2000--but I
found the need for the shortname for the folder to be the most mystifying
thing.

I apologize for the bum steer on /install--I could have sworn that /install
and /uninstall both worked--but apparently, only the latter.

Somewhere else--in .networking, I think, I have silent command lines that
work.

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