.net & admin rights - how to embed manifest file for 2 different scenarios

Question

I have one .net application which would be installed under "program files" running in 2 different modes:

• "ADVANCED_MODE" with all plugins enabled which should pop-up the UAC to run as administrator
• "BASIC_MODE" with only few plugins loaded which should work as normal user

What to do to solve this case?

If I embed a manifest file (requireAdmin set on), it will not work for BASIC_MODE. If I don't use any manifests, then I don't have the chance to popup the UAC in ADVANCED_MODE. If I use "asInvoker" or "highestAvailable" I get strange effects when I run the app from Program Files as normal user account: it closes immediately after startup without any crash.

What would you do? What are my options?

Integrated

Answer 1

Use asInvoker in your manifest and when your app is started in ADVANCED_MODE (and you are not already admin), start a new instance of your app with ShellExecute and the "runas" verb.

These "strange effects" indicate that your app can't really run as non-admin (Without a manifest your app will run with some compatibility shims like file & registry redirection) You can use the Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit, LUA Buglight and Process Monitor to look for standard user bugs...

Thorpe

Thank you for your answer. So, at least there is an explanation for these 'strange effects'. Although I cannot do what you suggested since my app accepts only one instance running on the system. – Integrated

@Cristi: You can do the elevation stuff before checking for the mutex or whatever your instance check is doing... – Thorpe