You may receive a "RUNAS ERROR: Unable to run" error message in Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (895196)

SYMPTOMS

Consider the following scenario:

Two user accounts, User1 and User2, exist on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2).
The User1 account is subject to the Software Restriction Policies (SAFER) setting on the computer. This setting keeps the User1 account from running a specific application (Application1).
You use the User1 account to log on to the computer.
You use the User2 account to run Application1 by using the runas command or the Run as graphical user interface (GUI).

In this scenario, you may receive the following error message:

RUNAS ERROR: Unable to run - c:\regedit 1260: Windows cannot open this program because it has been prevented by a software restriction policy. For more information, open Event Viewer or contact your system administrator. The events that are logged by all of this are just the generic SAFER events

Note SAFER is a way for administrators to define what applications may run on a target system. SAFER is deployed by using Group Policy objects and is stored in the registry.

RESOLUTION

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites.

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   04-Mar-2005  20:44  5.1.2600.2624     616,960  Advapi32.dll

MORE INFORMATION

To use an account that is not the current logon account to run a program, use one of the following methods:

Use the runas command at a command prompt. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and then click OK.
2. Type runas arguments, and then press ENTER.
Note To see the full syntax for the runas command, type runas /? at a command prompt, and then press ENTER.
Right-click the program, click Run as, and then select the user.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

310791 Description of the software restriction policies in Windows XP