Summary

If source files are stored on a Network or mapped drive Installshield cannot access

Symptoms

This issue can occur on Windows Vista and above with UAC enabled, Installshield cannot get access to Networked drives.

Cause

This error is due to the way Windows Vista and Windows 7 onwards works if UAC is enabled.

Windows treats members of the Administrators group as standard users. When you run an application as an Administrator, you are then provided an Administrator access token for that action.

When network shares are mapped during login, they are linked to the current logon session for the current access token (Linked to the "standard user" token even if logged in as an Administrator)

Since InstallShield makes use of the Administrator token, you will then lose access to the mapped network location due to the change in the security token - ie: no longer using the standard user access token.

Resolution

To work around this problem, configure the EnableLinkedConnections registry value. This value enables Windows Vista and Windows 7 to share network connections between the filtered access token and the full administrator access token for a member of the Administrators group.

To configure the EnableLinkedConnections registry value

1. Click Start, type regedit in the Start programs and files box, and then press ENTER.

2. Locate and then right-click the registry subkey HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\System.

3. Point to New, and then click DWORD Value.

4. Type EnableLinkedConnections, and then press ENTER.

5. Right-click EnableLinkedConnections, and then click Modify.

6. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.

7. Exit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.

Workaround

For issue Workaround refer to Microsoft Technet article below.

Some Programs Cannot Access Network Locations When UAC Is Enabled