I am using WIX to build a an MSI that will be executed as a regular user but with system privileges (AlwaysInstallElevated=1). I have defined two Custom Actions that execute net.exe.
The net.exe commands are not getting executed as a regular user. I have also tested executing this msi as an Administrator and the net.exe commands are getting executed.
I have logged the msi output and I see error codes that lead me to believe that the net.exe commands are not being executed elevated. I'm reaching out to the community to see if
- What I'm trying to do is possible
- Do I need to instead use an exe as a custom action in order for the exe to install elevated.
Thanks in advance for the feedback.
<CustomAction Directory="TARGETDIR" ExeCommand="[SystemFolder]net.exe user TestUser /add" Return="ignore" Execute="deferred" HideTarget="no" Impersonate="no" Id="Command1">Command1</CustomAction>
<CustomAction Directory="TARGETDIR" ExeCommand="[SystemFolder]net.exe localgroup Administrators TestUser /add" Return="ignore" Execute="deferred" HideTarget="no" Impersonate="no" Id="Command2">Command2</CustomAction>
<InstallExecuteSequence>
<Custom Action="Command1" After="PublishProduct">NOT Installed</Custom>
<Custom Action="Command2" After="Command1">NOT Installed</Custom>
</InstallExecuteSequence>
Machine Policy and User policy allows for msis to be executed as system.
MSI (c) (DC:F8) [09:17:39:438]: Machine policy value 'AlwaysInstallElevated' is 1
MSI (c) (DC:F8) [09:17:39:438]: User policy value 'AlwaysInstallElevated' is 1
MSI (c) (DC:F8) [09:17:39:438]: Running product '{34ED8E61-40EA-47CE-95E7-8EE3CDBCB1E8}' with elevated privileges: All apps run elevated.
Errors
MSI (s) (8C:8C) [20:39:18:989]: Executing op: ActionStart(Name=Command1,,)
MSI (s) (8C:8C) [20:39:18:989]: Executing op: CustomActionSchedule(Action=Command1,ActionType=3170,Source=C:\,Target=C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\net.exe user TestUser /add,)
CustomAction Command1 returned actual error code 2 but will be translated to success due to continue marking
MSI (s) (8C:8C) [20:39:19:535]: Executing op: ActionStart(Name=Command2,,)
MSI (s) (8C:8C) [20:39:19:535]: Executing op: CustomActionSchedule(Action=Command2,ActionType=3170,Source=C:\,Target=C:\WINDOWS\SysWOW64\net.exe localgroup Administrators TestUser /add,)
CustomAction Command2 returned actual error code 1 but will be translated to success due to continue marking