Windows Vista users need to use the RunAs.exe console tool or the ShellRunas shell extension from Windows SysInternals to launch programs as a different user. Windows 7 includes the Run as different user feature as a built-in option in the right-click menu.
From Chris Jackson’s Semantic Consonance:
"Run as different user" option is different than "Run as administrator", because you don’t have to elevate. You can run as an admin user, but be running as that user with non-elevated credentials. Also, it supports net only credentials, which Run as Administrator doesn’t.
The Run as different user context menu option in Windows 7 is implemented as an extended menu, which is only displayed if you press and hold the SHIFT key when right-clicking on an executable file or its shortcut. This is one of the hidden menu items which I earlier wrote about.


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I don;t get any of these options with Shift+Right-click….does something else need to be enabled? I need to run AD as a totally different admin user.
Yes, this is an nice workaround Adam:)
It’s works for me great, thanks.
You wrote “Also, it supports net only credentials, which Run as Administrator doesn’t.”
Where is the NET ONLY (/netonly) option?
Is there any way that you can set a shortcut in win7 to always run as another user but still prompt for a password.
Have done a quick scan and can only seem to find always run as admin. I still want the security of requiring a password when running a shortcut as another user.
Everyone just go to registry, search for “runasuser”, then under it you’ll find empty value REG_SZ named “Extended”.
Delete every “Extended”.
Results -> There is no need to press shift key anymore, the option will ALWAYS appear.
Need for shift in my opinion is stupid, hope for the ones who shift doesn’t work this will help.
Doesn’t work for me using the SHIFT + Right-click option when trying to open “Active Directory Users and Computers” from the Windows 7 admin pack. I still only see “Run as Administrator”. Windows 7 Beta (Build 7000) connected to a domain. It works for some programs in the admin pack, but not others. Weird.
I have the save problem with Mark,
who can help .
Thx.
Great, thanks.
This may be obvious to some, but for those of us that don’t do obvious: If you need to change domains, type domain\user in the user name field.