How to Start Vista Task Manager in Elevated Mode by Default

Task Manager in Windows Vista runs in non-elevated mode by default, showing only those processes running under the current user context. To be able to terminate or manage a process running under the system context or other user accounts, and to logoff another user account, you need to elevate Task Manager by clicking the Show processes from all users button in the Processes tab.

Alternately, you can create a desktop shortcut to Taskmgr.exe, right-click on the shortcut and click Run as administrator. This wouldn’t help if you use CTRL + SHIFT + ESC method to launch Task Manager.

Start Task Manager in Elevated Mode by Default

I’ve just found a way to start Task Manager in elevated mode by default when using the CTRL+SHIFT+ESC keystroke or when running Taskmgr.exe directly. The trick is to set the Debugger registry value for Taskmgr.exe, pointing to a VBScript which starts Task Manager elevated. Here are the instructions.

1. Explore the C:\Windows\System32 folder

2. Make a copy of Taskmgr.exe and name the copy as Taskmgr2.exe

3. Download taskmgr-elev.zip and unzip the contents to a folder

4. Move the file taskmgr.vbs to C:\Windows folder

5. Double-click taskmgr-elev.reg to run it

Press CTRL + SHIFT + ESC, or type Taskmgr.exe in Start Orb to Task Manager. It should now show the User Account Control elevation dialog. Click Continue so that Task Manager runs as administrator (elevated). And when you run Task Manager from a standard user account, it should prompt for administrator credentials.

If you find the UAC prompt annoying, then have a look at the Norton UAC Tool (a Vista UAC replacement), which is in Beta as of this writing. (The standard Beta software Disclaimer applies; Use Beta Software at your own risk!). Norton UAC Tool offers the Don’t ask me again feature, so that the UAC prompt is not displayed when you start Task Manager next time onwards.

More Information

The Registry fix above sets taskmgr.vbs as the Debugger for Taskmgr.exe process, by writing to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows NT \ CurrentVersion \ Image File Execution Options \ Taskmgr.exe

Starting Task Manager will now invoke the script file taskmgr.vbs, which then launches Taskmgr2.exe elevated. To reverse the changes, run the Undo.reg file, and then manually delete taskmgr.vbs from the Windows directory.

The excellent Process Explorer utility uses the same technique to replace Task Manager.

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2 Comments

Robert Goscicki

said this on Monday, December 5th 2011 4:44 am

–EDIT–

I just noticed that if you copy the above text into a .reg file the quotations (“) may get altered. So, after you paste it into Notepad you must delete each quotation (“) then retype a normal quotation.

I hope I haven’t confused anyone. :)
Robert Goscicki

said this on Monday, December 5th 2011 4:33 am

I have Windows 7 and your taskmgr.vbs wouldn’t work for me. Then I thought an easier way to do this would be to check “Run this program as an administrator” on the Compatibility tab in taskmgr.exe Properties, but the Compatibility tab is disabled for taskmgr.exe.

So I opened Regedit and manualy added C:\Windows\System32\taskmgr.exe to the Compatibility list and set it to “RUNASADMIN”. It actualy worked! Now the Task Manager always runs as an administrator.

So, go to:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers

Create new String Value, and name it:
C:\Windows\System32\taskmgr.exe

Set it’s value to:
RUNASADMIN

That’s it!

Or you can just copy this into Notepad and save it as a .reg file, then double-click the .reg file to merge it into the registry:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers]
“C:\\Windows\\System32\\taskmgr.exe”=”RUNASADMIN”