{"id":44694,"date":"2023-05-09T19:35:10","date_gmt":"2023-05-09T14:05:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/198.58.113.91\/blog\/?p=44694"},"modified":"2023-05-09T19:37:49","modified_gmt":"2023-05-09T14:07:49","slug":"error-referral-returned-server-running-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/error-referral-returned-server-running-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Error &#8220;A referral was returned from the server&#8221; when running a program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When you run a program elevated, the following error may occur:<\/p>\n<pre class=\"err\">A referral was returned from the server<\/pre>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-44695\" src=\"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/error-referral-returned-server.png\" alt=\"uac elevate unsigned files error referral\" width=\"352\" height=\"163\" \/><!--more--><\/p>\n<h2>Cause<\/h2>\n<p>The above error occurs if a policy setting prevents unsigned executables from running elevated.<\/p>\n<p>The relevant GPO setting is &#8220;User Account Control: Only elevate executable files that are signed and validated&#8221;. It&#8217;s disabled by default.<\/p>\n<p>When the above setting is enabled, only signed and validated executables are allowed to run elevated on your computer. The error &#8220;A referral was returned from the server&#8221; appears when running an unsigned executable elevated.<\/p>\n<h2>Resolution<\/h2>\n<p>To resolve this issue, disable the above policy setting using one of these methods:<\/p>\n<h3>Option 1: Using Regedit.exe<\/h3>\n<p>Start <code><strong>Regedit.exe<\/strong><\/code> and go to:<\/p>\n<pre>HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Policies\\System<\/pre>\n<p>Double-click <strong>ValidateAdminCodeSignatures<\/strong> and set its data to 0<\/p>\n<p>Exit the Registry Editor.<\/p>\n<p>No restart should be required.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Option 2: Using the Group Policy Editor<\/h3>\n<p>If you&#8217;re using Professional edition and higher, launch <code><strong>gpedit.msc<\/strong><\/code> to open the local group policy editor.<\/p>\n<p>Go to the following node:<\/p>\n<pre> Computer Configuration \u2192 Windows Settings \u2192 Security Settings \u2192 Local Policies \u2192 Security Options<\/pre>\n<p>Set &#8220;User Account Control: Only elevate executables that are signed and validated&#8221; to <strong>Disabled<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>More Information<\/h3>\n<p>User Account Control: Only elevate executable files that are signed and validated.<\/p>\n<p>This policy setting enforces public key infrastructure (PKI) signature checks for any interactive applications that request elevation of privilege. Enterprise administrators can control which applications are allowed to run by adding certificates to the Trusted Publishers certificate store on local computers.<\/p>\n<p>The options are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Enabled: Enforces the PKI certification path validation for a given executable file before it is permitted to run.<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-size: inherit;\">Disabled: (Default) Does not enforce PKI certification path validation before a given executable file is permitted to run.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>I hope the above information helps.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When you run a program elevated, the following error may occur: A referral was returned from the server<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[191],"class_list":["post-44694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-windows","tag-error-messages"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9110,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/uac-asks-password-even-logged-administrator\/","url_meta":{"origin":44694,"position":0},"title":"[Fix] UAC asks for password even if logged in as administrator","author":"Ramesh","date":"May 7, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Is the UAC dialog asking for the password during elevation even though you're logged in to an administrator account? For non-admin accounts, the UAC elevation asks for admin credentials, but for administrator accounts, the UAC dialog should just ask for consent, not password, when launching non-Windows executables in elevated mode.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"UAC asks for password even if logged in as an administrator","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/uac-asks-password-admin-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1632,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/run-as-administrator-does-not-work-windows\/","url_meta":{"origin":44694,"position":1},"title":"Run as Administrator Option Missing or Does Nothing; File Association Error","author":"Ramesh","date":"February 14, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Symptoms Case 1:\u00a0When you right-click on an executable file or a shortcut, the Run as Administrator may be missing. From Windows 10 or 11 Start menu, if you right-click a program, click More, and select Run as administrator, nothing may happen. Right-clicking Start and clicking Command Prompt (Admin) or PowerShell\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"runasadmin legacydisable error","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/runasadmin-legacydisable-error-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/runasadmin-legacydisable-error-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/runasadmin-legacydisable-error-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6343,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/windows-cannot-find-taskmgr-exe-task-manager-debugger\/","url_meta":{"origin":44694,"position":2},"title":"[Fix] Error &#8220;Windows cannot find taskmgr.exe&#8221; Opening Task Manager","author":"Ramesh","date":"July 23, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"When attempting to open the Task Manager in your Windows computer, you may receive the following error: Windows cannot find 'C:\\Windows\\system32\\Taskmgr.exe'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. This error occurs no matter which method you use in order to launch Task Manager. Running taskmgr.exe with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"taskmgr.exe cannot be found - debugger","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/taskmgr_error.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/taskmgr_error.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/taskmgr_error.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6740,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/error-0x800f0954-net-framework-3-5-optional-feature-dism\/","url_meta":{"origin":44694,"position":3},"title":"[Fix] Error 0x800F0954 Installing .NET Framework 3.5 or Any Optional Feature","author":"Ramesh","date":"November 6, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"When you attempt to install .NET Framework 3.5 or any other optional feature using \"Windows Features\" (optionalfeatures.exe) dialog or using DISM command-line, error 0x800F0954 may popup. After enabling .NET Framework 3.5 and clicking OK, the following error may appear: Windows couldn't complete the requested changes. The changes couldn't be completed.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows 10&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows 10","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/windows-10\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"enable feature .net framework 3.5","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/net-framework-features.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":277,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/mapped-drives-not-seen-elevated-command-prompt-task-scheduler\/","url_meta":{"origin":44694,"position":4},"title":"Mapped drives not seen from elevated Command Prompt and Task Scheduler","author":"Ramesh","date":"May 12, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"When you attempt to access a mapped network drive from an elevated or admin Command Prompt or Task Scheduler (with the highest privileges), the mapped drive won't be available. Attempting to use the mapped network drives causes the error The system cannot find the path specified (Error code: 0x80070003). Here\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"mapped network drive not seen from admin command prompt and task scheduler","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/mapped-drives-enablelinkedconnections.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/mapped-drives-enablelinkedconnections.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/05\/mapped-drives-enablelinkedconnections.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":335,"url":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/run-programs-elevated-without-getting-the-uac-prompt\/","url_meta":{"origin":44694,"position":5},"title":"How to Run Programs as Administrator (Elevated) without UAC Prompt","author":"Ramesh","date":"June 17, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Recently, I came across a brilliant tip on how to run programs elevated without getting the User Account Control (UAC) prompt. This can be done without turning off the UAC and hence it does not compromise system security. How to Run Programs elevated without UAC Prompt You can run apps\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Windows&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Windows","link":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/category\/microsoft\/windows\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/archived2\/myapps-sched.gif?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44694"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44694\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.winhelponline.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}