"The requested operation requires elevation" error

Problem

You are trying to deploy a software package but you get the error message - The requested operation requires elevation.

What is the cause of this error?

The advanced User Access Control (UAC) introduced in the more recent operating systems like Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 2008 & Windows 2008 r2 will not allow the members of the Administrator group to install a software in the silent mode; it is restricted to the default administrator. You will get this error message when you have specified a user who is a member of the Administrator group in the Run As option while defining an Install Software configuration.

Steps to resolve the error

Since this is the default behavior of the operating system, it cannot be overcome without disabling the UAC. However, as a workaround to this problem, you have the following options:

Use Default Administrator Account

Instead of specifying a member of the Administrative group, use the Default Administrator account in the Run As option. This means the username you specify in the Run As field should be Administrator with its corresponding password.

Now, try deploying the configuration.

Install the Software in the System Account

You can remove the Run As user and make it install in the system account.

Turn off UAC in the client computers

To turn off UAC follow the steps below,

1. Select Control Panel --> User Account
   1. For Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2,
      1. click User Account Control Settings link.
      2. This opens the User Account Control Settings dialog showing the control level.
      3. Drag and choose the control level to Never Notify and click OK
   2. For Windows Vista and Windows 2008
      1. Click "Turn User Account Settings On or Off link
      2. Uncheck the "Use User Account Control (UAC) to protect your computer" option and click OK
2. Close the Control Panel dialog.
3. Restart the computer after disabling the UAC for the changes to take effect.

Applies to: Software Installation, Software Installation failure, Network Path not found, Software Deployment Status

Keywords: Software Installation Failure, Deploy Software, Network Path not found Error, Software Distribution Status