Windows Tip: Running scripts using alternate credentials

By Mitch Tulloch, MTIT Enterprises

On Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, you can run a program using different credentials than those of the currently logged-on user. Administrators often use this Secondary Logon feature to increase the security of their workstations by running as an ordinary domain user for most purposes such as browsing the Web and checking email. Then, when you need to open an administrative tool like dsa.msc, you either open a command prompt and use runas mmc.exe to launch the .msc file or you right-click on the .msc file itself and select Run As from the shortcut menu.

But what if you want to run a VBScript script using alternate credentials? You can use the runas command from a command prompt, but unfortunately right-clicking on a .vbs file doesn't bring up a Run As option in the shortcut menu. It sure would be nice if you could add this menu option, but how? Well, where there's a script, there's a way. ...Continue reading Running scripts using alternate credentials