
- Image by Stijn Vogels via Flickr
We had a problem today in the office with a new laptop that is running windows vista.
Whenever we tried “ipconfig /release” or “ipconfig /renew” - we would get an error “The requested operation requires elevation”.
We finally found the solution, instead of simply opening a command prompt like before, we now need to run the command prompt as administrator.
To do this, all you need to do is go to:
All Programs > Accessories > right click Command Prompt and click Run as administrator!
I hope this helps you !


#1 by Cormac Moylan at May 30th, 2007
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What a terrible terrible error message. Will they ever get a clue? Elevation FFS.
Can’t they just say ‘Administrative rights are required to run this application’? Jasus wept.
#2 by Tom Doyle at May 31st, 2007
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Nah – that would make too much sense…..
#3 by Jacob Bardin at June 4th, 2007
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Thanks – this seems to do the trick. As usual MSFT help was not helpful but Google, and you, came thru…
#4 by Alastair McDermott at June 6th, 2007
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I’ve been running Vista on my Inspiron 9300 a while now and despite the usual early adopter pains of periodic hangs and crashes I find it to be ok for the most part. (Thankfully my sound card is supported)
Here’s another strange one that Vista users might find useful – have you tried finding the Send To menu yet?
$SYSTEMDISK:\Users\$USERID\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows
That took me a while to track down!
- Alastair.
#5 by Paul Christiane at June 18th, 2007
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after running the command prompt as Admin, it still would say “The requested operation requires elevation.”
any solution?
#6 by Cormac Moylan at June 18th, 2007
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Linux/OS X?
#7 by Tom Doyle at June 18th, 2007
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Never come across it not working! Anyone else?
#8 by Forrest Fouraker at June 21st, 2007
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I did that and it still is not working for me!
#9 by Joe Brouillette at July 10th, 2007
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Yea! I’m using a Vista laptop as my network utility computer and now I can get my NMAP to work. Does anyone know if there’s a way to setup an account on Vista so every time a command prompt is opened it will automatically run with administrative privileges?
Thanks,
Jobee 1
#10 by Moira at July 24th, 2007
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To always have a command prompt in admin mode, I created a shortcut to cmd on my desktop. Enter the properties for the shortcut, under the shortcut tab click Advanced button, choose option to run as Administrator.
#11 by Mike at August 8th, 2007
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This did help in a tight situation!!!
#12 by Tom at August 15th, 2007
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I tried, like Forrest Fouraker, and I still can’t get it to work.
#13 by Mike H at August 29th, 2007
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Cheers, that did the tick!
#14 by Kevin at October 11th, 2007
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Hey Guys,
This discussion was helpful… i was able to get across another vista bump
Thanks
#15 by Raj at October 24th, 2007
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g8 it all works now thanks!! pls let us know if there are any other complicated path for other applications too!!
#16 by rick at November 28th, 2007
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im trying to install an update and it says the elevation error, anyone know solution?
#17 by Ken at December 21st, 2007
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Thanks for the fix, saved me with a customer
Helped get over one of the many bumps when trying to fix probs running on a Windows Vista system ;-(
I vote for Windows XP!
#18 by Patrick at December 28th, 2007
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thanks! (should have never upgraded to Vista…sigh.
#19 by Jack at January 18th, 2008
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I can run the command prompt with no problem, but it won’t let me run netstat with options… ie netstat -b
I get the Requested Operation Requires Elevation message.
I find this odd as my account is the administrator account. Why would I need to run somethine as administrator when I am the administrator, that makes zero sense.
#20 by ESQ at February 11th, 2008
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Check this out
http://gaskell.org/the-requested-operation-requires-elevation-in-windows-vista/
#21 by Ron Spruell Sr. at March 11th, 2008
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I can’t talk to my other XP machines. I was able to and did ultil I tried to install HyperTerminal and all went to pot. I got internet connection back for all 3 machines but I have yet been able to see directors on the onter machines altho Printer sharing works. I am hoping someone can tell me what to do.
I’m using a Linksys WRT54GS router.
#22 by Ron Spruell Sr. at March 12th, 2008
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I want to thank you for your help. There are great folks on the internet and I met a friend half way across the world. Thank you.
I made a bad mistake I was that desperate. Right after I pressed the enter key my stomach gave a lurch and then I looked at what I had done and realized I really messed up, real bad.
I will never be able to thank you for what you did for me a stranger, a dumb one, border line idiot, but still a stranger.
Ron Spruell Sr. Hueytown Alabama USA
#23 by Nataly at March 12th, 2008
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OH THANK YOU! it was really helpful!!
#24 by vektorika at April 14th, 2008
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i had the same problem until i tried the link below,
http://whatismyipaddress.com/forum/viewtopic.php?showtopic=8112
this guy explains it very good and very efficient. In case more problems, feedback please!
#25 by Anne Ete at April 16th, 2008
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Thanks. This has been driving me crazy. MS really need lessons on how to use Plain English!
Cheers,
Anne
#26 by Budgie at May 13th, 2008
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Anne, that’s the point – if it was in plain English they would not be able to copyright it. Oh, wait…
#27 by majorcodec at August 8th, 2008
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when im trying to run the two batch file, it was run fine, but i think only for LAN adapter only. i would sugest that i would also works on wireless LAN adapters because when i try to run the batch it changed only on LAN settings not for wireless LAN settings.
#28 by chris at October 4th, 2008
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Works for me! Thanks.
#29 by manjula at November 6th, 2008
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Great it worked
#30 by Will at December 22nd, 2008
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Thanks you!!! My internet has been crashing at the worst moments and we had no idea what “elevation” was.
#31 by saro at January 9th, 2009
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Brilliant Tips. Thanks a ton. Microsoft again prompted a lousie error message.
#32 by lol@ms at January 20th, 2009
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How long has it been now that one is able to so “su root” in linux right from the command prompt?
#33 by Asif Qazi at March 7th, 2009
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Thanks a lot, It works fine.
#34 by matthew at March 10th, 2009
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it says that ‘Run’ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
#35 by Tom Doyle at March 11th, 2009
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@Matthew – sounds like you are typing run into the command prompt. Follow the instructions above again.
#36 by james at March 27th, 2009
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I believe this might answer another problem that eluded me for months. I knew it was a Vista security issue but the errors I got were completely non contextual. Why should I have to run as an administer when logged in as administer? Like someone else said Just say it! I hope they didn’t do anything crazy with Windows 7 other then the stupid name. Where the heck did the 7 come from?
#37 by Tom Doyle at March 30th, 2009
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@James that’s a very good point… I never thought of that at all!
#38 by thedomini at March 31st, 2009
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when I turn on my computer a erros is “The requested operation requires elevation” sometime it also occours while I am working
#39 by christina at April 17th, 2009
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ahhhhhh thank you!
#40 by annababeful at April 17th, 2009
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big help
#41 by khairudin at April 17th, 2009
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I did as u told but a pop-pup pops stating that I need the administrator passwordto continue.what should I do??plz help me.
#42 by ctc_donnie at April 22nd, 2009
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thanks for this info! it helped us a lot in troubleshooting.
#43 by Joe russell at June 20th, 2009
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Great article. Thanks for the help!
#44 by Curtis R at June 27th, 2009
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After reading this, I’ve come to the realization that Microsoft sucks a$$. That is absolutely the most useless “protection” along with “UAC”. C’mon Windows 7!, lets see if this “feature” sticks around.
#45 by Abeer at July 14th, 2009
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Thanks a million
it worked…
#46 by kakashi at September 1st, 2009
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Awsome men thanx a mil
#47 by roland at January 15th, 2010
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nice fixed the issue iv’e been having for about 3 months you da man