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Q233513: Access Denied Error Message in Windows Script Host

Article: Q233513
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): winnt:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv kbtool
Last Modified: 10-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition 
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
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SYMPTOMS
========

When you try to use a system environment variable in Windows Script Host and you
are not an administrator for the computer, you may receive an 'access denied'
error message.

CAUSE
=====

This issue can occur if the system environment variables are not defined
correctly.

RESOLUTION
==========

To resolve this issue, define the system environment variable using the Process
environment. For an example about how to use the Process environment variable,
view the following Visual Basic Script samples.

This script works when an administrator runs it but does not work when a user who
does not have administrator permissions runs it.

  Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
  Set WSHEnv = WSHShell.Environment
  WScript.Echo WSHEnv("OS")

NOTE: Notice that since there is no type specified after Environment that it will
default to the "System" type.

This script works when either an administrator or non-administrator runs it.

  Set WSHShell = WScript.CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
  Set WSHEnv = WSHShell.Environment("Process")
  WScript.Echo WSHEnv("OS")

NOTE: Notice that the type "Process" is specified after Environment.

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbenv kbtool 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbNTTermServ400 kbNTTermServSearch
Version           : winnt:4.0
Issue type        : kbprb

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