Shell Execute Workaround/Confusion?

[OiMunk]

This line works:    ShellExecute("notepad.exe","","C:\Windows\System32\")

This one doesn't:     ShellExecute("TotalMixFX.exe","","C:\Windows\System32\")

I get the error: "Windows Cannot Find...".     I've quadruple checked the spelling of "TotalMixFX.exe".

 

Similarly, this line works: Run("C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe")

But this one doesn't:  Run("C:\Windows\System32\TotalMixFX.exe")

Nothing happens.

I can click on the icon normally, create shortcuts for it, check its properties, but AutoIt can't open it.   Ideas please?  Alternate methods of opening a file?

 

Edited December 21, 2016 by OiMunk
clarification

[genius257]

MsgBox(0, "", "File exists: "&(FileExists("C:\Windows\System32\TotalMixFX.exe")?"Yes":"No"))

Check if the executable is located at the specified path. If yes, try running it with the cmd. If it launches successfully with cmd, and not with Autoit, maybe do something like:

RunWait(@ComSpec & " /c start C:\Windows\System32\TotalMixFX.exe")

 

[Juvigy]

What OS are you running on and is it 32/64 bit?  Do you have #requireadmin ?

[genius257]

I am running Win7 x64/Win10 x32

On both systems i don't have "TotalMixFX.exe" within my system32 directory, and i have failed to get it on a virtual machine (win7 x64). So i was trying to help, but i have no way of troubleshoot on my end.

[Juvigy]

I was asking OiMunk.

TotalMixFX must have been put in the system32 from an installed software. I suspect the issue comes from security in windows. Notepad has a system variable and windows knows exactly where it is even if you dont specify the full path.

[radienergos]

did you tried 

C:\Windows\SysWOW64   ?

 

System32	64	Windows System folder (system directory) for 64-bit files
SysWOW64	32	Windows System folder (system directory) for 32-bit files

 

Edited December 22, 2016 by radienergos

[OiMunk]

Thanks All.

Update:  I can open the .exe from the Cmd line, but not AutoIt, or any other program that opens .exe files.  

I tried,  

RunWait(@ComSpec & " /c start C:\Windows\System32\TotalMixFX.exe")

 as suggested with no effect.

I do not have  #requireadmin.

I'm using Win7, 64bit.     The TotalMixFX.exe originates from an installer (It's the control software for a hardware audio interface).  I suspect, as suggested, that there's some security feature surrounding this file, but I'm not sure how to verify that, or circumvent it.  I did RightClick->Properties->Security on the file, and it appears that all "Permissions" are "Allowed".

I'm not sure how to "try"  C:\Windows\SysWOW64 as suggested above: the file is definitely in System32, not SysWOW64.

 

Interestingly, this line works perfectly in AutoHotKey   Run, C:\WINDOWS\System32\TotalMixFX.exe

 

Edited December 22, 2016 by OiMunk

[BrewManNH]

Are you compiling it as a 64bit app?

[OiMunk]

I've tried it both ways (64+32), same result, but for now I'm just trying to run it from within SciTe.

[genius257]

Will "TotalMixFX.exe" run, if a non assiciated AutoIt application is running in the background?

Maybe it's programmed to fail startup, if certain types of processes are running?

[OiMunk]

Prodigy: The error returned from AutoIt says "Cannot find file".    TotalMixFX.exe runs perfectly when I manually run it.   The problem is that AutoIt can't find the file.    I actually have an AutoIt script running at all times.

[Jos]

show me the SciTE oputput pane information when you run the script. Simply cut&paste the text into a codeblock in your reply.

Jos

[Juvigy]

Check out this topic. I think you have the same issue. There are several solutions that you can try there:

 

[OiMunk]

Amazing!    That thread has the solution, even though it's absurd.

ShellExecute("TotalMixFX.exe")     ;   this works! because the .exe is in the system32 folder

and this will never work:  

ShellExecute("TotalMixFX.exe","","C:\Windows\System32\")   ;because the .exe is in the system32 folder...

Go figure.

[Jos]

One other thing to remember is that the 3rd parameter is the workdir, not the path where to find the exe!

Jos

Edited December 24, 2016 by Jos

[OiMunk]

It's no longer working.

ShellExecute("TotalMixFX.exe")      ; worked perfectly yesterday, and today it says it can't find the file, without any code change.

I'll investigate the "working directory" aspect.