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"This file came from another computer and might be blocked to protect this computer." - How to programmatically remove this attribute in C# .net? [duplicate]

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Unblock File from within .net 4 c#
(3 answers)
Closed 8 years ago.
I made a program in C#. It copies itself to startup if the user ticks the box to do so.
The application adds itself to startup using the registry key "SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run".
It works fine, aside from the problem that every time the machine is restarted, the user is prompted whether they're sure they want to run the program because it's blocked by Windows because it "comes from another computer".
Any way I can get rid of this Windows "blocked" flag through the code so that the user isn't prompted everytime the program tries to run itself?
Thanks

When downloaded/copied to the machine, Windows attached a Zone Identifier (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn392609.aspx) based in the location it the file came from (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms537183.aspx)
In order to unblock the file, you will either have to have the user open up the file properties and click the Unblock button, or remove it yourself.
You can find more information on how this happens and a few ways to do so (including with code) here: http://weblogs.asp.net/dixin/archive/2009/03/14/understanding-the-internet-file-blocking-and-unblocking.aspx

try powershell script
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh849924.aspx
Unblock-File
Unblocks files that were downloaded from the Internet.
Syntax
Parameter Set: ByPath
Unblock-File [-Path] [-Confirm] [-WhatIf] [ ]
Parameter Set: ByLiteralPath
Unblock-File -LiteralPath [-Confirm] [-WhatIf] [ ]
Detailed Description
The Unblock-File cmdlet lets you open files that were downloaded from the Internet. It unblocks Windows PowerShell script files that were downloaded from the Internet so you can run them, even when the Windows PowerShell execution policy is RemoteSigned. By default, these files are blocked to protect the computer from untrusted files.
Before using the Unblock-File cmdlet, review the file and its source and verify that it is safe to open.
Internally, the Unblock-File cmdlet removes the Zone.Identifier alternate data stream, which has a value of "3" to indicate that it was downloaded from the Internet.
For more information about Windows PowerShell execution policies, see about_Execution_Policies (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=135170).
This cmdlet is introduced in Windows PowerShell 3.0.

How to automatically bypass logon message on RDP?

I'm trying to log in to a server through remote desktop using c#. I'm able to initiate the connection using the AxMSTSCLib and the code below. However, I'm stuck on our domain's security notice.
When logging in manually it requires you to click ok on the notice before the log in completes. I have been unable to find anyway to interact with this OK button through my application. I've tried variations of SendKeys, sending key events using interop services, finding the cursor position and sending a mouse click event...
I'm running out of ideas here.
rdp.Server = server;
rdp.Domain = domain;
rdp.UserName = userName;
IMsTscNonScriptable secured = (IMsTscNonScriptable)rdp.GetOcx();
secured.ClearTextPassword = password;
rdp.StartConnected = 1;
rdp.Connect();
Thanks

Well, there is a way to do what you ask.
You will need to download a copy of Windows 7 Embedded Standard (WES7 wSP1).
WES7 contains something that other editions of Windows 7 do not - a Dialog Filter.
It runs as a service, and allows you to specify certain window events to be performed automatically, without user interaction.
The Dialog Filter Editor is installed with the Windows Embedded Standard 7 tools in the EmbeddedSDK\bin folder.
All you have to do is:
Add the service to your Windows, by copying the necessary Dialog Filter files to C:\Windows\System32. There are x86 and x64 versions, so choose the correct architecture.
Register the files, and enable the service to run automatically.
Add the ConfigurationList.xml file created with the editor to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\DialogFilter.
This location is hidden by defeault, so make sure to show hidden files and unhide protected system files in Windows Explorer.
I've actually created the ConfigurationList.xml file already, so you can simply copy the following code and save it as "ConfigurationList.xml":
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<CL:dialogs xmlns:CL="urn:Dialogs">
<dialog>
<ProcessImageName>rundll32.exe</ProcessImageName>
<Title>Remote Desktop Connection</Title>
<Class>#32770</Class>
<Buttons>
<Button>OK</Button>
<Button>Cancel</Button>
<Button>Close</Button>
</Buttons>
<Actions>
<Action>OK</Action>
</Actions>
</dialog>
</CL:dialogs>
As you can see, the action is set to press the OK button automatically in the RDP dialog that pops up when making an RDP connection.
More info regarding the Dialog Filter directly from MS:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ff794135(v=winembedded.60).aspx

Just found a much easier way to do this:
There's a free small app called ClickOff, which works in a very similar manner to Windows Embedded Standard 7 DialogFilter.
You can download ClickOff v1.90 here.
After you install ClickOff, you can define which window to capture, and which button inside it to click. Only thing is that you must add it to your startup apps.
I have already created a clickoff.lst file which clicks OK on the 30-sec RDP timeout popup window. The file should be placed in C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\ClickOff. Here's the contents of the file:
1.900
WINDOWTITLE="Remote Desktop Connection" BUTTONTEXT="OK" MSGTEXT="CompName\\UserName wants to connect to this machine.\r\n\r\nClick OK to disconnect your session immediately or click cancel to stay connected.\r\n\r\nOtherwise, you will be disconnected in 30 seconds." BUTTONID="1" MSGID="65535" DLGID="0" CLKEVENT="17" CLKMETHOD="3" TIMESCLICKED="0" WAIT="0" BPOSX="0" BPOSY="0" ;
Cheers.

Online ClickOnce Deployment Application and place an icon on the desktop/start menu

I'm working on a online only winform application which I deploy using ClickOnce feature it uploads through FTP to the server and the user executes it online through http.
As you may already know, the Online only feature doesn't place any icons on the desktop, so everytime it runs the user got to run the setup.exe file to do it.
My question is, if there is anyway I could actually create an icon that may point to the setup file or any workaround to make sure the user got an accesible and easy way to run the app without having to look for the setup file everytime?
Users may not know a lot about computers so it can be a hard task to navigate all the way to the downloaded file everytime, and I want to make it easier for them.
I know that if I do an offline/online app it will solve the problem, but I would like it to be online only.
Any ideas?

you can create desktop shortcut manually on the first app run, and point it to either to your app's url, or path to downloaded file (I guess, url will be safer in case user deletes the file). Code can look something like this (need adjusting to your URL):
void CheckForShortcut()
{
ApplicationDeployment ad = ApplicationDeployment.CurrentDeployment;
if (ad.IsFirstRun)
{
Assembly code = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly();
string company = string.Empty;
string description = string.Empty;
if (Attribute.IsDefined(code, typeof(AssemblyCompanyAttribute)))
{
AssemblyCompanyAttribute ascompany = (AssemblyCompanyAttribute)Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(code,
typeof(AssemblyCompanyAttribute));
company = ascompany.Company;
}
if (Attribute.IsDefined(code, typeof(AssemblyDescriptionAttribute)))
{
AssemblyDescriptionAttribute asdescription = (AssemblyDescriptionAttribute)Attribute.GetCustomAttribute(code,
typeof(AssemblyDescriptionAttribute));
description = asdescription.Description;
}
if (company != string.Empty && description != string.Empty)
{
string desktopPath = string.Empty;
desktopPath = string.Concat(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Desktop),
"\\", description, ".appref-ms");
string shortcutName = string.Empty;
shortcutName = string.Concat(Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.Programs),
"\\", company, "\\", description, ".appref-ms");
System.IO.File.Copy(shortcutName, desktopPath, true);
}
}
}
credits to http://geekswithblogs.net/murraybgordon/archive/2006/10/04/93203.aspx

What is your reason for wanting an online only ClickOnce app? I always recommend offline unless your app is really an edge case.
There's very little difference between online and offline. All the same files are downloaded to the same location on the client. Offline apps add an entry to the 'Add/Remove Programs', a start menu shortcut, and an optional desktop shortcut (if you are targeting .NET 3.5+). The ability to uninstall through Add/Remove Programs is key. It makes supporting your application much easier when users have install problems.
Also, you mention users running the setup.exe every time. This is unnecessary. The setup.exe will contain your bootstrapped pre-requisites and then launch the app when it finishes. If the user has run the setup.exe once, they only need to click the link to the .application file. That will definitely speed up the app's start time. Also, in many cases the user has to have admin privileges to run the setup.exe; clicking the .application doesn't (assuming someone with admin privileges has already run the setup.exe).
In conclusion, there really isn't an answer here :). But...
Make absolutely sure your reasoning is sound for not doing an offline install instead.
After running the setup.exe once, direct users to click on the .application url (or the desktop shortcut if you switch to offline) instead of the setup.exe.

As far as I know, there is no reliable way for running online only ClickOnce application than creating shortcut to that setup.exe.

.chm not working on specific machine

I've this situation: i've buld a .net application that use .chm file as Integrated Help, when user press F1, Help.ShowHelp is invoked like in this example:
Help.ShowHelp(ctrl, HelpNamespace, HelpNavigator.TopicId, GetTopicId(ctrl));
This work like a charm on my machine in Application debug and release mode. But when i try to do the same on other machine (Windows XP, equal my working machine), when user press f1, nothing append, Help File is not opened.
I've done some tests. I'm sure HelpNamespace (string containing chm file path) is correct, i've tried do something more simple:
Help.ShowHelp(ctrl, HelpNamespace);
This work but is not context sensitive. I'm not able tu understend what append on the remote machine and why the seconth example work and first not.
Does anyone have any idea where the problem can be?

I solved this problem. My Machine is Windows XP Service Pack 3, Remote machine is Windows XP with no SP. I ask system administrator to update machine, after i've made new install of my Application and all work fine.
Before ask Administrator to update machine (that in all cases is a good practice, i don't know why a lot sys admin don't do this!) i've do this tests:
on my machine from command line i have emulated the comand probably called from Help.ShowHelp:
hh.exe -mapid 2900 ms-its:C:\Programs\AppFolder\Help.chm
if all work fine this command show chm file with Selected TopicId, this command, on remote machine don't produce anything and this is the reason that convinced me to ask for an update of the system

C# console app that does Excel Interop - failing when running as scheduled Task -System.UnauthorizedAccessException

As the title states, I have a C# console app which uses interop to open Excel and create a new workbook. The code works fine when running the console app via command line. However this exception is thrown when running the console app via a scheduled task:
System.UnauthorizedAccessException: Retrieving the COM class factory for component with CLSID {00024500-0000-0000-C000-000000000046} failed due to the following error: 80070005
It is thrown from the following call:
_xlApp = new Excel.Application()
The scheduled task is setup to use my credentials (I am an administrator). Based on other forums I have made sure I have granted full control to my account at Component Services --> Computers --> My Computer --> DCom Config --> Microsoft Excel Application, but no luck.
I'm on Windows 7 Enterprise 64 bit. Not sure what the next step should be, any help is appreciated

The error 80070005 is a COM Access Denied error.
Are you sure that your credentials have the ability to instantiate the Interop Library?
Check this link and follow some of the debug steps.
(I know you said you did the DCOMConfig thing already, but there are more test scenarios in this link and hopefully something here will help you)

I ended up writing a windows service to call out to a library containing the Excel generation code. That fixed the error. However there was another COM exception when calling the workbook.Save() method. No matter what I tried that error would not go away. I read another post which stated that this was a security precaution and therefore by design.
However, calling workbook.SaveAs() will produce the same result and works fine when called from a windows service.
Thanks for the input funkymushroom. Hopefully this post will be helpful to someone else struggling with Excel Interop automation.

I had the similar issue, I have resolved the issue by performing the following steps.
DCOM Configuration
Click Start -> Run
Enter DCOMCNFG and press OK. This will open the DCOMCNFG window.
Browse down the tree to Console Root -> Component Services -> Computers -> My Computer
right-click on "My Computer" and select properties
Select the "Default Properties" tab
Enable Distributed COM on this computer - Option is checked
Default Authentication Level - Set to Connect
Default Impersonation Level - Set to Identify
Select the "COM Security" tab
Click on Access Permissions ' Edit Default
a. Add "Anonymous", "Everyone", "Interactive", "Network", "System" with Local and Remote access permissions set.
Click on Launch and Activation Permissions ' Edit Default
a. Add "Anonymous", "Everyone", "Interactive", "Network", "System" with Local and Remote access permissions set.
Click on OK
Close the DCOMCNFG window
Later I got an exception while opening the Excel. So please make sure that the following paths are available on the server.
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\Desktop
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft
C:\Windows\SysWOW64\config\systemprofile\AppData\Local\Microsoft
This might help guys like me.

I also had this problem - it turned out that on the scheduled task I needed to tick the box "Run with highest privileges" on the General tab of the task set-up. This resolved the problem - it was so simple! Hope it helps someone else too.