Unmanifested Control Panel (.cpl) Files (User Account Control)
AdminStudio 2022 | 23.0 | Application Manager
For this operating system compatibility test, the Windows Installer database is scanned for the presence of unmanifested Control Panel (.cpl) files.
Test Group/Test Category
| • | 0302—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 8.1 (32-Bit) |
| • | 0402—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 8.1 (64-Bit) |
| • | 2802—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-1809 (and 2019 LTSC) (32-Bit) |
| • | 5202—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-1909 (32-Bit) |
| • | 5402—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-2004 (32-Bit) |
| • | 5602—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-20H2 (32-Bit) |
| • | 5802—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-21H1 (32-Bit) |
| • | 7002—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-21H2 (32-Bit) |
| • | 2902—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-1809 (and 2019 LTSC) (64-Bit) |
| • | 5302—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-1909 (64-Bit) |
| • | 5502—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-2004 (64-Bit) |
| • | 5702—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-20H2 (64-Bit) |
| • | 5902—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-21H1 (64-Bit) |
| • | 7102—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 10-21H2 (64-Bit) |
| • | 6702—Operating System Compatibility/Windows 11-21H2 (64-Bit) |
| • | 0502—Operating System Compatibility/Windows Server 2012 |
| • | 0602—Operating System Compatibility/Windows Server 2016 |
| • | 1002—Operating System Compatibility/Windows Server 2019 |
Severity
Warning
Message
This Windows Installer database contains unmanifested Control Panel file [FILE_NAME] (Table: File, Key: [FILE_KEY]).
Background
On Windows Vista and later systems, all applications are run by default with standard user privileges (even when the logged-on user is a member of the Administrators group). As a result, unmanifested Control Panel (.cpl) files might fail. A manifest file is a simple .xml file that contains settings that inform the operating system how to handle the program when it is launched.
Resolution
The following resolutions are available.
Manual Fix
Control Panel (.cpl) files should be embedded in .exe files that include a manifest that specifies the privilege level that is required to execute the application. Where this is not feasible, an external manifest file can be created. In the latter case, the manifest file must be located in the same folder with the .cpl file and named the same as the full file name of the .cpl file, with a .manifest extension (for example, <application_name>.cpl.manifest).
Basic Auto Fix
For each unmanifested Control Panel (.cpl) file, a manifest file that specifies privilege level highestAvailable is added in a Windows Installer transform.
This fix is enabled by default.
Advanced Auto Fix
For each unmanifested Control Panel (.cpl) file, a manifest file that specifies privilege requireAdministrator is added in a Windows Installer transform.
See Also
The Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Developer Story: Application Compatibility Cookbook