I was recently working on a Sophos encryption install on a Surface Pro 3 but was presented with “Error code 2502” followed by “Error code 2503” . Sophos was not helpful with this but I found that the problem is not unusual in Windows 8.1 machines and it has an easy work around.
You need to not use, or to elevate EXPLORER.EXE. The two easy ways to do this are:
Don’t use Explorer.exe
Click Start and find CMD
Right click on and RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR
Type in the path to your MSI and press enter
Elevate Explorer.exe
Click Start and find CMD
Right click on and RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR
Type TASKMGR
End Task on EXPLORER.EXE
Click FILE, NEW-TASK (RUN)
Enter EXPLORER.EXE
Using COMPUTER or THIS PC, find the program you want to install and double click on it
Thank you, it worked great for me. I had to remove /D Y from the two 'takeowns' but, on Windows 10 20H2 Ok.
Worked after using admin cmd just put “C:\”where ever file is located”\name of application
For me it was “C:\Users\nothi\Downloads\ Cloudflare_WARP_Release-x64.msi” It launched and needed no UAC activation afterwards. Easy.
Good to hear Albert!
These 2502 and 2503 errors are because a program needs to install using the temp folders and they do not have permission to do so. I have been doing IT for 35+ years and my son wanted to install Minecraft the Java Edition and didn't want the Windows 10 version. After all, he paid for it.
These next steps give permissions to the temp folder to fix not having those errors. "Game Over" computer! Hi Score, me, cyanohydrax.
Press the Windows key on the keyboard and while holding that key down, press the letter "R"
The Run command will display
type cmd
Hold the control key + the shift key and while holding both of those keys, use the mouse to click the OK button
Answer Yes if you are prompted with a Yes/No question
this worked for me years later on win 11 thank u i was about to cry lol
Awesome Bobby - thanks for visiting and letting us know :)
You are geniuuuuuuuus! That is awesome! It worked like magic. Thanks so much
this worked like a charm! thank you so much good sir.
I was able to install this thru the cmd line as administrator with no problems.
This did not work. Any other help would be appreciated.
What happened why you elevated Explorer? What was the specific error?
thank you so much, really helpful
thank you so much, really helpful.
I just performed the "elevate explorer.exe". I was able to install the program!!! Thank you so much. Microsoft should visit your website, as they offered no viable solution.
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Thank you, it worked great for me. I had to remove /D Y from the two 'takeowns' but, on Windows 10 20H2 Ok.
Worked after using admin cmd just put “C:\”where ever file is located”\name of application
For me it was “C:\Users\nothi\Downloads\ Cloudflare_WARP_Release-x64.msi” It launched and needed no UAC activation afterwards. Easy.
Good to hear Albert!
These 2502 and 2503 errors are because a program needs to install using the temp folders and they do not have permission to do so. I have been doing IT for 35+ years and my son wanted to install Minecraft the Java Edition and didn't want the Windows 10 version. After all, he paid for it.
These next steps give permissions to the temp folder to fix not having those errors. "Game Over" computer! Hi Score, me, cyanohydrax.
Press the Windows key on the keyboard and while holding that key down, press the letter "R"
The Run command will display
type cmd
Hold the control key + the shift key and while holding both of those keys, use the mouse to click the OK button
Answer Yes if you are prompted with a Yes/No question
copy and paste these commands
takeown /f "%systemroot%\Temp" /R /A /D Y
icacls "%systemroot%\Temp" /inheritance:r /grant:r Users:(OI)(CI)F /T
icacls "%systemroot%\Temp" /inheritance:r /grant:r Everyone:(OI)(CI)F /T
icacls "%systemroot%\Temp" /grant Administrators:F /T
icacls "%systemroot%\Temp" /grant Users:F /T
icacls "%systemroot%\Temp" /grant SYSTEM:F /T
icacls "%systemroot%\Temp" /grant Everyone:F /T
takeown /f "%temp%" /R /A /D Y
icacls "%temp%" /inheritance:r /grant:r Users:(OI)(CI)F /T
icacls "%temp%" /inheritance:r /grant:r Everyone:(OI)(CI)F /T
icacls "%temp%" /grant Administrators:F /T
icacls "%temp%" /grant Users:F /T
icacls "%temp%" /grant SYSTEM:F /T
icacls "%temp%" /grant Everyone:F /T
Done. No reboot necessary.
- cyanohydrax
this worked for me years later on win 11 thank u i was about to cry lol
Awesome Bobby - thanks for visiting and letting us know :)
You are geniuuuuuuuus! That is awesome! It worked like magic. Thanks so much
this worked like a charm! thank you so much good sir.
I was able to install this thru the cmd line as administrator with no problems.
This did not work. Any other help would be appreciated.
What happened why you elevated Explorer? What was the specific error?
thank you so much, really helpful
thank you so much, really helpful.
I just performed the "elevate explorer.exe". I was able to install the program!!! Thank you so much. Microsoft should visit your website, as they offered no viable solution.
Sincerely,
Ramona Miller
Virginia Beach VA