Troubles with opening attachments when user have restristed priviledge to run executable code only from ProgramFiles and Windows folders.
I try to restrict users from executing any potentialy dangerous files. So according to Windows policies I set. Users can run any application from Program Files, Program Files (x86), Windows and all users' desktop folder. Users have no permission to write anything in this folders. When user duble clicks for example *.doc document on his desktop - document opens with MS Word just fine. But when user try to open this document from e-mail attachment directly (selecting open with MS Word, instead of saving) - he sees an error - "This action is restricted by local policy. Ask your system administrator." (not exact text).
So I want, users able to open attachments from Thunderbird automatically, but not able to run any application or link, except Program Files, Program Files (x86), Windows and all users' desktop folder. How can I get this result?
Thanks in advance. Serious Diman.
P.S. Sorry for my bad english. It's not my native language.
Modified by SeriousDiman
Chosen solution
Thanks for answering. I found out what was happening. This strange "bug" affects several computers with Windows 7 Ultimate in my case. When you create SRP (software restriction policies) it creates two default rules for running programs: windows folder and Program Files folder. Manually I add "C:\Program Files (x86)" in unrestricted locations. BUT Windows and Program Files folder linked in default rules not directly, but through registry keys. And this part seems tricky. You CAN run executables from Program Files. You CAN run executables from Program Files (x86). But if Thunderbird or Firefox try to run MSword, or excel or writer for opening *.doc or *.odt or some other downloaded file - running from Program Files blocked by SRP. So to resolve this problem you just need to replace rules for undirect paths like %HKLM/software/microsoft/windows ... etc% with direct ones, such as "C:/Windows" and "C:/Program Files/". After this all works fine. Attachments and downloaded files opens automatically without problems.
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re :I want, users able to open attachments from Thunderbird automatically, but not able to run any application
Running different applications on your computer has nothing to do with Thunderbird.
When a eg; .doc document is received as an attachment in an email, you cannot open it without using the appropriate software. Although, .doc documents can be opened using similar software if coded to do so. eg: MS Word and OpenOffice,org Writer can both open .doc documents.
So if you want eg MS Word to be used to 'Read' but not 'Write' then you would need to change privileges to state this. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/277867
Perhaps this has to do with where the .doc document is temporarilly stored in order to open it to read and you have not set permissions for this temp folder.
For example. I use Windows Vista. I have just selected to 'open' an attachment, a .docx file which I know is not saved anywhere on my computer. Then I ran a search to locate where that file had been temporarilly stored in order to open it. It was in this location which is in hidden folders. So you could try to allow for opening in that location. Folder: Temp C:\Users\User Name\AppData\Local\Temp
Chosen Solution
Thanks for answering. I found out what was happening. This strange "bug" affects several computers with Windows 7 Ultimate in my case. When you create SRP (software restriction policies) it creates two default rules for running programs: windows folder and Program Files folder. Manually I add "C:\Program Files (x86)" in unrestricted locations. BUT Windows and Program Files folder linked in default rules not directly, but through registry keys. And this part seems tricky. You CAN run executables from Program Files. You CAN run executables from Program Files (x86). But if Thunderbird or Firefox try to run MSword, or excel or writer for opening *.doc or *.odt or some other downloaded file - running from Program Files blocked by SRP. So to resolve this problem you just need to replace rules for undirect paths like %HKLM/software/microsoft/windows ... etc% with direct ones, such as "C:/Windows" and "C:/Program Files/". After this all works fine. Attachments and downloaded files opens automatically without problems.
Many thanks for your excellent feedback. This information maybe useful to others.