When you use the "Run as administrator" option to run an application that uses an environment variable in Windows Vista or in Windows Server 2008, you encounter various errors

When you use the Run as administrator option to run an application that uses an environment variable on a computer that is running Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008, the application encounters various errors.

For example, assume that the PATH system environment variable has a value whose length exceeds 1,024 characters. You open a Command Prompt window by using the Run as administrator option. When you run the PATH command to display the value of the PATH system environment variable, only the first 1,024 characters are displayed.

In Windows Vista and in Windows Server 2008, the length of the value of environment variables is limited to 2,048 characters. However, when an environment variable is used by an application that is run by using the Run as administrator option, the value of the environment variable is truncated to a length of 1,024 characters.

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing the problem described in this article. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Important Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 hotfixes are included in the same packages. However, only one of these products may be listed on the �Hotfix Request� page. To request the hotfix package that applies to both Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, just select the product that is listed on the page.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, your computer must be running one of the following Windows operating systems:

• Windows Vista Service Pack 1
• Windows Vista Service Pack 2
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2

Restart requirement

You must restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other hotfixes.

File information

The global version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 file information notes

• The files that apply to a specific product, SR_Level (RTM, SPn), and service branch (LDR, GDR) can be identified by examining the file version numbers as shown in the following table.

  Version	Product	SR_Level	Service branch
  6.0.600 0 . 16xxx	Windows Vista	RTM	GDR
  6.0.600 0 . 20xxx	Windows Vista	RTM	LDR
  6.0.600 1 . 18xxx	Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008	SP1	GDR
  6.0.600 1 . 22xxx	Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008	SP1	LDR
  6.0.600 2 . 18xxx	Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008	SP2	GDR
  6.0.600 2 . 22xxx	Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008	SP2	LDR

• Service Pack 1 is integrated into the original release of Windows Server 2008.
• The MANIFEST files (.manifest) and MUM files (.mum) installed for each environment are listed separately . MUM and MANIFEST files, and the associated security catalog (.cat) files, are critical to maintaining the state of the updated component. The security catalog files (attributes not listed) are signed with a Microsoft digital signature.

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

For all supported x86-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

For all supported x64-based versions of Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista

For all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information about software update terminology, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: -

Additional file information for Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

Additional files for all supported x86-based versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

Additional files for all supported x64-based versions of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

Additional files for all supported Itanium-based versions of Windows Server 2008