No permissions to run 'game name'

Article ID: 2008-ULBN-0189 Created: May 20, 2008

Limited Windows User Accounts

This error can be the result of using a limited Windows user account. In order to use Steam, you must be logged in to Windows as an administrator. To check the status of the user account you are using, please follow these directions:

1. Click Start, then Control Panel
2. In Control Panel, double-click User Accounts
3. Click Change an account
4. Click the user account that you want to modify. This needs to be the one you plan on using with Steam
5. Click Change Account Type
6. If using Windows Vista, click Allow during the UAC dialog
7. Click Administrator for the type of account that you want to have for this user account
8. Click the Change Account Type button
9. If prompted, enter your administrator password. If you do not have this password, please contact your PC manufacturer

Steam Folder Permissions

For Windows Vista:

Check the permissions set for the Steam folder by following these directions:

1. You must be logged into Windows as an Administrator
2. Click Start, go to Control Panel and double-click Folder Options
3. In Folder Options, click the View tab
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the list and un-check Use file sharing wizard
5. Close Folder Options

You can close the control panel and then navigate to the directory where you have Steam installed (by default it is C:\Program Files\Steam). Once you've located the Steam folder, follow these directions:

1. Right-click on the Steam folder, select Sharing & Security and then click the Security tab
2. Select Users under Group or user names, click Edit and then check the Allow Full control box
3. Click Apply and then click Ok
4. Log out of Windows and then log back in to the normal account (if it is not an administrator account)

For Windows XP Professional:

Check the permissions set for the Steam folder by following these directions:

1. You must be logged into Windows as an Administrator
2. Click Start, go to Control Panel and double-click Folder Options
3. In Folder Options, click the View tab
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the list and un-check Use simple file sharing
5. Close Folder Options

You can close the control panel and then navigate to the directory where you have Steam installed (by default it is C:\Program Files\Steam). Once you've located the Steam folder, follow these directions:

1. Right-click on the Steam folder, select Sharing & Security and then click the Security tab
2. Select Users under Group or user names, click Edit and then check the Allow Full control box
3. Click Apply and then click Ok
4. Log out of Windows and then log back in to the normal account (if it is not an administrator account)

For Windows XP Home and Media Center:

Check the permissions set for the Steam folder by following these directions:

1. Restart your computer
2. Access the Windows login options by pressing F8 during the POST test while your computer is booting
3. Log in to Windows in safe-mode

Once you are in safe-mode, you can close the control panel and then navigate to the directory where you have Steam installed (by default it is C:\Program Files\Steam). Once you've located the Steam folder, follow these directions:

1. Right-click on the Steam folder, select Sharing & Security and then click the Security tab
2. Select Users under Group or user names, click Edit and then check the Allow Full control box
3. Click Apply and then click Ok
4. Log out of Windows and then log back in to the normal account (if it is not an administrator account)