How to run Notepad in a different user account

This example demonstrates all necessary steps to run Notepad.exe as an interactive service in a different user account on Windows 2003 Server with default security settings (should work on W2K Pro and XP Pro in a similar way). On Windows NT4 the procedure is different. Windows XP Home Edition doesn't ship with security managing tools, however there should be third party tools available on the internet that enable security management on XP Home as well.

1.) Create a new user account "NotepadAccount" and make it a member of group Users.

2.) Set the password, check "User cannot change password" as well as "Password never expires".

3.) In the Local Policies -> User Rights Assignment add user NotepadAccount to policy "Log on as a batch job" as well as to policy "Deny log on locally".

4.) In NT Wrapper Manager, open the demo service definition file NTWrapperTest.ini.

5.) Go to application tab "Log On", check "Run Process As User", enter the new NotepadAccount and the password, and install the service.

6.) Start the service. You can easily verify that notepad.exe is now running in the new user account by opening the Task Manager.

Check the NT Wrapper log for errors or warnings if the process would not be executed in the context of the new user.