I've been facing a strange issue where I can't run an executable file directly from our shared server folder. It threw an error saying, "This app can't run on your PC," even though this app has been working fine until last week. Interestingly, if I copy the same file to my local PC, it runs without any issues. This problem seems to affect several servers that run vendor-specific applications as well. I initially thought a recent Windows update might have caused this, but I've rolled back to a previous snapshot, and even tested with an older PC that didn't have the latest update, but the issue persists. I'm at a loss here and not sure what else to check.
4 Answers
Also, some endpoint detection and response (EDR) programs can block execution from network drives. You might want to touch base with your security team to see if any recent changes were made that could affect this.
A workaround could be to map the server path as a network drive. Sometimes that changes the way permissions are handled and might let you run the executable without issues.
It sounds like Windows might be blocking the file for security reasons. Check the properties of the executable; there should be an 'unblock' checkbox you can tick. This sometimes happens with files downloaded from the internet or those being run over the network.
Thanks for the tip! I'll check the properties and try unblocking it.
I just looked up the error message you're seeing, and it sounds like it might be related to the reputation-based protection settings in Windows. You could try disabling that to see if it makes a difference.
Good idea! I'll check with them and see if there have been any changes on their end.