How to get a process file name from pid, if OpenProcess() fails with ACCESS_DENIED?

Question

I\'m trying to get a process name from its pid. User is running as Administrator, UAC enabled, not elevated.

Some system processes, like services.exe,

Answer 1

You can't open system processes (more precisely, processes running under another account - in this case user SYSTEM) without SE_DEBUG privilege enabled for your process. If you are running as admin, you can easily set the privilege: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/131065/en-us

Answer 2

Have you tried Process32First() and Process32Next() with a handle retrieved by CreateToolhelp32Snapshot()? It doesn't give you the full path but should at least let you get the file name.

Answer 3

Have you tried PROCESS_QUERY_LIMITED_INFORMATION instead? It requests a lower level of access that can provide at least the name of the executable. It allows you to call QueryFullProcessImageName which provides the information you're looking for

• http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ms684919(v=vs.85).aspx