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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-05-31T03:43:16+00:00

I can not figure out a security setting in IE that allows for file:

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I can not figure out a security setting in IE that allows for file: URIs to run executables (e.g., window.location.open(“file:///C|/Program Files/foo/bar.exe”)).

Is there a setting that would make it permissible for certain sites to run things like that, or is there some type of Java applet or ActiveX control that could accomplish the same thing?

Thanks for any tips.

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Here is a simple example using WScript.Shell for IE-only: of course, it will trigger the “An ActiveX control on this page…” warning.
    (This isn’t using a file:/// URI to launch the app though, of course, but the page is loaded through file:///.)

    Tested in IE8:

    <!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
    <head>
        <script type="text/javascript">
            (function () {
                var wsh = null;
                if ( self.ActiveXObject ) {
                    try {
                        wsh = new ActiveXObject( "WScript.Shell" );
                    } catch ( e ) {}
                    // Check for permission
                    if ( !wsh ) {
                        alert("Sorry, could not get permission");
                        return;
                    }
                    wsh.run("notepad.exe");
                    alert("Notepad should now be open");
                } else {
                    alert("Sorry, this example is IE-only");
                }
            })();
        </script>
    </head>
    <body>

    </body>
</html>
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