I have a batch script using Windows shell commands to perform several administrative actions. The script is running great on Windows 7 but when i try launching it from Python 2.6 nothing happens: import os a = os.popen("somebatchfile.bat") I assume that this is because the bat file uses several commands that require an administrative privileges but i don't want to prompt to a password using runas.exe or embedding the password within the code. Is there any way to make UAC prompt for user approval or something?