SmartStream Drag and Drop

[asgit2]

Hello, recently when I install SmartStream on a Windows 11 PC that is up to date with patches, it forces me to run SmartStream as an administrator.  If it is not run as admin, the app itself will not start.  Everything works fine when run as admin, except I can no longer drag and drop files into the app.  It forces me to pick files by browsing to them in an open file dialog.  I have tried reinstalling SmartStream multiple times, including by logging in as the admin account, and then logging back in as the standard user to run it once it is installed.  I have also logged in as the standard user and right clicked the installer to install as admin.  The PCs are on a corporate domain, so user accounts are standard domain user accounts and domain admin accounts. Has anyone seen this or have a fix for this issue?  Thank you.

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @asgit2 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I understand that HP SmartStream now opens on your fully updated Windows 11 domain PCs only when it is run as administrator, and doing so prevents the normal drag-and-drop workflow. You have already tested several clean installation approaches using both the administrator and standard domain-user accounts, which helps narrow this down considerably.

HP SmartStream is designed to allow files to be added either by dragging and dropping them into the job preparation pane or by browsing for them, so the loss of drag-and-drop is not the intended workflow. 

I suggest checking the following:

Remove the forced administrator setting

• Close HP SmartStream.
• Right-click the HP SmartStream shortcut and select Properties.
• Select Compatibility.
• If Run this program as an administrator is enabled, clear it.
• Also select Change settings for all users and check that the same option is not enabled there.
• Apply the changes and test SmartStream normally.

Install the current Windows 11-compatible HP SmartStream package

HP currently lists Windows 11 as an operating-system choice on the SmartStream software and driver download page.

Completely uninstall the existing SmartStream installation, restart Windows, and install the current package obtained from HP SmartStream Software and Driver Downloads.

Check the HP SmartStream License Manager configuration

HP documents that SmartStream workstations must communicate with the License Manager. For a single workstation, the License Manager can reside on the same computer; for multiple SmartStream installations, HP indicates that it should reside on a computer available to the other SmartStream systems.

Since these PCs are domain-managed, verify that the standard domain user can access the configured License Manager without elevating SmartStream.

Test SmartStream directly from the standard user's session

Sign into Windows with the standard domain account and launch SmartStream normally, without Run as administrator. If SmartStream immediately fails to open, note any error message or entry displayed by the application. That symptom is particularly important because elevation should not become the workaround for preserving normal SmartStream functionality.

Review corporate application-control settings

Because the affected systems are joined to a corporate domain, also check whether a recently applied Windows security policy, application-control policy, or permissions policy is requiring the SmartStream executable to run elevated. The goal is to allow SmartStream to launch normally under the standard user's Windows session rather than permanently elevating it.

The key point is to address why HP SmartStream requires elevation, rather than running it permanently as administrator. HP's SmartStream documentation specifically describes drag-and-drop into the job preparation pane as part of the normal file-import workflow.

You can also use the HP SmartStream Support page for the available troubleshooting, software, drivers, setup, and user-guide resources.

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye