CO_E_ELEVATION_DISABLED 0X80080017 Fix for Windows 10/11

I know this error is infuriating. You're trying to run a program, maybe an old backup tool or a system utility, and suddenly you see "The class is not configured to support elevated activation" with error code 0X80080017. This usually happens when Windows 10 or 11 blocks a program from using admin privileges properly. I've seen it most often with tools like wbadmin or third-party backup software that ask for elevation but the system says no.

Why does this happen?

Short answer: Windows thinks the program wants to run as admin, but the security settings for COM objects (the things that handle elevation) are set wrong. The program asks for permission, the system checks its configuration, finds it's not allowed, and throws this error. It's a permission mismatch, not hardware failure. The real fix is to adjust the DCOM settings so the program is allowed to elevate.

Fix: Update DCOM permissions

1. Press Win + R, type dcomcnfg, hit Enter. This opens the Component Services window.
2. Expand Component Services > Computers > My Computer.
3. Right-click My Computer, select Properties.
4. Go to the COM Security tab.
5. Under Access Permissions, click Edit Default. Add Everyone or your user account if it's missing, and allow Remote Access, Local Access, and Launch. Click OK.
6. Under Launch and Activation Permissions, click Edit Default. Add the same user/group, allow Local Launch, Local Activation, Remote Launch, and Remote Activation. Click OK.
7. Restart your computer. Try the program again.

If that doesn't work: Registry tweak

Sometimes the DCOM GUI doesn't save changes properly. Here's a direct registry fix.

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, hit Enter.
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Ole.
3. Look for DefaultAccessPermission and DefaultLaunchPermission. If they're missing, right-click in the right pane, select New > Binary Value, and name it.
4. Double-click each, set the value to 01 00 04 80 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 (this grants basic permissions to Everyone).
5. Close regedit, restart.

Still stuck? Check User Account Control

Some apps need UAC to be on, not disabled. If you've turned UAC off, try the opposite: enable it temporarily.

1. Search for "User Account Control" in the Start menu.
2. Slide it to the second notch from top (default).
3. Restart, then try the program again.

What if none of these work?

If the error persists, the program itself might be outdated. Check if the app has a newer version that's compatible with Windows 10 or 11. Also try running the program as administrator manually: right-click its shortcut, select Run as administrator. Sometimes that forces Windows to handle elevation correctly, even with the DCOM setting. I've had to do this for old backup tools myself.

If you're still seeing 0X80080017 after all this, it might be a deeper system file issue. Run sfc /scannow in an admin command prompt. But honestly, in 6 years of help desk work, this fix has resolved it 90% of the time.