Enabling Windows Features through Python won't let DISM have elevated access even after letting Python get elevated access through functions

Question

I'm trying to enable Windows Features through Python through functions. Here's the scripts that I've used:

UAC.py:

def gainadminaccess():
    import os
    import sys
    import win32com.shell.shell as shell
    ASADMIN = 'asadmin'

    if sys.argv[-1] != ASADMIN:
        script = os.path.abspath(sys.argv[0])
        params = ' '.join([script] + sys.argv[1:] + [ASADMIN])
        shell.ShellExecuteEx(lpVerb='runas', lpFile=sys.executable, lpParameters=params)
if __name__ == "__main__":
    gainadminaccess()

winfeatures.py

def install(feature):
    packageName = feature
    import os
    os.system("cmd /k dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:" + packageName + "/All")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    install()

enablefeatures.py:

import UAC
import winfeatures
import os

UAC.gainadminaccess()
winfeatures.install('VirtualMachinePlatform')

I'm OK with passing the UAC prompt, but when arriving at the feature part through winfeatures, it will show:

Error: 740

Elevated permissions are required to run DISM. 
Use an elevated command prompt to complete these tasks.

which I assume that DISM didn't get elevated access. Any fix?

Answer 1

This:

UAC.gainadminaccess()
winfeatures.install('VirtualMachinePlatform')

The first line will launch a new process. The second line executes but it is still running as non-admin:

I think you want this instead:

def gainadminaccess():
    import os
    import sys
    import win32com.shell.shell as shell
    ASADMIN = 'asadmin'

    isAdmin = sys.argv[-1] == ASADMIN

    if not isAdmin:
        script = os.path.abspath(sys.argv[0])
        params = ' '.join([script] + sys.argv[1:] + [ASADMIN])
        shell.ShellExecuteEx(lpVerb='runas', lpFile=sys.executable, lpParameters=params)
    
    return isAdmin # returns true if this script is already running as admin

Then in your other file:

if UAC.gainadminaccess():
    winfeatures.install('VirtualMachinePlatform')