If, on windows, you need to start a batch file that needs administrator privileges, then you can make a shortcut to the batch file, click properties, check to on "run as administrator" on one of the property pages, and then double-click the shortcut once (to initialize that "run as administrator" business).
using popen("/path/to/shortcut.lnk") will then run your batch file with administrator privileges.
handy for when you want to use cli php to do some long running tasks and that php-cli needs to use sessions..
